What are the symptoms of lumbar disc herniation?

Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

Updated on January 05, 2025

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The early symptoms of lumbar disc herniation mainly include back pain and limited mobility. With appropriate conservative treatment at this stage, the symptoms will not worsen. For example, sleeping on a hard bed, resting adequately, and using some physical therapy methods can help alleviate back pain and restricted mobility. If back pain and mobility limitations occur and are not treated correctly, it may lead to mid-to-late-stage symptoms. The patient will typically experience sciatica, with radiating pain and numbness in both lower limbs, caused by the herniated disc compressing the nerve root, leading to impaired nerve function and symptoms of numbness and pain in the lower limbs.

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Written by Su Zhen Bo

Orthopedics

1min 2sec

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How to perform traction for lumbar disc herniation?

In clinical practice, patients with lumbar disc herniation undergo traction as a common treatment method. During traction, patients should be instructed to lie on their back and then use a pelvic belt for traction. By pulling the lumbar vertebrae, this can reduce the pressure within the spinal canal, alleviate nerve root bleeding and edema, and allow the lumbar muscles and muscle groups to fully relax, thereby relieving the clinical symptoms of the patient. The specific traction weight should be determined according to the patient's body weight and the correct direction of traction should be chosen. For mild lumbar disc herniation, traction can be performed twice a day. For severe cases, continuous traction should be adopted, along with lumbar electrotherapy, physiotherapy, the external application of plasters that activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and the intravenous administration of drugs with dehydrating and blood pressure lowering effects.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 15sec

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What should I do if I have a lumbar disc herniation flare-up?

Once a herniated disc occurs, the first step should be general treatment, which involves rest and lying on a hard bed. A soft pillow should be placed under the waist and a soft pad behind the knee joints to help with triangular support recovery and reduce spinal pressure. Second, treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and herbs can be considered, which includes both oral and topical medications and usually has good effects. Third, traction and massage therapy can be considered. Traction is notably effective during the acute phase of a herniated disc. It mainly helps by reducing the pressure on the intervertebral discs, adjusting the gaps in the intervertebral foramina, and thus alleviating the irritation and compression on the nerve roots. Fourth, acupuncture and massage can also be considered, as acupuncture is particularly effective in alleviating symptoms of a herniated disc. Other treatments include small-needle scalpel therapy, target disc decompression through radiofrequency, disc intra-injections, or epidural block. If these treatments do not show significant results, or if there is no improvement and symptoms of cauda equina syndrome appear, then surgical treatment may be necessary.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 51sec

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How to alleviate pain from lumbar disc herniation?

How to alleviate the pain of a herniated lumbar disc. First, once the pain occurs, you should rest initially, lie on a hard bed. You can place a thin pad under your lower back and a soft pillow beneath your knees to keep the knees and hips slightly bent. This helps fully relax the back muscles. Second, take some non-steroidal drugs, specifically non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Third, consider using traditional Chinese medicine and herbs. Traditional Chinese medicine has shown significant effects in treating herniated lumbar discs, containing many components that alleviate pain. Additionally, topical application of Chinese herbal medicines, or their plasters, can improve local blood circulation, reduce the release of inflammatory factors, and thereby relieve pain. Fourth, traction, which can be manual or mechanical, aims to reduce pressure on the lumbar discs by stretching them and enlarging the intervertebral foramen, thus alleviating nerve root irritation. Fifth, consider undergoing some physiotherapy treatments, such as heat therapy, shockwave therapy, microwave therapy, and transdermal drug delivery. These methods usually show good results. Finally, it is crucial to wear a lumbar support belt, as it is very important for patients with herniated discs. It can restrict movement of the lumbar spine, controlling the range of lumbar activity and increasing the stability of the lumbar spine, thus reducing the pressure and irritation on the discs. Generally, following the above treatments should significantly relieve the pain—should the pain persist, consider a nerve root block as a further treatment option.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

45sec

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Can a herniated lumbar disc be massaged?

Lumbar disc herniation can be treated with massage, and as a part of conservative treatment, massage is a very important method with generally good effects. Its role is to relieve muscle spasms, expand blood vessels, increase local blood circulation, and promote cellular metabolism of soft tissues. The techniques primarily include rolling and rubbing, supplemented by grasping and grinding methods. The main acupuncture point targeted is the Jiaji point, centered on the lesion between the two vertebral bodies. Other auxiliary acupuncture points include Yaoyangguan, Mingmen, Shenshu, Bahui, Huanjiao, Yinmen, Fucheng, Weizhong, Chengshan, and Yanglingquan.

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Written by Lv Yao

Orthopedics

51sec

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Lumbar disc herniation nursing measures

Herniated lumbar discs require attention to several aspects during treatment, First, it is important to advise patients to sleep on a hard bed as much as possible, avoiding soft beds to facilitate the exercise of the lower back muscles; Second, try to minimize sitting and actions such as bending over and picking things up, as these can reduce the load on the lumbar spine, thus alleviating the condition caused by the disc herniation; Third, appropriate functional exercises can be performed, such as the small bird flying exercise and lower back muscle training; Fourth, in terms of diet, opt for plain and less stimulating foods, avoiding the consumption of high-protein, highly nutritious foods, which can increase body weight and thus increase the load on the waist, aggravating the herniated disc situation.