If you’ve been diagnosed with a herniated disc, it can be a scary and overwhelming experience. Thankfully, there are a variety of treatments available to help relieve your pain and improve your quality of life. Here are a few tips on what to do about a herniated disc.
1. Rest: Rest is essential for allowing your body to heal and reduce inflammation. This means avoiding strenuous activities that can cause further injury or aggravate the herniated disc. It’s important to take it easy and get plenty of rest so that your body can heal and your pain can be reduced.
2. Exercise: Once your doctor has given you the all-clear, it’s important to start exercising to build strength and stability in the surrounding muscles. This will help protect your spine from further damage. It’s important to start slowly and build up your routine over time.
3. Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is an important part of treating a herniated disc. A physical therapist can help you strengthen the muscles around the affected area, improve your posture and mobility, and reduce pain.
4. Medication: Depending on the severity of your herniated disc, your doctor may prescribe medications such as NSAIDs, muscle relaxers, or corticosteroids to help control your pain.
5. Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat a herniated disc. This is usually done to remove the portion of the disc that is causing the pain and to decompress the nerve.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a herniated disc, it’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure that you’re taking the best care of yourself. Rest, exercise, physical therapy, and medication can all help to reduce your pain and improve your quality of life. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat a herniated disc. Talk to your doctor to determine the best course of action for you.