Many people suffer from herniated discs and although usually associated with older adults, this condition can affect people of all ages. A herniated disc can cause significant pain as well as impact a person’s mobility, usually requiring medical intervention. Before surgery such as a discectomy is considered, a doctor will recommend several non-surgical treatments to help reduce pain and alleviate any other unwanted symptoms.
Non-surgical treatments can help manage symptoms for a range of spinal conditions, not just a herniated disc. For example, physical therapy can be an extremely beneficial treatment of spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative disc disease. This article, however, will focus on how these treatments and therapies apply to herniated discs, focusing on the methods, benefits, and risks compared to a surgical procedure.
What is a Herniated Disc?
Before explaining what a herniated disc is, let’s consider the anatomy of the spine. The spine comprises of 24 bones known as the vertebrae, with the bottom 5 vertebrae (lower back) referred to as the lumbar region of the spine. These bones protect the spinal cord and are surrounded by nerves, with each vertebra separated by an intervertebral disc. These roundish, cushioned tissues protect the spine by absorbing any impact whenever a person moves, if these discs become unhealthy, then the chances of damage to the spine increase.
Herniated discs are made up of two main parts, the annulus fibrosus which is the tough, protective outer lining, and the nucleus pulposus, the soft jelly-like center. A herniated disc refers to when the disc ruptures and the soft center bulges out of the outer lining, compressing the surrounding nerves or spinal cord. This condition can occur anywhere along the spine but is most common in the lumbar region.
This condition is more common in men and may be caused by factors such as improper heavy lifting, repetitive strain, sitting at a computer for long hours with poor posture, long-distance driving, being overweight, or smoking.
Herniated Disc: Symptoms
A herniated disc is one of the most common causes of lower back pain and the level of pain can vary for each person, with some people experiencing no pain or symptoms whatsoever. However, for some people the pain can be chronic, and immediate medical attention is required.
As well as pain, a herniated disc can also result in sciatica, a condition referring to pressure being applied to the sciatic nerve that can result in pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the legs and feet. Although a rarer symptom, herniated discs can sometimes result in a person losing full control of their bladder or bowels.
Non-Surgical Treatments for a Herniated Disc
There are a number of tried and tested treatments that your doctor may recommend to help cure the symptoms caused by a herniated disc. These treatments can range from medication to alternative methods such as acupuncture or chiropractic treatment.
Medication
As every person’s herniated disc symptoms can differ and some people can experience more pain than others, different medications will be prescribed based on the level of pain, the location, physical condition, medical history, and other factors.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) are probably the most commonly issued medication to tackle herniated disc symptoms, helping to reduce inflammation in the nerves and tissue around the problematic disc. Inflamed nerves can swell, compressing the disc and aggravating the damaged site further. Therefore, reducing any inflammation is one of the best ways to relieve pain.
Well-known NSAIDS include ibuprofen and aspirin and are available over the counter without a prescription. However, for more severe or chronic pain, your doctor may prescribe a stronger dose of medication. In addition to NSAIDs, you may be advised to take over-the-counter painkillers for around a week to relieve any pain until the anti-inflammatory drugs get to work.
Muscle relaxants may also be prescribed if a person is suffering from muscle spasms as a result of a trapped nerve. Muscle relaxants can reduce pain symptoms while allowing you to move freely. If any of the above medications fails to relieve the pain, then the next step may be corticosteroid tablets or injections which are strong drugs that target the damaged area directly.
Lifestyle Changes
To accelerate a person’s recovery, a doctor will strongly advise that they make positive lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating more healthily, quitting smoking, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption. If a person is overweight then more pressure is applied to their spine, worsening any symptoms, while smoking, alcohol, and fatty, processed foods can increase inflammation.
Physical Therapy
Many doctors will refer herniated disc patients to a physical therapist who can work with them to improve their physical condition so they can better manage their symptoms. Physical therapists can create bespoke treatment plans for each patient which involve daily exercise regimes, stretches, massage therapy, cold therapy, hydrotherapy, and simple lifestyle modifications.
For a herniated disc, a physical therapist will focus on improving the individual’s core and spinal strength, flexibility and mobility, and posture. By doing so, the patient will be in a much better physical condition to naturally heal so that any symptoms dissipate without the need for invasive surgery.
Non-Surgical Treatments Vs Surgical Treatment for Herniated Discs
Invasive surgery for a herniated disc always comes with an element of risk and should only be considered as a last resort. Doctors will always recommend several treatments before considering a discectomy which is typically followed by spinal fusion surgery. A discectomy removes the part of the disc that is compressing the nerves, while spinal fusion provides stability to the affected area by fusing two or more vertebrae using a bone graft and metal apparatus. This unfortunately reduces mobility in the back, making it difficult to perform actions such as bending over.
This is why persevering with non-surgical treatments is much more beneficial than looking for a quick, surgical fix, with most treatments assisting the body in healing naturally without any long-term effects.
Thank you for reading. We hope this quick guide has provided some valuable insights into treating a herniated disc.