Living with a disc protrusion can be a painful experience. When a disc bulges into the surrounding space in the spine, it may exert pressure on a nearby nerve, which can cause pain, muscle weakness, numbness and tingling in the neck, back and extremities.

If you’re living with a painful disc protrusion, you may want to consider the following conservative treatment methods:

1. Pain medication — If your disc protrusion has been causing you pain, you can attempt to relieve it by taking pain medication, whether that involves prescription medication, over-the-counter medication or both.
2. Corticosteroid injections — If oral medications do not relieve your pain, you may have better results with corticosteroid injections, which are injected close to a compressed nerve and can provide relief for several months.
3. Physical therapy — Many people living with a disc protrusion have found relief through physical therapy. During therapy, you will likely learn to perform exercises targeted at strengthening your core, which may reduce your pain by relieving some of the pressure on your spine. You will also likely be told to avoid certain types of exercises, such as leg presses, weight-lifting and those that require you to twist your body.
4. Alternative therapies — Various alternative therapies exist that may help to relieve the pain associated with a disc protrusion, including acupuncture, chiropractic therapy and massage.
5. Lifestyle changes — Making some adjustments to your daily habits may help to relieve your pain. For example, if you sit at a desk for extended periods, you can try getting up and moving around at regular intervals throughout the day. You can also make a conscious effort to improve your posture while seated at your desk. Make sure to take time to rest and relieve the pressure on your spine, even if only for a few minutes at a time.

If you’ve attempted to treat your disc protrusion pain using these conservative methods but have still been unable to find relief, please contact USA Spine Care today. We look forward to helping you determine whether you may be a candidate for one of our minimally invasive outpatient surgeries.

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