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San Francisco, CA
A 30-year-old female asked:

I had an l5-s1 large disc protrusion in 2009 and now my lower back is sore again (x5 days). what is the best treatment to avoid it getting worse?

1 doctor answer1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Thomas Dowling
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 42 years experience
Careful exercise: The risk of a recurrence is 5%. Start by avoiding prolonged positioning & any repetitive twist or bend maneuvers. If you had physical therapy with your last episode, resume those exercises. Use of otc medication will help control symptoms. Cardiovascular workouts may help except for rowing & maybe running. If you did not have physical therapy, you may want to get a session to learn exercises.
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Last updated Sep 13, 2012

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