With treatment, most people recover, but to know what treatment is properly for you, you should go first to a doctor where you will have an x-ray, MRI or other pictures. The treatment will likely include application of hot or cold packs, limited activity (although strict bed rest is not generally advised), and basic pain reliever. As your condition improves, specific back stretching or strengthening exercises may be suggested. Begin by stretching, bend over forward and bend to the sides. Start these exercises after your back is a little stronger and doesn't hurt as much. Losing weight can help, too.

Lots of other treatments have been tried for slipped disc. But there's not enough research to show whether or not they can be helpful.

Treatments include: acupuncture, where therapists put thin needles into your body with the aim of unblocking energy; massage, where therapists use their hands to rub your skin and muscles to try to relieve pain; tens machines, which use electrical impulses to try to relieve pain.

There are three other treatments your doctor may suggest if your pain is severe:

steroid shots in your spine can help in disc herniations by creating an anti-inflammatory effect around the nerves. Taking painkillers may help just as much; drugs that relax your muscles help other types of back pain, but there hasn't been any research on taking them for slipped disc, and they may make you drowsy. You can also get addicted to them. That is why you really have to speak to a doctor first; antidepressant drugs are sometimes used for back pain. They can have serious side effects. Three treatments that were used in the past are traction (having the spine stretched), wearing a corset or brace, and bed rest. But research now shows they are unlikely to be helpful. Another treatment is hydrotherapy. There are few bathing (watering place) that have mineral hot or cold water that can do to you very good or you can try the mud with minerals.

If any of this treatment doesn’t work, your only choice remaining is the surgeries. Some people benefit from an operation to repair the damaged disc. If the surgery stops the disc from pressing on a nerve, you may get quick relief from your pain. But the operation doesn't work for everyone.

There is: standard surgery (open discectomy); surgery using a microscope (microdiscectomy); keyhole surgery (automated percutaneous discectomy)

Whatever kind of pain you have on your spine you should go first to a doctor that knows better what treatment is best for you and you should try to avoid the chiropractors because a lot of people had more problems after they went to them. The doctor you should go is an orthopaedic or an neurologic doctor (based on location of your pain).

Herniated disc (Page 1)