Is lumbar disc herniation serious?
While a lumbar herniated disc can be extremely painful, for most people the symptoms are not long-lasting. Watch Video: Can Herniated Discs Heal on Their Own? About 90% of people who experience a lumbar herniated disc will have no symptoms six weeks later, even if they have had no medical treatment.
What is the best treatment for lumbar disc herniation?
Lumbar herniated disc treatments
- Physical therapy, exercise and gentle stretching to help relieve pressure on the nerve root.
- Ice and heat therapy for pain relief.
- Manipulation (such as chiropractic manipulation)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or COX-2 inhibitors for pain relief.
How to fix a herniated disc in the lumbar spine?
– Microdiscectomy. In this surgery, a small part of the disc material near the nerve root is taken out. – Laminectomy. A part or all of the lamina (area of bone at the back of the vertebra) is removed in order to provide more room for the cauda equina. – Foraminotomy. – Facetectomy. – Lumbar artificial disc replacement. – Fusion of L4-L5.
Is surgery necessary for lumbar disc herniation?
With a lower back (lumbar) herniated disc that’s causing leg pain, it’s generally advisable that patients try 6–12 weeks of conservative (non-surgical) treatment. When conservative treatments aren’t providing significant relief after several weeks or months, surgery usually becomes an option. One surgical option is lumbar disc replacement.
What are the symptoms of a disc herniation?
Most people who have a herniated disc don’t show any symptoms right away. Often, the problem doesn’t require herniated disc surgery to resolve the pain. Usually herniated disc therapy will help
How bad is lumbar spinal stenosis?
You may also have pain or numbness in your legs. In more severe cases, you may have difficulty controlling your bowel and bladder. There is no cure for lumbar spinal stenosis, but you have many treatment choices.