3 Treatments That Work Fast to Relieve Herniated Disc Pain

Herniated discs affect a few million people in the United States every year. Though they don’t always cause symptoms, a displaced disc is a common cause of neck pain and back pain. And when you have pain from a herniated disc, you want relief fast.

At Orthopedic & Wellness in Waldorf, Germantown, and Frederick, Maryland, our orthopedic and pain experts, Dr. Ojedapo Ojeyemi and Dr. Matthew Roh, specialize in pain management for herniated discs. Here, we share three treatment approaches that work fast to relieve herniated disc pain.

1. Rest and careful activity

A herniated disc is an injury that affects the cushion-like material that separates the bones — vertebrae — that make up the spine. When a disc herniates, the gel-like substance inside of the disc bursts through a tear in the tough exterior, and the displaced contents cause pain when they irritate and press on a spinal nerve or spinal cord. 

As with any injury, rest is a first-line of treatment. When we say rest, we don’t mean staying in your bed for days. Rest for a herniated disc limits activity that may aggravate the injury and prolong the healing process, such as strenuous physical exercise or heavy lifting.

Movement is good for your damaged disc and pain. Activity increases circulation, helping heal the damage. So, get out of bed and walk around, stopping when the pain gets too bad. 

We may refer patients to physical therapy for a personalized exercise plan that focuses on strengthening the supportive muscles to minimize stress and strain on the disc injury to help with pain. 

2. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs

The irritation from a herniated disc causes inflammation of the nerve and surrounding tissue and may exacerbate the pain. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most effective treatments for alleviating pain and inflammation.

NSAIDs are another first-line treatment for herniated disc pain that provides fast relief. If you can’t tolerate these medications, we can talk to you about other pain management options. 

3. Injections

Herniated discs can take time to heal. When exercise and NSAIDs aren’t working fast enough and the pain is affecting your quality of life, we may recommend interventional pain management, such as epidural steroid injections.

Injections contain a local anesthetic that immediately numbs the area and a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation. The local anesthetic works fast but may not last long; it can take a few days to feel the effects of the steroid. Relief from injections can last anywhere from a few days to several months.

For patients in need of fast-working treatments that last longer, we may suggest nerve ablation, a procedure that burns the nerve responsible for the pain, reducing or eliminating the uncomfortable sensation. 

A herniated disc can improve with at-home care, but that doesn’t mean you should skip a visit to the doctor. Getting the right diagnosis for your neck or back pain ensures you get the right treatment as soon as possible. We can provide the answers and solutions you need. Call Orthopedic & Wellness today or book an appointment online.