Can neurology treat lumbar disc herniation?

Neurology can treat lumbar disc herniation, but whether to have a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment by neurology depends on the patient's symptoms and the severity of the disease. Lumbar disc herniation is an orthopedic disease, but its clinical manifestations often involve the nervous system, such as low back pain, sciatica or limb numbness. Therefore, if the symptoms are concentrated on the nerves, neurology can participate in the evaluation and provide treatment recommendations.

1. Characteristic symptoms of lumbar disc herniation and the role of neurology

Lumbar disc herniation is a series of symptoms caused by rupture of the intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus and protrusion of the nucleus pulposus compressing the nerve roots. Patients usually experience severe low back pain, radiating pain in the lower limbs, numbness, and difficulty walking. If the protrusion severely compresses the nerve roots or even the cauda equina, it may cause urinary and bowel dysfunction or paralysis of the lower limbs. The role of neurology is mainly to confirm the degree of nerve damage through neurological examinations, evaluate whether there is more serious neuropathy, and rule out other possible neurological diseases such as myelitis, spinal canal tumors, etc.

2How to diagnose and treat lumbar disc herniation

A neurologist will usually order the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:

Imaging tests: including MRI or CT scans, are used to determine the extent of the disc herniation and nerve compression.

Nerve conduction study: Determine the extent of nerve damage and function.

Treatment options include non-surgical and surgical:

Drug treatment: Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, muscle relaxants such as eperisone, and short-term use of hormone drugs to reduce inflammation and pain.

Physical therapy: Such as massage, traction or functional exercises, which can help relieve muscle tension and improve blood circulation, but must be done under professional guidance.

Surgical treatment: If the condition is severe and causes neurological dysfunction, surgery to remove the herniated disc may be an option, such as minimally invasive discectomy or interbody fusion.

3. The importance of collaboration between neurology and orthopedics

If the neurology assessment finds that the nerve is severely compressed or requires further intervention, it is usually combined with orthopedics for comprehensive treatment. The orthopedic surgeon is responsible for identifying the pathological condition of the intervertebral disc and performing related surgery, while the neurology department focuses on nerve recovery and functional rehabilitation after treatment.

Lumbar disc herniation involves the intersection of orthopedics and neurology. When the initial symptoms are neurological, neurology can provide professional evaluation and treatment advice. If the pain or dysfunction worsens significantly, you should consult an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible to avoid progression of the disease.