Non-Surgical Treatment for Herniated Disc in Neck

Most cervical herniated discs get better on their own over a period of 6 weeks. Even though I am a spine surgeon, I believe that it’s best to avoid unnecessary surgery and allow the body to heal naturally. With that in mind, I have listed below nearly every possible non-surgical treatment for a herniated disc in the neck being used today. The list starts with the most time-tested conservative treatments and goes on to list more alternative methods at the end. Each treatment is defined and explained. Following that, in the “Here’s The Bottom Line:” section, you will find my personal opinion about whether that treatment for a herniated disc is worthwhile.

If the pain is not going away and you just can’t take it anymore then you may not want to take more time with these non-surgical treatments. In that case it’s OK to move on and consider the cervical herniated disc surgery options. Everyone has their own individual tolerance for pain.

Use these filters to change the order of the non-surgical treatment

Treatments listed are in order from Most Effective to Least Effective

Pain Management

Dr. Brad Cash is a pain management specialist who uses physical therapy, medications and injections to treat the patient with a slipped disk without surgery.

Epidural Steroid Injection

Treatment of a cervical herniated disc may involve receiving an epidural steroid injection.

Oral Medications

Dr. Seth Neubardt reviews the various types of medications considered best for disk pain.

Chiropractic Care

Many patients like Chiropractic care as a first-line therapy for treatment of cervical herniated disc disease.

Physical Therapy Introduction

Physical Therapy is considered one of the most traditional treatments for the cervical herniated disc.

Acupuncture

Dr. Seth Neubardt meets with the experienced acupuncturist Dr. Gary Sapolin and finds out how acupuncture can be used for patients with pain from a slipped disk.

Traction

What is traction and how is it used to treat the herniated disc? Traction is a common non-surgical treatment for the cervical herniated disc.

Mackenzie Directional Preference

McKenzie Therapy is a specific type of physical therapy that may be used to treat a cervical herniated disc.

Cervical Pillows

What's the best pillow to use for neck pain? What's the best pillow for treatment of a cervical herniated disc?

Ice and Heat

Heat and ice can be used to treat the symptoms of pain associated with the muscle spasm from a herniated cervical disc.

Bedrest

Is bed rest good for neck pain or a cervical disc? How long should bedrest be used when treating a slipped disc?

Medical Massage

Medical Massage is frequently used to treat a cervical herniated disc.

Physiatry

What is Physiatry? Should I see a physiatrist for treatment of my herniated cervical disc?

Psychology

Psychology can be a valuable resource for those patients suffering with issues in their lives that develop as a result of the pain associated with a cervical herniated disc.

Alexander Technique

Alexnder Technique for the treatment of cervical herniated disc disease is a specialized form of physical therapy that works to take the compression out of the spinal system that comes with tension and stress.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a term that incorporates acupressure, acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine seeks to identify the cause of the medical problem and cure it through self-healing. I like the idea of this treatment but at this time do not have enough information about it's role in healing the cervical herniated disc. Stay tuned-- I will be back with a full report on Naturopathic medicine soon!

Kinesio Taping

Kinesio Taping method utilizes an elastic tape that puts tension on the skin and repositions and lifts the skin which theoretically opens the flow of blood and lymphatics to the arm and neck.

Stretching

What are the best stretching exercises for treatment of a cervical herniated disc?

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy may be used as a non-surgical manual treatment that theoretically affects the flow of the cerebral spinal fluid.

TENS Unit

TENS is an electrical stimulation unit that can aid with the muscle spasm and pain associated with a slipped disk.

Topical Patches

There are three types of patches that are used for pain related to the herniated disc.

Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathy is another licensure in the field of medicine and these practitioners are qualified to treat patients with a slipped disk.

Shiatsu Deep Tissue Massage

Shiatsu is a form of deep tissue massage which may help to treat the symptoms from a cervical herniated disc.

Pilates

Can Pilates treat a herniated disc? What is Pilates? Dr. Seth Neubardt explains that Pilates is an excellent way to strengthen the core muscles but it will have no direct effect on the cervical herniated disc.

Exercise

Dr. Seth Neubardt discusses how some exercises can actually aggravate symptoms from a cervical herniated disc.

Braces And Collars

Is a collar or brace good for treating a cervical herniated disc? What is the best collar or brace for a herniated disc? Collars and braces may offer some temporary relief of discomfort from a cervical herniated disc but in general we do not recommend them as a form of treatment.

