The spine is a complex part of your anatomy, and although it’s hard at work every day (and even when you sleep), most people don’t give it a second thought — until it starts to hurt. Often, that pain can be traced to the spinal discs, spongy structures that separate the vertebrae, protecting your spine and keeping it flexible.
Disc herniation is a common problem that happens when a disc slips out of place and gets pinched by the bones on either side. Millions of Americans suffer from herniated discs every year, a number that increases as people approach middle age.
As a leading pain management practice in the greater Houston, Texas, area, Superior Pain Relief is a trusted provider of herniated disc treatment, offering noninvasive and minimally invasive therapies aimed at providing relief without surgery. Here, Zaid Malik, MD, and his team offer an overview of five of those treatment options that can help you find meaningful relief.
Injection therapy can be very effective in treating symptoms of herniated discs. Dr. Malik offers several types of injections, depending on the location of the disc, the symptoms it’s causing, and other factors.
These injections contain corticosteroids, special agents with strong anti-inflammatory properties. Once your provider injects them into the space around your spine or a spine joint (facet joint), the medication goes to work, relieving inflammation and the painful irritation it causes.
Some injections contain lidocaine or other anesthetics for immediate pain relief. Injections can be used on their own or in combination with other therapies on this list.
Oral pain relievers are often the first line of treatment for herniated disc symptoms. Pain relievers can be very helpful in providing immediate relief, especially for mild to moderate symptoms. Depending on your needs, you may benefit from over-the-counter medicines or prescription medicines for stronger or longer-lasting relief.
In some instances, Dr. Malik prescribes muscle relaxants to help relax tight muscles and prevent spasms that can make your pain worse. These medicines can be used alone or alongside pain medicine.
Herniated discs cause significant inflammation around the bulging disc, and if the disc material leaks out, the inflammatory response becomes much worse. While minor inflammation is part of the body’s natural healing response, too much inflammation hinders healing — and that’s when anti-inflammatory medicines can help by reducing the swelling and irritation that lead to pain.
For more severe inflammation, Dr. Malik may prescribe oral corticosteroids. This medicine is the same type of drug used in many spinal injections for herniated discs, just in oral form.
Both heat and cold offer benefits for people with herniated disc pain. Cold helps reduce inflammation and swelling that irritate nerves and lead to pain. For immediate benefits, applying a cold pack for 15-20 minutes helps numb the pain, too.
When muscle spasms are involved, heat therapy may be useful in relaxing muscles and improving blood flow to the area for natural healing benefits. Dr. Malik frequently prescribes alternating hot and cold therapies to maximize the benefits of both.
No list of herniated disc treatments would be complete without including physical therapy. A trained therapist provides a personalized plan of controlled exercise and gentle stretching to improve circulation and stimulate natural healing in the area.
Stretching and exercise help strengthen muscles and also can help prevent herniated discs in the future. In addition to providing therapy on site at your appointment, your therapist gives you exercises that you can do at home to maintain your progress and maximize the benefits of therapy.
Herniated disc pain can be debilitating, but with consistent treatment, you can find relief, promote healing, and even reduce your risks of future herniated discs.
To learn how we can help relieve your symptoms, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Malik and the team at Superior Pain Relief in Houston, Baytown, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas, today.
