A herniated disc can be a very painful condition. The treatment for a herniated disc depends greatly on the area of the body. For instance, a herniated disc in the lumbar regions frequently creates sciatia-type symptoms with leg pain and numbness.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture helps to block the pain signal to the brain by interrupting the message of pain along the pathway.
Osteopathic Manipulation
Osteopathic manipulation can be highly successful in treating a herniated disc by helping to lengthen and straighten the spine.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Epidural steroid injections are frequently administered for lumbar and cervical herniated discs, and most people experience temporary relief.
Pain Medications
Though not meant for long-term use, pain medications can offer temporary relief for some of the painful symptoms associated with a herniated disc.
TENS
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is the application of electrical current through the skin for pain control. It is used to help stimulate endorphins, our body's own natural painkillers. TENS also helps to block the pain signal traveling to the brain. This form of pain treatment is referred to as electroanalgesia.
Surgery
In extreme cases where an individual has undergone his doctor's prescribed regimen without alleviating the symptoms surgery is a last resort. The most common surgeries for a herniated disc are laminotomy and laminectomy, which relieve the pressure on a particular area of the spine; percutaneous discectomy, where a portion of the disc material is removed to alleviate pressure on the nearby nerve, and discectomy, the removal of the herniated disc section that is pressing on the nerve.
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