19 y o athlete on scholarship who has l5 s1 herniated disc and has tried conservative tx of pt, epidural and meds and rest with no significant relief ?

?MRI done: Large disc herniations with neurological signs or symptoms may require surgery - an MRI can give a good idea of the prognosis - most disc herniations will heal with time. I have used inversion tables with excellent success in many cases of back pain - chronic seems to respond better than acute but worth a try. The is is a well-studied but underutilized modality.

If no respose to 12: Weeks of non operative care, surgery is a viable option that does not necessarily preclude a return to highly competitive sports which has been witnessed on the professional level in a variety of sports including football. If there is a current inability to return to full participation, surgery is an option with 12 weeks of post op rehabilitation indicated.