What else can you do?
What else you can do in case of a herniated disc is very diverse and starts with physiotherapy, medication, sports and ends with surgery. Each treatment is not “off the peg”, but must be tailored to the individual case and what can be done in particular depends crucially on the leading symptoms of the affected person. We have summarized everything on this topic under “Slipped disc – what to do?
Taping for a slipped disc
In the meantime, the so-called kinesiotapes have become firmly established in the treatment of a herniated disc. Even if they are not able to heal a herniated disc, the tapes help to relax the muscles and thus reduce the pain of the lumbar spine. Surgical therapy is always performed when herniated discs are so advanced that they cause massive discomfort, especially when neurological symptoms such as paralysis or incontinence occur.
Surgery is usually performed in departments of neurosurgery or orthopaedics. Operations on the spinal column can be performed either openly or minimally invasive. The latter method is gentler on the patient, but takes a little longer but shows a better cosmetic result, as only small skin incisions are necessary.
The minimally invasive method requires certain anatomical conditions. If visibility conditions do not permit such an operation, surgery must be performed on the open back. The aim of every operation is to remove the herniated disc.
As a rule, the intervertebral disc is removed or the part that has protruded between the vertebral bodies. In most cases, the two vertebral bodies must then be stiffened, since there is no longer sufficient protection between them and bone friction between the two vertebral bodies is prevented by stiffening. The patient usually does not notice much of this stiffening in his everyday movements after the disc surgery, since the other vertebral bodies can take over the movement of the stiffened joint.
The stiffening is usually carried out with plates or screws placed laterally on the vertebral bodies. The operation is performed frequently, but due to its location and proximity to nerves and spinal cord, it is always risky. Postoperative swelling in the area of the vertebral bodies can lead to compression of the spinal cord with signs of paralysis.
In addition, an injury to structures accompanying the spinal column can occur during surgery, making corresponding extended operations necessary. After the operation, the patient should initially wear a corset to protect the joints and limit heavy lifting and bending in the first few weeks. Every spinal surgery is followed by a physiotherapeutic treatment stage, which can be of varying length.
In the meantime, there are approaches to replace the intervertebral disc completely. For this purpose, cartilage cells are cultivated and multiplied outside the body. In a second surgical procedure, the replacement disc is then reinserted between the corresponding vertebral bodies.
Both this procedure and the stiffening procedure show varying degrees of success. As a rule, neurological symptoms can be alleviated. However, patients rarely become completely pain-free, so that supplementary pain therapy is often indicated.
