The care of a patient with a lumbar herniated disk is far from standardized and, to a certain extent, needs to be individualized for each patient. It usually causes sciatica or a radiculopathy and is refered to as bulging disk, ruptured disk, or a pinched nerve.
Depending on how long the person has had the pain and the extent of the pain depends on the treatment he or she receives. Generally, patients will be advised to start with 6 to 12 weeks of conservative treatment (such as physical therapy). If that doesn\'t work after 6 to 12 wks it is reasonable to consider surgery. At times, if there is severe pain and the patient is having difficulty maintaining a reasonable level of functioning, surgery may be recommended prior to completing a full 6 weeks of conservative care for the herniated disk.
There are many diffrent treatment options but the primary goal is to provide relief of pain and to allow return to a normal functional level.
The most common options are:
1. Rest, followed by slow mobilization
2. Pain medications
3. Chiropractic/osteopathic manipulations
4. Physical therapy
5. Epidural steroid injections
It takes time to heal a herniated disk so be patient and try these approches.
