What Treatment Options Will the Hospital Provide for Your Herniated Disc?
When back pain becomes unbearable and you suspect a herniated disc, knowing what to expect at the hospital can ease your anxiety. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the various diagnostic procedures, treatment protocols, and care options hospitals provide for herniated disc patients and present a deeper dive into emergency interventions, pain management strategies, and the decision-making process that determines whether conservative treatment or surgical intervention is the right path for your recovery.
Initial Emergency Assessment
When you arrive at the hospital with suspected herniated disc symptoms, the emergency department or admitting physician will conduct a thorough initial assessment. Medical staff will evaluate your pain levels, mobility limitations, and neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness in your extremities. They will ask detailed questions about when your symptoms began, what activities may have triggered them, and whether you have experienced loss of bladder or bowel control, which is a red flag symptom requiring immediate attention.
The medical team will perform a physical examination that includes checking your reflexes, muscle strength, and sensation in affected areas. They will assess your range of motion and may conduct specific tests like the straight leg raise to identify nerve compression. This initial evaluation determines the urgency of your condition and guides the next steps in your care plan.
Diagnostic Imaging and Testing
Following the initial assessment, hospitals typically order diagnostic imaging to confirm the herniated disc diagnosis and determine its severity. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is the gold standard for visualizing herniated discs, as it provides detailed images of soft tissues including discs, nerves, and spinal cord structures. The MRI can reveal the exact location of the herniation, its size, and whether it is compressing nearby nerves.
In some cases, particularly if MRI is contraindicated or unavailable, hospitals may use CT (computed tomography) scans or CT myelography. X-rays alone cannot show herniated discs, since they only visualize bones, but they may be taken to rule out other conditions like fractures or arthritis. Some hospitals may also perform nerve conduction studies or electromyography (EMG) to assess nerve damage and determine which specific nerves are affected.
Pain Management and Symptom Relief
One of the hospital’s primary goals is providing immediate pain relief and reducing inflammation. Medical staff will likely administer medications to manage your symptoms, starting with anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen in higher doses than over-the-counter recommendations. For severe pain, they may prescribe stronger pain relievers, including short-term opioid medications, though hospitals are increasingly cautious about opioid use due to addiction concerns.
Muscle relaxants may be prescribed to reduce painful muscle spasms that often accompany herniated discs. Corticosteroids, either oral or injectable, might be administered to reduce inflammation around compressed nerves. In some cases, hospitals offer epidural steroid injections, where anti-inflammatory medication is delivered directly into the space around the spinal cord and nerve roots, providing targeted relief that can last weeks or months.
Conservative Treatment Approaches
For most herniated disc cases, hospitals recommend starting with conservative nonsurgical treatments. You may be referred to physical therapy, which can begin during your hospital stay or shortly after discharge. Physical therapists work with you to develop exercises that strengthen supporting muscles, increase flexibility, and reduce pressure on affected nerves.
The hospital may also recommend or provide complementary treatments such as heat and ice therapy, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) units for pain management, and education about proper body mechanics to prevent further injury. Medical staff will discuss activity modifications and may prescribe a short period of rest, though extended bed rest is no longer recommended, as it can weaken muscles and delay recovery.
When Surgery Becomes Necessary
While approximately 90 percent of herniated disc patients improve with conservative treatment, hospitals are prepared to perform surgery when necessary. Surgical intervention becomes urgent if you experience cauda equina syndrome, a rare but serious condition involving loss of bowel or bladder control, severe weakness in the legs, or saddle anesthesia (numbness in the inner thighs and buttocks).
The most common surgical procedure for herniated discs is a microdiscectomy, where surgeons remove the portion of the disc pressing on the nerve root. This minimally invasive procedure typically requires only a small incision and often allows patients to go home the same day or after a short hospital stay. For more complex cases, hospitals may perform laminectomy (removing part of the vertebral bone) or spinal fusion to stabilize the spine.
Admission versus Outpatient Care
Whether you will be admitted to the hospital or treated as an outpatient depends on your symptoms’ severity and the required interventions. Most herniated disc cases are managed on an outpatient basis, with patients receiving diagnostic tests, pain management, and discharge instructions within hours. However, admission may be necessary if you require intravenous medications, intensive pain management, or urgent surgical intervention or if you have complicating factors like severe neurological deficits.
Discharge Planning and Follow-Up
Before leaving the hospital, you will receive comprehensive discharge instructions including medication schedules, activity restrictions, warning signs to watch for, and follow-up appointment information. The hospital may arrange referrals to specialists such as neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, or pain management physicians. They will provide guidance on when you can return to work and resume normal activities.
Hospital staff will emphasize the importance of following through with physical therapy and attending all follow-up appointments. They will educate you about proper lifting techniques, posture, and lifestyle modifications to prevent future disc problems and support your recovery journey.
If you have a herniated disc that is not responding to conservative treatment, a discectomy or less invasive microdiscectomy may be discussed and potentially recommended. Although this is generally a very successful procedure, having a large hole in the outer ring of the disc more than doubles the risk of needing another operation. A new treatment, Barricaid, is a bone-anchored device designed to close this hole, and 95 percent of Barricaid patients did not undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in a 2-year study time frame. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and does not require any additional incisions or time in the hospital.
If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment, ask your doctor or contact us today.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.
Comments