Herniated Disc (cont.)
Other Treatment
You can try other treatments besides medicine and surgery, including: Complementary and alternative medicineYou can use complementary and alternative medicine along with standard or conventional care to treat leg and back pain caused by a herniated disc. Although no large studies have proved that these work well or are safe, they may help some people. Some examples are:2 - Acupuncture.
- Massage.
- Manipulation, such as chiropractic or osteopathic therapies. Manipulation has produced mixed results for people with herniated discs, but it is likely to help some people. Consider waiting 4 weeks before using it to treat a herniated disc. You may see a big improvement in your symptoms during this time.1
Talk to your doctor before using complementary and alternative medicine to treat a herniated disc.
Other Places To Get Help
Organizations| North American Spine Society | | 7075 Veterans Boulevard | | Burr Ridge, IL 60527 | | | Phone: | (630) 230-3600 | | Fax: | (630) 230-3700 | | Web Address: | http://www.spine.org | | The North American Spine Society (NASS) promotes education, research, and advocacy for spine care. This group's patient education website (www.KnowYourBack.org) has information on the cause, treatment, and prevention of neck and back problems. It has references and brochures to help patients make health decisions. NASS members are spine care professionals such as orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, and researchers. |
| | RadiologyInfo | | c/o Radiological Society of North America, Inc. | | 820 Jorie Boulevard | | Oak Brook, IL 60523-2251 | | | Phone: | (630) 571-2670
| | Fax: | (630) 571-7837 | | Web Address: | www.radiologyinfo.org | | RadiologyInfo is a joint project of the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America. The website is designed to answer consumer questions about radiology procedures and therapies. RadiologyInfo has information on X-ray, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and other procedures. The information includes how they are used for diagnosis and treatment, how to prepare for the procedures, and what a patient may experience. |
| | American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) | | 6300 North River Road | | Rosemont, IL 60018-4262 | | Phone: | 1-800-346-AAOS (1-800-346-2267)
(847) 823-7186 | | Fax: | (847) 823-8125 | | Email: | orthoinfo@aaos.org | | Web Address: | www.orthoinfo.aaos.org | | The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) provides information and education to raise the public's awareness of musculoskeletal conditions, with an emphasis on preventive measures. The AAOS website contains information on orthopedic conditions and treatments, injury prevention, and wellness and exercise. |
| | American Physical Therapy Association | | 1111 North Fairfax Street | | Alexandria, VA 22314-1488 | | Phone: | 1-800-999-APTA (1-800-999-2782)
(703) 684-2782 | | Fax: | (703) 684-7343 | | TDD: | (703) 683-6748 | | Web Address: | www.apta.org | | The American Physical Therapy Association is a national organization representing nearly 70,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapist education, practice, and research. The APTA also provides information and education to the public about physical therapy and how it is used to treat certain conditions. |
| | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health | | 1 AMS Circle | | Bethesda, MD 20892-3675 | | Phone: | 1-877-22-NIAMS (1-877-226-4267) toll-free | | Phone: | (301) 495-4484 | | Fax: | (301) 718-6366 | | TDD: | (301) 565-2966 | | Email: | niamsinfo@mail.nih.gov | | Web Address: | www.niams.nih.gov | | The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is a governmental institute that serves the public and health professionals by providing information, locating other information sources, and participating in a national federal database of health information. NIAMS supports research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases and supports the training of scientists to carry out this research. The NIAMS website provides health information referrals to the NIAMS Clearinghouse, which has information packages about diseases. |
|
eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise 
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions. To learn more visit Healthwise.org © 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. |
