What Are the Treatments for a Ruptured Disc in the Lower Back?

A ruptured disc can cause pain when it presses on the nerves or spinal cord. Some ruptured disc patients experience numbness, tingling or weakness as well. A ruptured disc usually heals itself, but other treatment may be necessary.

Nonsurgical Treatment

• Patients with a ruptured disc should rest and use ice packs for 15 minutes at a time to reduce pain and swelling. Other nonsurgical treatment methods include pain relievers, muscle relaxants and electrical stimulation.

Side Effects

• Over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications can cause stomach and liver damage when taken in large doses. Narcotic pain relievers can cause gastrointestinal problems, sleep disturbances and dependency.

Surgical Treatment

• Surgical treatment may be needed if the ruptured disc gets worse or interferes with the bowels or bladder. Some procedures are minimally invasive. A full diskectomy is a more invasive procedure that removes part of the disc.

Surgical Risks

• Surgical risks include bleeding, infection and reaction to the anesthesia. Some patients need to undergo more than one disc surgery. Recovery from back surgery can be long and difficult. Many patients cannot return to work for six to eight weeks following a full diskectomy.

Considerations

• Patients should talk with their doctors to determine which treatment method is best. Nonsurgical treatments should be pursued first. Patients and their doctors should consider current pain levels and whether they are manageable. Sometimes surgery does not relieve pain and other symptoms so it should be a last resort.