5 Proven Ways to Overcome Herniated Discs

A herniated disc is often painful and can significantly affect the quality of your life. The condition affects your lumbar and cervical spine, making completing simple tasks difficult. Fortunately, medical professionals like Dr. Carlos Vazquez Fort Worth is trained to manage the condition. Several factors can cause a herniated disc, and the initial step will be identifying the cause of your symptoms to understand the best way to address it. Here are some proven ways to get over your symptoms, including surgery. Have a look.

Over-the-Counter Medication

Your doctor is more likely to recommend you try over-the-counter medications if your pain is not severe. You can get painkillers like naproxen and ibuprofen from the local pharmacy to help you deal with moderate pain. However, be careful when taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as they might not be good for you if you have asthma, blood pressure, and kidney or heart issues. Indeed, talk to your doctor before beginning any medication regime to be sure you will gain from the treatment and reduce your chances of complications.

Go For Prescription Medication

Herniated disc pain can be severe, and over-the-counter medications might not be sufficient. Your doctor might prescribe powerful painkillers based on your symptoms. You might gain from nervous pain medications like pregabalin, gabapentin, and tramadol, which provide pain relief with more minor side effects. Your doctor can also recommend narcotics when nerve pain medications are not helpful.  Additionally, your provider can recommend muscle relaxants if you are experiencing painful muscle spasms. Your doctor will review your medical and health history before recommending any medicines. Also, remember to follow your doctor’s guidelines strictly.

Cortisone Injections

Your doctor can locate the painful area and recommend cortisone injections to the site to suppress swelling and inflammation. The injection is given directly to the site; you should talk to your doctor if you are afraid of needles. Your provider can give oral steroids as an alternative to decrease swelling. The treatments aim to delay or skip surgery with the hope that your body will heal once the inflammation is taken down.

Surgery

Surgery for herniated discs is not the initial treatment option but can become an option when conservative and minimally invasive treatment fails to provide pain relief. Your doctor can also recommend surgery if your nerves are severely compressed. You might gain from several surgical options to manage your symptoms. Open discectomy can be employed to remove or repair the damaged disc. Prosthetic intervertebral disc replacement can be employed to replace the destroyed disc. Your provider can also remove the damaged disc using a laser in an endoscopic laser discectomy procedure.

Make Lifestyle Changes

Managing herniated discs might require a multidisciplinary approach. You will need to remain active as you receive herniated disc treatment to help you avoid stiffening. Adjusting your sleeping position can help you get some pain relief by taking pressure off your spine. Managing stress when dealing with a herniated disc is helpful as stress can increase your pain sensitivity. You can try meditation, art or music therapy, deep breathing, and visualization. Also, getting social support is essential as dealing with chronic pain can be stressful.

As mentioned here, a herniated disc can be effectively managed through several alternatives. Call the disc herniation specialists at Neuropathy and Pain Centers of Texas or schedule your consultation appointment online to learn more.