While a qualified doctor can recommend many proven conservative treatments for a disc protrusion, patients might also consider exploring alternative treatments on their own. Any nonsurgical treatments that a patient tries would focus on alleviating the symptoms of the disc protrusion instead of attempting to repair the disc itself, which cannot be accomplished with conservative or alternative treatments alone.

Alternative treatments can range from at-home remedies the patient may try by themselves to more complicated techniques that require the aid of a specialist. Although the scientific evidence for some alternative treatments is noticeably lacking, many patients claim to have experienced positive results after utilizing such methods to relieve their neck and back pain. Read on to learn more about the possible alternative treatments you can try to alleviate you disc protrusion symptoms.

Examples of alternative treatments

For patients considering alternative treatments for a disc protrusion, it is recommended that they consult a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioner. However, patients should keep in mind that there is a distinction to be made between alternative medicine and complementary medicine.

Alternative forms of treatment are generally intended as a replacement for conventional medical interventions, whereas complementary medicine is actually done in conjunction with more conventional treatment practices. Despite this, alternative and complementary treatments tend to involve the same methods.

Examples of alternative treatments for a disc protrusion include:

• Massage therapy. Massage is a common alternative treatment for neck and back pain. A massage therapist will knead and manipulate the back tissues that surround the affected areas. This will help to relieve muscle pain and cramping, which can also help reduce pressure on damaged discs and pinched nerves.
• Acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment during which a practitioner inserts extremely thin needles through the skin at specific points on the body. These needles are believed to release energy that has become blocked or imbalanced.
• Supplements. There are many herbal supplements used to treat neck and back pain caused by protruded discs and other degenerative spine issues. Examples of supplements include capsicum, willow bark and devil’s claw. These supplements are believed to work by reducing inflammation around nerves.

When conservative or alternative treatments don’t work

After patients have tried conservative, alternative or complementary treatment methods without much success, they might consider surgery as a final option. There are several surgeries available for a disc protrusion, and these surgeries can either be performed as a traditional open spine surgery or as a minimally invasive procedure. Contact USA Spine Care today to learn more about our minimally invasive procedures for addressing protruding discs as well as other degenerative spine conditions.

As the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, USA Spine Care has helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from chronic neck or back pain. Our procedures use a less than 1-inch incision and muscle-sparing techniques, which allow 88 percent of patients to return to daily activities within three months after surgery.^

Reach out to the dedicated team at USA Spine Care today and ask for a no-cost MRI review* to determine if you are a potential candidate for our minimally invasive procedures. We can help you move to the next step on your journey to wellness.

Browse Related Resources