Radiofrequency Therapy

Radio Frequency Therapy is also called Radio Frequency Denervation. It is often used for chronic back pain. It has no direct effect on a symptomatic herniated disc in the cervical spine.

Dorsal Column Stimulation

Dorsal column stimulation is used more frequently for chronic pain patients in addressing a problem that has not responded to other treatments.

Botox

Botox is a medication that is injected into the muscle to reduce spasm.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a safe treatment that can be used to help healing in general however it does not specifically target the patient's neck or cervical spine.

Yoga

Is Yoga good as a non-surgical treatment of the cervical herniated disc? No, it's not.

Treatments listed are in order from Most Traditional to Least Traditional

Physical Therapy Introduction

Physical Therapy is considered one of the most traditional treatments for the cervical herniated disc.

Oral Medications

Dr. Seth Neubardt reviews the various types of medications considered best for disk pain.

Bedrest

Is bed rest good for neck pain or a cervical disc? How long should bedrest be used when treating a slipped disc?

Cervical Pillows

What's the best pillow to use for neck pain? What's the best pillow for treatment of a cervical herniated disc?

Ice and Heat

Heat and ice can be used to treat the symptoms of pain associated with the muscle spasm from a herniated cervical disc.

Chiropractic Care

Many patients like Chiropractic care as a first-line therapy for treatment of cervical herniated disc disease.

Acupuncture

Dr. Seth Neubardt meets with the experienced acupuncturist Dr. Gary Sapolin and finds out how acupuncture can be used for patients with pain from a slipped disk.

Medical Massage

Medical Massage is frequently used to treat a cervical herniated disc.

Braces And Collars

Is a collar or brace good for treating a cervical herniated disc? What is the best collar or brace for a herniated disc? Collars and braces may offer some temporary relief of discomfort from a cervical herniated disc but in general we do not recommend them as a form of treatment.

Traction

What is traction and how is it used to treat the herniated disc? Traction is a common non-surgical treatment for the cervical herniated disc.

Epidural Steroid Injection

Treatment of a cervical herniated disc may involve receiving an epidural steroid injection.

Topical Patches

There are three types of patches that are used for pain related to the herniated disc.

Pain Management

Dr. Brad Cash is a pain management specialist who uses physical therapy, medications and injections to treat the patient with a slipped disk without surgery.

Physiatry

What is Physiatry? Should I see a physiatrist for treatment of my herniated cervical disc?

TENS Unit

TENS is an electrical stimulation unit that can aid with the muscle spasm and pain associated with a slipped disk.

Mackenzie Directional Preference

McKenzie Therapy is a specific type of physical therapy that may be used to treat a cervical herniated disc.

Psychology

Psychology can be a valuable resource for those patients suffering with issues in their lives that develop as a result of the pain associated with a cervical herniated disc.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a term that incorporates acupressure, acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine seeks to identify the cause of the medical problem and cure it through self-healing. I like the idea of this treatment but at this time do not have enough information about it's role in healing the cervical herniated disc. Stay tuned-- I will be back with a full report on Naturopathic medicine soon!

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy may be used as a non-surgical manual treatment that theoretically affects the flow of the cerebral spinal fluid.

Kinesio Taping

Kinesio Taping method utilizes an elastic tape that puts tension on the skin and repositions and lifts the skin which theoretically opens the flow of blood and lymphatics to the arm and neck.

Stretching

What are the best stretching exercises for treatment of a cervical herniated disc?

Pilates

Can Pilates treat a herniated disc? What is Pilates? Dr. Seth Neubardt explains that Pilates is an excellent way to strengthen the core muscles but it will have no direct effect on the cervical herniated disc.

Alexander Technique

Alexnder Technique for the treatment of cervical herniated disc disease is a specialized form of physical therapy that works to take the compression out of the spinal system that comes with tension and stress.

Shiatsu Deep Tissue Massage

Shiatsu is a form of deep tissue massage which may help to treat the symptoms from a cervical herniated disc.

Yoga

Is Yoga good as a non-surgical treatment of the cervical herniated disc? No, it's not.

Exercise

Dr. Seth Neubardt discusses how some exercises can actually aggravate symptoms from a cervical herniated disc.

Botox

Botox is a medication that is injected into the muscle to reduce spasm.

Radiofrequency Therapy

Radio Frequency Therapy is also called Radio Frequency Denervation. It is often used for chronic back pain. It has no direct effect on a symptomatic herniated disc in the cervical spine.

