What role does embedding therapy play in lumbar disc herniation?

Written by Nie Lei Sheng
Orthopedics
Updated on February 07, 2025
00:00
00:00

Thread embedding therapy for lumbar disc herniation is a category of Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment. Its function is similar to acupressure, acupuncture, and moxibustion, primarily involving the insertion of absorbable threads into specific acupoints or meridians to continuously stimulate and regulate these areas. This treatment is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. Some patients may achieve good results, but others may not find it effective. It is advised that patients with lumbar disc herniation should seek treatment at a legitimate hospital. While thread embedding therapy can be attempted, it does not guarantee good results for all patients. Oral medication may be necessary, and in severe cases, surgical intervention might be required.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
1min 19sec home-news-image

Is lumbar disc herniation difficult to treat?

Patients with lumbar disc herniation, after standard and regulated treatment, can mostly effectively alleviate symptoms, and even achieve clinical recovery. The treatment for lumbar disc herniation mainly includes non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment. The specific method of treatment to be used should be comprehensively considered based on symptoms, physical examination, imaging studies, and other factors. For non-surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation, it is recommended that patients protect their lower back in daily life, develop correct habits of using the lower back, and avoid lifting heavy objects partially and other heavy physical activities involving the lower back. During stable periods of the condition, some exercises to strengthen the lower back and spinal functions can be performed. At the same time, when symptoms occur, anti-inflammatory analgesics, neuro-nutritional drugs, and other medications can be used. Treatments can also be combined with hot compresses, physical therapy, massage, and acupuncture. These conservative treatment methods generally can achieve good results. When conservative treatment is ineffective or functional impairment occurs, surgical treatment can also be considered. (Specific medication use should be guided by a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
43sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of lumbar disc herniation?

The early symptoms of lumbar disc herniation mainly include back pain and limited mobility. With appropriate conservative treatment at this stage, the symptoms will not worsen. For example, sleeping on a hard bed, resting adequately, and using some physical therapy methods can help alleviate back pain and restricted mobility. If back pain and mobility limitations occur and are not treated correctly, it may lead to mid-to-late-stage symptoms. The patient will typically experience sciatica, with radiating pain and numbness in both lower limbs, caused by the herniated disc compressing the nerve root, leading to impaired nerve function and symptoms of numbness and pain in the lower limbs.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 32sec home-news-image

Is a herniated lumbar disc serious?

Lumbar disc herniation is primarily due to degeneration of the lumbar disc or secondary pathological changes caused by this degeneration, which then stimulate blood vessels, nerve roots, and the spinal cord, leading to a series of clinical symptoms. Lumbar disc herniation is categorized into four types. The mildest type is the bulging type, followed by the protruding type, the more severe extrusion type, and finally the most severe, the sequestration type. Generally, lumbar disc bulging is relatively mild and conservative treatment is usually effective. Depending on the site and degree of compression, lumbar disc herniation may be treated conservatively, but some cases require surgical intervention. Most cases of disc extrusion require surgery because the extrusion leads to spinal stenosis, compressing all or part of the blood vessels, and it can also compress the spine and nerve roots, causing irreversible damage, and medications or massages can't reverse the condition. The fourth point concerns lumbar disc prolapse, meaning the nucleus pulposus falls into the spinal canal through the tear. This is one of the few emergencies seen in spinal surgery. If this occurs, immediate surgical treatment is necessary. Therefore, the severity of lumbar disc herniation mainly depends on the type and degree of the herniation, as well as the location and direction of the herniation, and which treatment method needs to be used.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 53sec home-news-image

What are the methods for diagnosing lumbar disc herniation?

The diagnostic methods for lumbar disc herniation are essentially three-dimensional; that is, clinical symptoms plus physical examination combined with auxiliary examinations. First, let's talk about clinical manifestations, which include pain, functional impairment, and local sensory abnormalities in cases of lumbar disc herniation. Second, in the physical examination of lumbar disc herniation, the intervertebral disc often shows some deformation, and the most common is a reduction or disappearance of the lumbar spine's forward physiological curvature, referred to colloquially as "flatback," where the back appears flat like a board. Other findings may include spinal scoliosis and specific tender points, usually located next to the protruding vertebrae. Percussing these tender points may induce radiating pain to the buttocks or lower limbs. Additional examinations might reveal abnormalities in the strength or sensation of lower limb muscles at different stages, as various muscles and sensory areas are affected differently. Special tests such as the straight leg raise test, femoral nerve stretch test, and neck flexion test are generally positive. The most routine auxiliary examination involves taking x-ray images, followed by CT scans, which can directly visualize the location and extent of the disc herniation. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also used, which has significant advantages. MRI provides three-dimensional images, showing the sagittal, coronal, and axial planes, which helps in better assessing the condition of herniated discs. Therefore, these are the areas covered in diagnosing lumbar disc herniation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
47sec home-news-image

What department should I see for a lumbar disc herniation?

For herniated lumbar discs, you should visit either the Department of Spine Surgery or Orthopedics. The specific department depends on the hospital you choose to visit. If the hospital is a high-level institution, grade three or above, it will certainly have a Department of Spine Surgery, so this would be the first choice. However, if the hospital is a community clinic or a second-tier hospital, it might not have a Spine Surgery department, so you would need to visit the general Orthopedics department. Although herniated lumbar discs are a common orthopedic condition and can be treated in Orthopedics, visiting a specialist in Spine Surgery can often provide more expert care as these doctors may have higher levels of experience and expertise in treatment.