Non-Surgical and Medical Treatments for a Herniated Disc

Herniated discs affect more than 3 million people every year in the United States. You might associate them with back pain, but they can also cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs. These symptoms can impact your quality of life if they last long enough.

If your herniated disc symptoms persist for more than 6 weeks, specialists Stephanie Clop, MD, and Alexander Behnaz, MD, can treat it with advanced interventional pain procedures at Integrated Spine and Pain Services in Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia.

In most cases, herniated discs don’t require surgery. Instead, nonsurgical management can improve symptoms if they don’t go away on their own. Here are the top three treatments to help herniated discs heal:

1. Anti-inflammatory medications

Anti-inflammatory medications are usually the first-line treatment for herniated discs. You can take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications at home, or your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory pain reliever.

Anti-inflammatory medications reduce swelling around injuries, including herniated discs. Reducing inflammation can take some of the pressure off compressed nerves, where herniated disc symptoms originate.

If you choose to use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to manage herniated disc symptoms, don’t use them for more than 10 days without approval from your doctor.

2. Physical therapy and activity modification

Physical therapy for herniated discs works by strengthening the muscles around your spine and reducing pressure from compressed nerves. A physical therapist works closely with you and guides you through exercises that open the door for disc healing. 

Your physical therapy sessions might involve:

• Gentle movements and stretching
• Core strengthening exercises
• Strength and endurance exercises
• Posture work

Alongside physical therapy, your physical therapist will also likely advise you to modify your activity levels while a herniated disc heals. They may tell you to engage in light physical activity outside of your physical therapy sessions and avoid heavy lifting while your back heals. 

3. Spinal injections

If a herniated disc doesn’t improve with medications and physical therapy, it may be time to consider spinal injections to reduce your symptoms. The team at Integrated Spine and Pain Services specializes in epidural spinal injections and selective nerve root blocks for the treatment of herniated discs.

Spinal injections include steroid medications that are injected directly into the space around your spine. They work similarly to anti-inflammatory medications, but are more powerful.

In addition to a steroid, spinal injections can also include an anesthetic that numbs the area for a short time. Then, as the steroid begins to work, inflammation diminishes, providing longer-lasting pain relief. 

Get in touch to learn more

Are your herniated disc symptoms sticking around beyond home care and rest? Our team can help. Don’t hesitate to call Integrated Spine and Pain Services to schedule a treatment consultation.