What are my options for herniated disks?

Time, meds, exercise: Most get better with time, 90%. Activity modification with guided exercise, medication & epidural steroid injections are options & if no better after 12 weeks, surgery may be an option. Lifestyle changes like not smoking, not being obese and regularly exercising will minimize any future back problems as well as taking adequate vitamin d and calcium. Alot of disc herniations never cause symptoms.

Several things : Time is the biggest healer as 90% resolve with no surgery. Lifestyle changes like weight control, not smoking & regular exercise are important. Core strengthening & cardiovascular exercises are important as well as flexibility. This can be learned through physical therapy. Some people like to use inversion tables for traction or try acupuncture or even chiropractic

Spine Pain Options: This pain may need evaluation by a spine specialist and you may be candidate for facet injections/radiofrequency ablation and epidural steroid injection. if you fail these along with physical therapy you might want to at least meet with a spine surgeon to discuss surgical options.