Authored by Kristian Keefer in Diseases
Published on 02-15-2009
A herniated disc is a painful condition in which a person has a disc in their spine that bulges as a result of being injured in some way. There is no surefire cure for a herniated disc. Surgery is rarely recommended and can sometimes create more pain and difficulties for a patient. In most cases, a herniated disc will repair itself over time. Therefore doctors often prescribe medicine to treat the pain while giving the body time to heal. Fortunately some people begin to see improvement in their condition in just a matter of one or two months. About 90% of people with a herniated disc will see significant improvement in six months or less.
Sometimes surgery of the back and decompression surgery can cure as a herniated disc but as mentioned there are many other considerations. Most doctors use surgery as a last resort for a patient desperate to find a cure when all else has failed. A doctor will advise a patient of the risks of surgery and whether or not the patient is a candidate for the least invasive surgery methods.
If a doctor does not believe surgery is necessary there are several other approaches used to try to cure or at the very least treat a herniated disc successfully. Some individuals see positive results by receiving care from a chiropractor. There are many patients who report success in curing their herniated disc through chiropractic treatment. Massage therapy is often used to help treat a herniated disc as well. This treatment is sometimes used in conjunction with chiropractic care.
Physical therapy is sometimes prescribed by a physician to treat someone with a herniated disc. This treatment is often used in more moderate to severe cases. Physical therapy can help to reduce pain as the herniated disc begins to heal. As a patient begins to see improvement in their condition, physical therapy is often used as a way to help patients learn the exercises they need to help prevent a herniated disc from ever occurring again. A physical therapist can teach an individual stretches and exercises they can try at home in order to treat their herniated disc.
If a patient is not prescribed physical therapy, they can discuss with their doctor any stretches and exercises they can try at home to decrease pain and increase mobility of the affected area. Patients should never try to treat their herniated disc through exercise without first asking for guidance from their physician.
When a patient’s condition is improving, some light aerobic exercises are often just what the doctor ordered. Patients should always consult with their doctor before they set out to treat their herniated disc with an exercise routine. Walking or exercise on an elliptical machine are aerobic exercises that won’t be hard on your herniated disc.
The best cure for a herniated disc if it is not a severe case, is waiting for the body to cure itself. In the meantime, doctors often prescribe medicine in order to help people cope with the pain while their herniated disc heals.
