Should I have surgery for a herniated disc when I'm young?

I have had a herniated disc for a year now, I don't take any medicine, it hurts a lot when the weather changes. I went to see a doctor, he said I don't need surgery yet.

But I am very afraid that it will get worse and worse and I cannot have surgery. Doctor, please tell me if I need surgery right away or can I just do exercises like swimming and pull-ups? When should I consider surgery? I was advised that surgery has a 50/50 chance of recovery, and there is even a risk of hemiplegia. I am very worried, the pain is currently affecting my work and life. ( Nguyen Van Cuong, 27 years old, Can Tho )

Reply:

For disc herniation, depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor will have different treatment methods. First, the patient will be treated conservatively. This method combines drug treatment, physical therapy and a healthy lifestyle.

Pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants... are commonly used drugs in the treatment of herniated discs. Patients should take note to take the medication as prescribed by their doctor to avoid side effects such as dizziness, nausea, allergies, and more dangerously, stomach ulcers, impaired liver and kidney function, osteoporosis...

In parallel, patients can combine physical therapy exercises to overcome pain and limit nerve compression due to incorrect posture during work and daily activities. These exercises should be performed under the guidance of medical staff.

In addition, patients need to pay attention to regular exercise. For herniated discs, swinging on the bar, swimming... are recommended. Swinging on the bar helps the spine to be stretched, increasing the distance between the vertebrae, reducing pressure on the disc. Swinging on the bar also releases compressed nerves, effectively reducing pain. Patients should hang on the bar for about 45 seconds, then slowly lower themselves. Swing on the bar 3-4 times each time, practice 3 times a week.

Meanwhile, swimming helps reduce the pressure caused by the body's weight on the joints, thereby reducing compression of the discs and effectively reducing pain. In addition, deep breathing while swimming increases the amount of blood and oxygen circulating in the body, helping to effectively reduce pain and inflammation. To effectively support the treatment of disc herniation, patients should choose to swim breaststroke, swimming regularly for 30-60 minutes/time, 3-4 times a week.

When non-drug and medical treatments for disc herniation do not improve symptoms within 4-6 weeks, surgery may be an option. Depending on the specific condition, the doctor may prescribe appropriate surgical methods such as: open surgery, microsurgery, endoscopy, spinal fusion, artificial disc replacement.

MD.CKI Nguyen Van Toai
Department of Neurosurgery - Spine, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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