Herniated Disc Treatments

Treatment

Treatments may include:

Physical Medicine

Bed rest
During acute phase, back or neck massage and physical therapy to:
- Relax the neck or back muscles
- Decrease pain
- Increase strength and mobility
Back and abdominal exercises during recovery phase
Hot or cold packs—to reduce pain and muscle spasms
Stretches for the spine:
- A doctor or chiropractor can sometimes help reduce pain by stretching your spine.
- Any spinal manipulation must be done carefully by an experienced, licensed practitioner.
Traction (weights and pulleys)—to relieve pressure on the discs and keep you from moving around (more common for discs in the neck area)
Neck collar or brace for a herniated disc in the neck—to relieve muscle spasms

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—to reduce inflammation and pain (eg, ibuprofen , naproxen )
Muscle relaxants—to reduce muscle spasms
Pain medications

Interventional Spine Care

Steroid injections into the area around the nerve and disc. It is done to reduce pain and inflammation. The injections are used if other medications do not work.
Minimally invasive procedures may include:
- Nucleoplasy
- Intradiscal electrothermy (IDET)
- Chemonucleolysis

Surgery

Surgery may be used for people who fail to respond to other treatments. Immediate surgery is necessary for cauda equina syndrome. Options include:

Laminectomy —removal of some of the bone over the spine and of the problem disc
Microdiskectomy—removal of fragments of herniated disc through a small incision
Spinal fusion —fusing of vertebrae (back bones) together with bone grafts or metal rods (rarely done for first-time disc problems)

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.