The Facts About Herniated Disc Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, one of the first questions you may have is what to do to get rid of it. For many people, the answer is as simple as stopping the actions that were causing your symptoms and allowing your disc time to heal on its own. Your doctor will talk to you about your treatment options and usually will start off slow and then become more aggressive if the need arises. If simple rest and relaxation does not help your herniated disc, then your doctor will look to the next treatment options which are available. Your doctor will look into your background, your medical history and other factors about you and your condition to determine the best plan of action for treatment.
After you are first diagnosed, your doctor will watch your symptoms throughout the herniated disc treatment process. If you’re responding well to the early treatment attempts, your doctor may then suggest something next on the list. If resting the tired muscles does not work for you, then next you might try ice and heat applications. The combination of ice and heat treatment can help ease muscle pain and spasms. Many people find that ice and heat therapies ease discomfort from their herniated disc.
When you have tried these things with no success and your condition is still getting worse, then your doctor will progress to the next stage of treatment which is usually physical therapy. Therapists are trained to work your muscles in a way that will not cause more damage to the area but can actually help remove pressure and swelling in the joints. In addition to this physical therapy and sometimes after the therapy if it is not working, your doctor may also prescribe certain mediations to help ease your pain and discomfort. These usually include pain killers, anti-inflammatories and more. Oral steroids or epidural steroid injections are used in many extreme cases where other medications and treatments are not working.
As a last resort, when these other methods do not work, your doctor may suggest that you try surgery. It is only used in certain cases as some people are not good candidates for surgery for a herniated disc. However, some people find that when nothing else has worked, they can find treatment and relief after surgery. Only your doctor can tell you if this is the best choice for you.
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