I have a herniated disc. can heat help relieve the pain?

Yes: The pain from a herniated disc is due both to pinched nerves and to reactive muscle spasms. The heat will help relieve the muscle spasm related pain. Typically nerve pain will be more responsive to application of cold packs. Generally speaking, pain is a very subjective experience. Whether heat or cold works better for you depends on your individual sensation.

Yes: Pinched nerve symptoms from a disk herniation can also respond to anti-inflammatory medications, short-term muscle relaxants, pain medication, and physical therapy. Once confirmed by mri, severe or refractory pinched nerve symptoms from disk herniation can also respond to epidural injections. As a last resort, surgical microdiscetomy can be highly effective in appropriately selected patients.

Yes: Pinched nerve pain from a disk herniation can also be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, short-term pain relievers, and physical therapy. After MRI confirmation, epidural injections also can help relieve symptoms. As a last resort, outpatient, minimally invasive, surgical microdiskectomy can be highly effective in the appropriately selected patient.