What is the treatment for I.V.D.?
Conventional treatment consists of enforced rest, anti-inflammatory drugs (usually corticosteroids or drugs related to cortisone), pain medication, muscle relaxants, and sometimes tranquilizers (to keep the patient quiet). If this fails, or if there is paralysis, surgery is often done. Surgical intervention relieves pressure on the cord and nerve roots by either scraping away disc material from underneath (done in the neck area) or removing part of the vertebra forming the bony spinal canal (done in the back area). If surgery is to be successful, it needs to be done quickly, preferably within the first 24 to 36 hours after the disc ruptures. Surgical intervention prevents further damage to the cord as pressure is relieved, but it cannot heal the damage already done to the cord and nerves. 6.) What part do acupuncture and chiropractic play in the treatment of I.V.D.? One or both can be very helpful in this condition. They can be done separately or together, and they can be combined with
