If you’re experiencing symptoms of a damaged disc, disc extrusion medication may be effective at helping you manage your symptoms as the extrusion heals. Sensations of pain, tingling, numbness and weakness may begin in the neck or back and spread throughout the extremities if extruded disc material compresses a spinal nerve root or the spinal cord.

Talk to your doctor about prescription or over-the-counter medications as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that is best for you and your condition.

Varieties of disc extrusion medication

Your doctor may recommend different types of medication to treat disc extrusion, including:

• Pain relievers, also called analgesics
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Narcotics
• Oral steroids
• Epidural steroid injections
• Muscle relaxants

Identifying side effects from medication

If you experience adverse side effects from any type of disc extrusion medication, tell your doctor right away and stop taking the medication.

For the first several weeks after beginning a new medication, stay on the lookout for fever, abnormal bleeding, depression, headaches, diarrhea, trouble urinating, insomnia or fatigue. Your doctor may decide to discontinue a medication or change the prescribed dosage.

Be sure to tell your doctor about any food or drug allergies you may have before starting new medication.

Combining medication with other treatment options

Disc extrusion medication may be combined with other conservative treatment options like hot/cold therapy, low-impact exercise, gentle stretching and lifestyle changes like eating a more nutritious diet or improving your posture.

Talk with your doctor about developing a conservative treatment plan that is right for you. If weeks or months of these methods have not improved symptoms or you have become dependent on pain medication for relief, contact USA Spine Care.

Our minimally invasive spine surgery treats disc extrusion and other spine conditions with a less than 1-inch incision, relieving nerve compression at the source. Because our procedures are minimally invasive, they are performed on an outpatient basis and are a safer and effective alternative to traditional open neck or back surgery.^

For more information, contact USA Spine Care and ask for a no-cost MRI review* to see if you are a candidate for one of our procedures.

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