While a herniated disk will often go away on its own, it may take weeks of dealing with the pain and trying to rest it as much as possible. For others, no amount of rest will help them. Here is a look at the various treatments doctors use to fix this painful problem.
Prescription Medications
If your physician determines you are having nerve problems as a result of the herniated disk, they may prescribe a medication like amitriptyline. This is an antidepressant, but it works very well in patients who have neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage. The body's largest nerve, the sciatic nerve, is located in the lower back and down both buttocks and legs, and it often becomes compressed in people with a herniated disk. Muscles relaxers and narcotic pain relievers may also be prescribed, but these are only used short-term to prevent addiction.
Steroid Injections
With the assistance of a CAT scan or X-ray, the doctor will perform an in-office procedure called an epidural injection. Steroids can reduce the swelling and inflammation around the disk or nerve that is causing the problem. Anesthesia is not used during the procedure because the doctor needs to be able to talk to you, but you may be given a mild sedative just to help you relax. The procedure can be painful, but the discomfort is usually minimal. A steroid injection will not cure or shrink a herniated disk; it will only reduce the inflammation, thereby reducing some of the pain. The injections will likely be repeated every month for three months to reach maximum relief.
Physical Therapy
A herniated disk often occurs as a result of injury from weakened back muscles. Physical therapy works to strengthen these core muscles using various exercises. Physical therapists also use massage as this can provide some pain relief. Another treatment physical therapists use is ultrasound therapy. This involves the use of sound waves on inflamed tissues. The painless vibrating effect of the sound waves heats the tissues, which may aid healing and offer pain relief. This treatment doesn't work for everyone, however.
Surgery
In some cases, the only way to treat a herniated disk is by addressing it surgically. Sometimes the disk will be removed entirely in a procedure called a discectomy. The surgeon may replace it with an artificial disk if they feel you are a good candidate. The physician may also remove a little bone called the lamina as this can press on the disk. This procedure is called a laminotomy.
For more information on your herniated disk, call an office like Southwest Florida Neurosurgical & Rehab Associates.
Is your knee stiff and painful every morning when you get out of bed? Perhaps, you sometimes feel a grinding sensation in your knee. If you can relate to this frustrating situation, you might be suffering from osteoarthritis. Thankfully, several treatments are available for this joint condition. Sometimes, physicians recommend patients battling osteoarthritis of the knee take a prescription painkiller. Doctors also often encourage patients to lose weight and start a low-impact exercise program. Swimming and walking are both great forms of low-impact exercise. On this blog, I hope you will discover how to effectively and quickly relieve the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Enjoy!