Prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc (PLID) is one of the most common problems people face. In this video Prof. Dr. A. F. M. Momtazul Haque explains how it is treated — starting with the most important fact: 90–95% of patients do not need any operation.
1. Rest — but only for three days
The disc has torn. Whenever the body has a wound, we rest it so the body’s own regeneration can repair it. For a disc, real rest means lying down — bed rest. If you keep walking around despite the pain, you keep making the injury worse. For acute pain, rest for three days only; longer than that and the muscles start to weaken.
2. Medicines for relief
- Pain relievers, with an anti-ulcer (“gas”) medicine to protect the stomach
- Muscle relaxants
- Vitamin B1-B6-B12 combinations, commonly used for back and leg pain
- Sometimes a mild sleeping medicine if pain disturbs sleep
No more effective medicine has been discovered anywhere in the world; these give temporary relief while the body repairs itself.
3. Physiotherapy
A physiotherapist can teach muscle-strengthening exercises, how to avoid strain, and the right posture for you.
Other interventions
Epidural steroids, ozone therapy, laser therapy and similar treatments are often offered. Their scientifically proven effectiveness is a grey area — it is hard to know whether a patient improved because of the intervention or because of rest.
When surgery is considered
For the 5–10% who do not improve, MRI, X-ray and other tests are done. Surgery is advised, after careful thought, when there is a neurological deficit — leg weakness, or problems passing urine or stool — or when pain persists for 3–4 months despite painkillers that are putting strain on the kidneys. In these cases an operation is effective.
This article is for general awareness only; it is not a substitute for direct medical advice.
