Rest

• The first line of treatment for a herniated disc is rest. Any activity that aggravates or worsens your symptoms should be avoided. Often, rest is all that is needed to resolve the discomfort. Approximately 90 percent of herniated discs resolve on their own within six months.
  
  

Ice and Heat

• Ice and heat can be helpful in treating pain and muscle spasms. Heat must be used carefully for back pain, as it can worsen some problems. Therefore, use cold compresses as opposed to heating pads, unless your physician tells you otherwise.
  
  

Medication

• There are many types of medication used to treat pain and inflammation from a ruptured disc. The first group of medications is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). These drugs are used to reduce inflammation and pressure. Examples include ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, Celebrex and Voltaren.
  
  Your physician also may use steroids to alleviate the inflammation and pressure of your ruptured disc. By reducing inflammation and pressure, these medications also relieve pain. Steroids are most often taken orally, but they can be administered via epidural. During an epidural, a doctor injects steroids directly into the space around the spinal cord.
  
  While steroids and NSAIDS are most often used to treat the pain associated with a ruptured disc, it is also common for physicians to prescribe muscle relaxers and narcotic pain medication. These drugs are used for acute and severe pain. Narcotic pain relievers and muscle relaxers must be used cautiously due to the potential for dependence.
  
  

Physical Therapy

• Physical therapy is commonly prescribed for treatment of a ruptured disc. It focuses on improving strength and coordination. This type of treatment can allow you to return to your normal, daily activities.
  
  

Surgery

• For painful ruptured discs that are not relieved by other measures, surgery may be the only option. The type of surgery depends on your specific condition. There are several types of surgery including open discectomy, microdiscectomy, percutaneous discectomy and laser discectomy. Each of these surgeries use different techniques for removing the ruptured disc. Around 85 to 90 percent of patients find complete relief after surgery.