Ranked #23 in the Nation for Orthopedics
Houston Methodist Hospital is ranked No. 23 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for orthopedics, receiving a performing rating for back surgery, and is ranked No 13 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. U.S. News & World Report has also named Houston Methodist Hospital one of the nation's best as a nationally ranked Honor Roll hospital.
Treating & Managing Your Herniated Disk
Our medical professionals are committed to superior outcomes, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. We strive to relieve pain and restore function to the injured parts of your body, while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. Your care team may use one or more of the methods below to treat and manage a herniated disk.
At-Home Care
Most herniated disk cases are relatively mild and can be treated at home over time with rest, an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and heat/ice therapy.
It is important to avoid any movements that cause back or neck strain while you recover. Gentle stretches, walking or riding a stationary bike may help you relieve pain and build core strength. Your doctor may also prescribe aquatic therapy, which includes a variety of exercises performed in water. Water therapy uses natural resistance to gradually and gently improve strength and flexibility.
Prescription Medications
Your doctor may prescribe medication if over-the-counter medications don’t adequately relieve pain and swelling. Prescription muscle relaxers may ease muscle spasms. Oral corticosteroids, neuropathic (nerve pain) medications or narcotics can also help reduce inflammation and pain, if prescribed.
Injection-Based Treatments
- Discography – This X-ray guided diagnostic procedure involves injecting disks with a sterile dye.
- Epidural steroid injections (ESI) – This directly treats irritated nerve roots with injected steroids.
- Facet and medial branch blocks – These are injections of local anesthesia directly into a joint in the spine (facet block) or near a nerve outside the joint (medial branch block).
- Facet rhizotomy – This is a procedure in which an electrothermal needle is inserted into a joint to deaden irritated nerves with heat.
Surgical Procedures
Surgery for a herniated disk is rare but may be recommended if standard treatments aren’t enough to relieve symptoms. Surgery typically involves removing protruding disk material. In extreme cases, the entire disk is removed and replaced by an artificial disk.
Houston Methodist’s spine surgeons are highly experienced performing the most delicate procedures. Our less invasive approaches like microdiscectomy can reduce surgery risk, speed recovery and help you return to your daily activities sooner.
Learn more about surgical procedures for herniated disks >
Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
By incorporating advanced techniques and technologies into your personalized treatment plan, our therapists help get you back to the activities you enjoy.
Physical Therapy: Why It’s Important, When to Go & What to Expect
When you’re in pain, your first thought is probably to take a pain reliever, get some rest and apply ice or heat. But if the pain continues despite these easy at-home remedies, it might be time to consider physical therapy.
Leg Pain: Could the Problem Actually Be Your Lower Back?
Whether it's hip pain, knee pain or leg pain, patients are often surprised to learn that they can have a back problem without any back pain. Understand the connection between back problems and leg pain.
Convenient Spine Care Locations Across the Greater Houston Area
Across Houston, our patients have access to our expert neck, back and spine specialists so that you can get the best possible care personalized for your needs — without traveling far from home. Explore our footprint of locations in the greater Houston area and suburbs below.