Herniated Disc: Home Treatment

Content provided by Healthwise

Home Treatment

Home treatment can help relieve symptoms caused by a herniated disc. Home treatment can also strengthen your back, which may help prevent further injury.

Steps to reduce pain

The following steps may help to reduce pain:

• Avoid movements and positions that increase pain or numbness.
• Limit your activities, and try briefly resting your back if your pain is severe. Try taking short walks and doing light activities that do not cause pain. Then gradually start your regular activities. Even if you have severe pain, bed rest of more than 1 to 2 days can cause the muscles in your back—as well as the rest of your body—to become weaker.
• Use ice or heat to relieve pain. Apply ice 3 times a day. Do not use ice for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Heat relieves pain for some people, but it should not be used too soon after an injury. Ask your doctor about using ice and heat to reduce your pain.
• Take nonprescription pain relievers to help reduce pain. Examples include aspirin (such as Bayer), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), ibuprofen (such as Motrin), and naproxen sodium (such as Aleve).

Steps to strengthen your back

Exercising may help speed your recovery, prevent reinjury to your back, and reduce the risk of disability from back pain. Other steps that may help keep your back strong and healthy include losing weight if you are overweight, and quitting smoking if you smoke.

Last updated:	July 21, 2008
Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Robert B. Keller, MD - Orthopedics
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC