Therapy/treatment
If there are existing signs of a herniated disc, a doctor should first be consulted, who can possibly confirm the diagnosis of a herniated disc. The signs and symptoms of a herniated disc are treated by the causal treatment of the herniated disc itself. Thus, with a successful treatment of the herniated disc, it can be assumed that the symptoms that occur in the context of the disease will disappear.
There are different possibilities to treat a herniated disc. Depending on the individual extent and localization of the disease as well as individual factors, a conservative as well as operative therapy can be applied. In most cases a herniated disc can be successfully treated with conservative therapies (without surgery).
The administration of pain-relieving medication in combination with consistent physiotherapy for a herniated disc helps to relieve the discomfort while maintaining the mobility of the spine. Surgical therapy of the herniated disc is usually performed when conservative measures could not bring the desired success. The surgical treatment method can also be used in particularly severe cases. Which therapy / treatment is best in each individual case can be discussed with the treating physician.
Summary
There are certain symptoms that are to be considered signs of a herniated disc and should be perceived as such. Characteristic pain, sensory disturbances and sensory deficiencies as well as motor deficits are typical for a herniated disc. It should be noted that not all symptoms have to occur in order to diagnose a herniated disc as such.
Thus, the symptoms can be individually very different. The severity of the symptoms as well as their localization is directly related to the height of the spine where the herniated disc occurs. Slipped discs in the lumbar spine are generally the most common, which is why complaints in the lower back and in the leg or foot are particularly common as signs of a slipped disc. You can read more information on this topic in our next article: Is there a herniated disc even without pain?
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