Is massage useful for lumbar disc herniation?

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on January 15, 2025
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Can massage be used for lumbar disc herniation? Its clinical effects are quite good. The primary function of massage therapy is to relieve muscle spasms, then dilate blood vessels, increase local blood circulation, and promote peripheral metabolism, thereby achieving the purpose of curing diseases. It mainly uses rolling and pushing techniques, with the main acupoint being the Jiaji acupoint. Auxiliary acupoints generally include Yangguan, Yaoyangguan, Mingmen, Shenshu, Weizhong, Chengshan, and Yanglingquan, among others. Additionally, it includes two board techniques. These board techniques are very effective for minor joint disorders of the lumbar spine. There are two board techniques, one is the slant board technique, and the other is the rotating tube board technique, with the slant board technique being relatively easier to perform. Generally, patients experience varying degrees of symptom relief after proper and effective massage, and many people's symptoms disappear altogether.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
47sec home-news-image

Can people with lumbar disc herniation have sexual intercourse?

Appropriate and occasional sexual activity is permissible. During the acute phase of lumbar disc herniation, it is strictly prohibited to engage in excessive physical activities, including sexual activity, as it may trigger or exacerbate symptoms such as increased herniation, nerve compression, and resultant numbness or painful sensations in the lower limbs. However, during the chronic phase of disc herniation, after systematic treatment and significant symptom improvement, sexual activity can be resumed appropriately and occasionally, such as once every two to three weeks, or adjusted according to different age groups to a normal frequency. Additionally, it is important to avoid excessive bending and heavy lifting to prevent worsening the pain and discomfort associated with lumbar disc herniation.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
1min 29sec home-news-image

How many days to administer fluids after minimally invasive surgery for lumbar disc herniation?

With the development of medical technology, currently for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, such as when conservative treatment is ineffective—including lying on a hard bed, pre-heating the waist, taking blood-activating and pain-relieving medication, or drugs that nourish the nerves—some interventional surgeries are chosen if these do not provide relief. The main ones commonly used include ozone ablation, collagenase nucleolysis, percutaneous disc removal, and foraminoscopic technology, etc., all of which carry very low risk. The most commonly used is ozone ablation, which involves instant oxidation of the degenerated protruded nucleus pulposus. This destroys the proteoglycans, thereby making the proteoglycans lose their function. The cells produce proteoglycans, reducing the osmotic pressure of the nucleus tissue, which cannot maintain normal moisture, leading to shrinkage and loss of tissue. This increases the space, thereby reducing the symptoms of nerve compression caused by disc herniation. Usually, antibiotics are used post-surgery to prevent infection, generally for about three days. After the medication is completed, considering discharge and returning home for recovery is possible, followed by oral medication. (Please use medications under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 4sec home-news-image

Is massage useful for lumbar disc herniation?

Can massage be used for lumbar disc herniation? Its clinical effects are quite good. The primary function of massage therapy is to relieve muscle spasms, then dilate blood vessels, increase local blood circulation, and promote peripheral metabolism, thereby achieving the purpose of curing diseases. It mainly uses rolling and pushing techniques, with the main acupoint being the Jiaji acupoint. Auxiliary acupoints generally include Yangguan, Yaoyangguan, Mingmen, Shenshu, Weizhong, Chengshan, and Yanglingquan, among others. Additionally, it includes two board techniques. These board techniques are very effective for minor joint disorders of the lumbar spine. There are two board techniques, one is the slant board technique, and the other is the rotating tube board technique, with the slant board technique being relatively easier to perform. Generally, patients experience varying degrees of symptom relief after proper and effective massage, and many people's symptoms disappear altogether.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
51sec home-news-image

How is a herniated lumbar disc treated?

The treatment methods for lumbar disc herniation currently fall into two categories in clinical practice. The first is conservative treatment, which primarily involves methods like massage, acupuncture, electrotherapy, magnetic therapy, and traction to alleviate symptoms of pain and restricted movement in the lower back. If conservative treatment proves ineffective and the patient's condition worsens, accompanied by radiating pain and numbness in both legs, it indicates that the herniated disc has severely compressed the nerve roots. At this point, the effectiveness of conservative treatment becomes very poor, and the only option may be to undergo surgical treatment. The primary goal of surgery is to remove the herniated disc, and if the patient has spinal instability, it also involves the use of screws and plates to restore spinal stability.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 27sec home-news-image

Precautions for Lumbar Disc Herniation

For patients with lumbar disc herniation, self-prevention and self-treatment are very effective methods. What should be paid attention to in daily life? The first point is to maintain a correct sitting posture, sit upright, do not lean back, and avoid sitting for long periods. It is also necessary to keep the waist warm and prevent it from getting cold. The second point is to engage in some exercises, mainly those that strengthen the muscles of the lower back, such as large swallow flight, small swallow flight, single bridge, and double bridge. The third point is that in daily life, it is important to pay attention to maintaining the correct posture when working, avoiding putting too much pressure on the lumbar spine, and not using brute force. The fourth point is that in terms of rest, it is best to sleep on a hard bed and add a small pad at the waist or a soft pillow under the knee joints. This can keep the knee and hip joints at a certain degree of flexion, allowing the muscles of the lower back to fully relax. The fifth point is to wear a waist brace under the guidance of a doctor. This waist brace is a very common orthopedic support, which functions to immobilize and protect the waist. Moreover, for patients with lumbar disc herniation, it can greatly increase the stability of the lumbar spine and consolidate the effects of previous treatments. Therefore, patients with lumbar disc herniation must pay attention to these details in daily life.