Alternative Treatments for Herniated Disc

Acupuncture, acupressure, and massage may work to relieve your herniated disc pain.

Written by Jason M. Highsmith, MD

Alternative and complementary treatments such as acupuncture, acupressure, and massage may relieve pain associated with a herniated or bulging disc.


Exploring alternative methods may not only make you more relaxed and pain free but also keep you out of the operating room. For a herniated disc, you may want to try:


Based on your specific diagnosis, the practitioner will likely insert multiple needles that are left in for about 20-40 minutes.


Similarly, the Gate Control Theory may play a role in acupuncture's effectiveness at reducing pain. This theory asserts that pain signals travel slowly from the area of injury to the spinal cord into the brain because the nerves can only handle a limited number of signals at once. Acupuncture is thought to generate faster signals to crowd out the slow-moving pain signals, thus blocking out the pain.

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Acupressure: Not surprisingly, acupressure is very similar to acupuncture. Both are ancient techniques that restore a healthy flow of energy through the body by stimulating specific meridian points. But acupressure simply relies on fingers, hands, and elbows—not needles—to administer pressure. Acupressure is for people of all ages but not for pregnant women (some acupressure points may cause miscarriage) and those with high blood pressure.

Massage: When received regularly, massage may offer chronic low back pain relief. A massage involves the stroking, kneading, and manipulation of your back tissues. These movements increase blood flow, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. Extra blood also carries away waste byproducts that may accumulate over time.

While massage is not a proven treatment for herniated discs, it's generally safe and free of side effects. However, massage may not be right for you if you suffer from osteoporosis, deep vein thrombosis, skin infections, open wounds, or arthritis in or near the area to be massaged.

When you start any new medical program, let your practitioner know if you have any health conditions besides pain from your herniated disc. It's also important to note that these treatments are most effective when used as complementary treatments (that is, combined with conventional medicine).

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