Contraindications of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on March 26, 2025
00:00
00:00

Patients with lumbar disc herniation mainly exhibit symptoms such as discomfort in the lower back, numbness in the lower limbs, and pain. These are primarily symptoms of sciatica, such as numbness and pain along the back and outer sides of the thighs, calves, and dorsum of the foot. Patients may find it difficult to put on shoes and socks in the morning, and sometimes they may feel as if their tendons are short when walking. It is generally recommended that patients strictly rest on a hard bed and warm up the lumbar region. They can also take some blood-activating and pain-relieving medications. The main precautions include avoiding bending over to lift heavy objects, carrying heavy items, and bearing heavy loads. Patients should avoid sitting or squatting for long periods and should try to lie flat or walk upright instead. If conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation is ineffective, interventional surgical treatment may be sought.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Qiu Xiang Zhong
Orthopedics
51sec home-news-image

Lumbar disc herniation symptoms

Patients with lumbar disc herniation can exhibit a variety of clinical symptoms which may differ according to age, gender, duration of illness, and the location of the herniation. Among these, back pain is a symptom that occurs in over 90% of the patients. The pain is primarily located in the lower back and the sacral area, most commonly presenting as persistent dull pain. Another common symptom is radiating pain in the lower limbs, which may extend from the lower back and buttocks to the back of the thigh, front or back of the calf, all the way to the heel. The nature of the pain is primarily radiating and piercing. Additionally, there may be reduced sensory and motor functions in the lower limbs as well as cauda equina syndrome symptoms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
1min 26sec home-news-image

How long does conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation take?

The main issue in lumbar disc herniation is that the nucleus pulposus ruptures through the annulus fibrosus, causing compression of the nerve roots. These nerve roots at lumbar 4 and sacral 3 form the sciatic nerve, leading to numbness and pain on the posterolateral side of the thigh and the dorsum of the foot. This is a distinctive manifestation of lumbar disc herniation, most commonly seen at the L4-5 and L5-S1 intervertebral spaces, accounting for over 95% of cases in outpatient settings. Conservative treatment primarily involves strict bed rest, local application of heat, sleeping on a firm mattress, pre-warming the lower back, and taking medications to promote blood circulation, relieve pain, and nourish nerves. Generally, symptoms will gradually abate and disappear within approximately 10 to 14 days, with noticeable symptom reduction after about 7 days. For cases where conservative treatment is ineffective and symptoms recur, interventional surgery such as ozone nucleolysis can be sought. Ozone therapy can help reduce the pressure on the intervertebral discs, increase their volume, and relieve nerve compression. Surgical trauma is relatively minor, the procedure is currently well-practiced, and the side effects are relatively low. It may be worthwhile to consult a local hospital for more information.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
1min 19sec home-news-image

Is lumbar disc herniation difficult to treat?

Patients with lumbar disc herniation, after standard and regulated treatment, can mostly effectively alleviate symptoms, and even achieve clinical recovery. The treatment for lumbar disc herniation mainly includes non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment. The specific method of treatment to be used should be comprehensively considered based on symptoms, physical examination, imaging studies, and other factors. For non-surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation, it is recommended that patients protect their lower back in daily life, develop correct habits of using the lower back, and avoid lifting heavy objects partially and other heavy physical activities involving the lower back. During stable periods of the condition, some exercises to strengthen the lower back and spinal functions can be performed. At the same time, when symptoms occur, anti-inflammatory analgesics, neuro-nutritional drugs, and other medications can be used. Treatments can also be combined with hot compresses, physical therapy, massage, and acupuncture. These conservative treatment methods generally can achieve good results. When conservative treatment is ineffective or functional impairment occurs, surgical treatment can also be considered. (Specific medication use should be guided by a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
48sec home-news-image

Can a lumbar disc herniation heal by itself?

Lumbar disc herniation cannot heal on its own. The protrusion of the disc is due to degeneration of the nucleus pulposus, which herniates through a ruptured annulus fibrosus, compressing the nerves behind it and causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness when walking. In the early stages or upon the first occurrence of lumbar disc herniation, symptoms can be alleviated through conservative treatment, such as strengthening the muscles in the lower back, appropriately applying traction, and wearing a lumbar support to reduce symptoms and prevent the herniated disc from further compressing the nerves. If the herniation is severe and it is not the first occurrence of this condition, surgical treatment is recommended. Therefore, lumbar disc herniation cannot heal on its own.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Su Zhen Bo
Orthopedics
53sec home-news-image

Can lumbar disc herniation heal itself?

In clinical practice, patients with lumbar disc herniation often cannot heal on their own. It requires early diagnosis and the correct treatment methods. Patients may lie flat on a hard bed, use lumbar traction, and combine this with heat therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and moxibustion. Regularly using orthopedic herbal fumigation to treat the waist area can unblock the muscle meridians, accelerate metabolism within the muscles, enhance the strength of the waist muscles, stabilize the lumbar spine, and reduce irritation to the dural sac and nerve roots, which can alleviate clinical symptoms. After conservative treatment, if the condition recurs, the next step can involve minimally invasive surgery at the lumbar region, using techniques like discoscopy or foraminoscopy to perform simple nucleotomy. Post-surgery, functional exercises for the waist can be performed.