What should I do if I have a lumbar disc herniation?

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 12, 2024
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After a lumbar disc herniation, it is essential to first determine the type of herniation you have. Clinically, lumbar disc herniations can be categorized into protrusion, prolapse, extrusion, and sequestration, with protrusion being the most common. Once the type of herniation is identified, treatment can begin. Currently, the treatment methods are diverse and can be broadly classified into six categories. The first is internal treatment with traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies lumbar disc herniation into four types, each treated with different medications. The second is external treatment with traditional Chinese medicine, such as herbal fumigation and plaster application. The third is traction, which includes bed traction and manual massage. The fourth is acupuncture. The fifth category includes other therapies, starting with resting on a hard board bed for approximately a week, followed by techniques like small needle knife therapy, intradiscal injection, sacral canal injection, and ozone therapy. If conservative treatments prove ineffective, or if symptoms worsen during treatment, surgical intervention may be necessary. Surgical treatment is generally indicated in the following four situations: patients with spinal stenosis, patients who do not respond to conservative treatment or who experience recurrent symptoms after recovery, patients with worsening neurological symptoms, and patients with central lumbar disc herniation causing incontinence. These are the conditions mentioned above.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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How is a herniated lumbar disc treated?

The treatment methods for lumbar disc herniation currently fall into two categories in clinical practice. The first is conservative treatment, which primarily involves methods like massage, acupuncture, electrotherapy, magnetic therapy, and traction to alleviate symptoms of pain and restricted movement in the lower back. If conservative treatment proves ineffective and the patient's condition worsens, accompanied by radiating pain and numbness in both legs, it indicates that the herniated disc has severely compressed the nerve roots. At this point, the effectiveness of conservative treatment becomes very poor, and the only option may be to undergo surgical treatment. The primary goal of surgery is to remove the herniated disc, and if the patient has spinal instability, it also involves the use of screws and plates to restore spinal stability.

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Written by Chen Hui
Orthopedic Surgery
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How to care for lumbar disc herniation

The intervertebral discs of a normal human body, according to related evidence-based medical research, begin to degenerate around the age of twenty-five. How should we maintain them in daily life? First, when lifting heavy objects in everyday life, it is necessary to do so by squatting partially and then lifting the weight with the strength of your knees and hips when standing up. Do not bend at the waist with straight knees and hips to lift heavy objects, as this can cause severe loading on the lumbar spine, leading to herniated discs. If symptoms are already present, maintenance measures include wearing a lumbar support, sleeping on a hard bed, and undergoing relevant physical therapy, among others.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Is there a cure for lumbar disc herniation?

Lumbar disc herniation is treatable, and the results after treatment are very good. The treatment methods for lumbar disc herniation mainly depend on the direction and degree of the herniation as well as the symptoms it causes. Generally, it is divided into conservative treatment and surgical treatment. Conservative treatment is the first approach, which initially includes general treatment. That is to say, after experiencing symptoms of a lumbar disc herniation, you must first rest in bed and then make sure to sleep on a flat bed and appropriately strengthen the muscles of the lower back. The second approach is traditional Chinese medicine, the third is traction and massage therapy, the fourth is physical therapy, and the fifth is rehabilitation therapy. If the treatment is not effective, or other surgical indications appear, such as urinary and fecal incontinence or spinal cord type nerve damage combined with spinal stenosis, then surgical treatment is needed. Surgical treatments generally include conventional surgery and minimally invasive surgery, with the latter being more commonly used nowadays. Other treatments include disc sealing, sacral therapy, small needle knife therapy, and nucleus pulposus injection with ozone, among others. Overall, not only is lumbar disc herniation treatable, but there are also many treatment methods. However, as to which treatment method is suitable for you, you must go to the hospital and consult a doctor to decide.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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Can people with lumbar disc herniation have sexual intercourse?

Appropriate and occasional sexual activity is permissible. During the acute phase of lumbar disc herniation, it is strictly prohibited to engage in excessive physical activities, including sexual activity, as it may trigger or exacerbate symptoms such as increased herniation, nerve compression, and resultant numbness or painful sensations in the lower limbs. However, during the chronic phase of disc herniation, after systematic treatment and significant symptom improvement, sexual activity can be resumed appropriately and occasionally, such as once every two to three weeks, or adjusted according to different age groups to a normal frequency. Additionally, it is important to avoid excessive bending and heavy lifting to prevent worsening the pain and discomfort associated with lumbar disc herniation.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Is running good for lumbar disc herniation?

Lumbar disc herniation is due to the degeneration of the lumbar spine. It results in symptoms from the herniation pressing down on the nerve roots, or the spinal cord, through a rupture in the fibrous ring. The disc mainly serves to cushion and absorb shock in the lumbar region. During running, the load on the lumbar spine and the compression are significantly greater compared to normal walking. Running might exacerbate the condition of herniated discs. Therefore, it is not recommended to engage in running, jumping or similar activities if suffering from a disc herniation. Swimming can be a preferable form of exercise that lessens the load on the lumbar spine.