Disk Herniation

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A lumbar disk, or intervertebral disk, is a sac filled with a gel-like material found between your vertebrae. Your vertebrae are the bones in your back that are linked together to form your spine. Your lumbar disks and vertebrae are found in your lower back. Your vertebrae and disks help your spine and body support your weight. Your spine surrounds your spinal cord that contains your nerves. Lumbar disk herniation occurs when the gel-like material bulges or leaks out from your vertebrae. A weak disk, injury, or cracked vertebrae may cause your disk to herniate. The herniated disk may press on your nerves or spinal cord. A herniated lumbar disk may be painful and decrease your movement.
  
  
• You may feel pain in your lower back, buttocks, groin, or legs. Your legs may be numb (lose feeling), or they may have a burning or tingling feeling. You may have trouble walking or moving your legs. You caregiver may check your spine and feel for areas that cause you pain. Imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computed tomography (CT) scan, and a myelogram may be needed. Treatment may include medicines, injections, physical therapy, and surgery. Having your lumbar disk herniation treated may decrease your pain. You may be able to move and function in your daily life better. Treatment may also prevent your nerves or spinal cord from being permanently damaged.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• You may have an allergic reaction to the medicines used for treatment or surgery. Shots into your spine may bruise your back, and cause an infection or damage your spinal cord. With surgery, you may bleed more than expected or get an infection. Your lumbar spine may be weak and unstable. The covering of your spinal cord may be damaged and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may leak out. You may get blood clots that cause a blockage in your blood vessels. If a blood clot travels to your lungs, you may die. Even with treatment, you may still feel pain.
  
  
• If your lumbar disk herniation is not treated, your symptoms may worsen. Your bulging disk may continue to press on your spinal cord or nerves causing permanent damage. Your legs may become weak and very numb. Your back and leg pain may make it hard for you to move. You may begin to have problems with leaking urine or bowel movements. Ask your caregiver if you have questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent

is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

An IV (intravenous)

is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

MEDICINE

• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  
• Muscle relaxers: This medicine helps relax your muscles. It is also given to decrease pain and muscle spasms.
  
  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine: This type of medicine is also called NSAIDs. NSAIDs may help decrease pain and inflammation (swelling). This medicine can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. Ask your caregiver if you have any questions about NSAIDs.
  
  
• Steroids: Steroid medicine may be given to decrease inflammation, which is pain and swelling.

Treatment options:

• Injection therapy:
  
  
  • Chemonucleolysis: During chemonucleolysis, your caregiver will give you a shot of medicine into your herniated disk. The medicine used for this treatment works by shrinking your bulging disk.
    
    
  • Epidural injections: An epidural injection is medicine given as a shot into the area of your disk herniation. The injection may numb the area and decrease your pain.
  
  
• Physical therapy: During physical therapy, you will work with a special caregiver on exercises to make your back stronger. These exercises may also help to decrease your pain. You will need to start slowly and increase your activity as you get stronger. Physical therapy may help you return to your usual activities faster. You may also learn better ways to bend, lift, sit and stand to decrease your risk for low back pain. During physical therapy, you may also have the following:
  
  
  • Deep heat ultrasound: During deep heat ultrasound, a small plastic or metal device will be moved around your lower back. The device uses heat to reach your deep tissues and decrease your pain. The heat may also decrease any swelling and help heal your tissues.
    
    
  • Traction: During traction, a special device is used to stretch your spine. Stretching your vertebrae may decrease the pressure on your nerves and lessen your pain. Ask your caregiver for more information about traction.
  
  
• Surgery: You may need surgery to fix your herniated disk if other treatments have failed. Surgery may be done to remove your herniated disk and make your spine stronger. Surgery may also be done to decrease pressure on your nerves and spinal cord. Ask your caregiver for more information about the different surgeries for herniated disks.

Learn more about Disk Herniation (Inpatient Care)