Patients with leg pain caused by a herniated lumbar disc that is pressing on a nerve should consider the need for surgery based on the effectiveness of conservative treatment. If physical therapy and medication can reduce the symptoms well, surgery is not needed, and if conservative treatment is not effective, surgery is needed. Physical therapy, medication and surgery are the treatment methods.
1. Physiotherapy: while resting on a hard bed, patients can undergo physical therapy such as massage and physiotherapy, hot compresses and acupuncture. Promote local blood circulation, reduce the pressure of herniated lumbar disc on the nerves, and then relieve the symptoms of leg pain.
2. medication: patients can use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen under the advice of a doctor to play an anti-inflammatory and analgesic role. Methylcobalamin tablets can also be used to nourish and partially repair the nerve function and reduce the symptoms of leg pain due to nerve compression.
3. Surgery: If the efficacy of physical therapy and medication is not obvious and the pain is still severe, which affects the patient’s normal work and life, surgery can be considered. Surgical methods include minimally invasive arthroscopic nucleus pulposus removal surgery and open surgery for half or total laminectomy.
It is recommended that patients with leg pain due to herniated lumbar vertebrae compressing the nerves should go to the hospital for examination in time, and consider the need for surgical treatment according to the severity of their condition under the advice of the doctor.