Dorsal Column Stimulation

Dorsal column stimulation is used more frequently for chronic pain patients in addressing a problem that has not responded to other treatments.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a safe treatment that can be used to help healing in general however it does not specifically target the patient's neck or cervical spine.

Treatments listed are in order from Least Invasive to the Most Invasive

Bedrest

Is bed rest good for neck pain or a cervical disc? How long should bedrest be used when treating a slipped disc?

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a safe treatment that can be used to help healing in general however it does not specifically target the patient's neck or cervical spine.

Cervical Pillows

What's the best pillow to use for neck pain? What's the best pillow for treatment of a cervical herniated disc?

Ice and Heat

Heat and ice can be used to treat the symptoms of pain associated with the muscle spasm from a herniated cervical disc.

Psychology

Psychology can be a valuable resource for those patients suffering with issues in their lives that develop as a result of the pain associated with a cervical herniated disc.

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine seeks to identify the cause of the medical problem and cure it through self-healing. I like the idea of this treatment but at this time do not have enough information about it's role in healing the cervical herniated disc. Stay tuned-- I will be back with a full report on Naturopathic medicine soon!

Braces And Collars

Is a collar or brace good for treating a cervical herniated disc? What is the best collar or brace for a herniated disc? Collars and braces may offer some temporary relief of discomfort from a cervical herniated disc but in general we do not recommend them as a form of treatment.

Alexander Technique

Alexnder Technique for the treatment of cervical herniated disc disease is a specialized form of physical therapy that works to take the compression out of the spinal system that comes with tension and stress.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a term that incorporates acupressure, acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Kinesio Taping

Kinesio Taping method utilizes an elastic tape that puts tension on the skin and repositions and lifts the skin which theoretically opens the flow of blood and lymphatics to the arm and neck.

Medical Massage

Medical Massage is frequently used to treat a cervical herniated disc.

Physical Therapy Introduction

Physical Therapy is considered one of the most traditional treatments for the cervical herniated disc.

Physiatry

What is Physiatry? Should I see a physiatrist for treatment of my herniated cervical disc?

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy may be used as a non-surgical manual treatment that theoretically affects the flow of the cerebral spinal fluid.

TENS Unit

TENS is an electrical stimulation unit that can aid with the muscle spasm and pain associated with a slipped disk.

Pilates

Can Pilates treat a herniated disc? What is Pilates? Dr. Seth Neubardt explains that Pilates is an excellent way to strengthen the core muscles but it will have no direct effect on the cervical herniated disc.

Exercise

Dr. Seth Neubardt discusses how some exercises can actually aggravate symptoms from a cervical herniated disc.

Traction

What is traction and how is it used to treat the herniated disc? Traction is a common non-surgical treatment for the cervical herniated disc.

Mackenzie Directional Preference

McKenzie Therapy is a specific type of physical therapy that may be used to treat a cervical herniated disc.

Stretching

What are the best stretching exercises for treatment of a cervical herniated disc?

Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathy is another licensure in the field of medicine and these practitioners are qualified to treat patients with a slipped disk.

Shiatsu Deep Tissue Massage

Shiatsu is a form of deep tissue massage which may help to treat the symptoms from a cervical herniated disc.

Chiropractic Care

Many patients like Chiropractic care as a first-line therapy for treatment of cervical herniated disc disease.

Yoga

Is Yoga good as a non-surgical treatment of the cervical herniated disc? No, it's not.

Topical Patches

There are three types of patches that are used for pain related to the herniated disc.

Oral Medications

Dr. Seth Neubardt reviews the various types of medications considered best for disk pain.

Pain Management

Dr. Brad Cash is a pain management specialist who uses physical therapy, medications and injections to treat the patient with a slipped disk without surgery.

Acupuncture

Dr. Seth Neubardt meets with the experienced acupuncturist Dr. Gary Sapolin and finds out how acupuncture can be used for patients with pain from a slipped disk.

Epidural Steroid Injection

Treatment of a cervical herniated disc may involve receiving an epidural steroid injection.

Botox

Botox is a medication that is injected into the muscle to reduce spasm.

Radiofrequency Therapy

Radio Frequency Therapy is also called Radio Frequency Denervation. It is often used for chronic back pain. It has no direct effect on a symptomatic herniated disc in the cervical spine.

Dorsal Column Stimulation

Dorsal column stimulation is used more frequently for chronic pain patients in addressing a problem that has not responded to other treatments.