What Is the Treatment for a Slipped Disc?
- Total Health Chiropractic
- Apr 23
- 6 min read
A slipped disc can feel overwhelming, especially when the pain disrupts your daily routine and limits simple movements. Wondering what the right treatment for your slipped disc is?
In this guide, you’ll learn how slipped disc treatment progresses from simple exercises and chiropractic support to invasive treatments.
You Might Also Like: 7 Physiotherapy Exercises for Lower Back Pain
Understanding Slipped Disc Treatments and Recovery
Treatment approaches depend on the severity of your symptoms, your age, and how long the disc has been problematic. Doctors and chiropractors typically start with the most conservative, least invasive options, and only escalate if needed.
"Most cases of disc herniation resolve with conservative methods. Surgery is for the minority, not the default."
Important: If you experience sudden bladder or bowel problems alongside back pain, seek emergency care immediately. This may indicate cauda equina syndrome.
Step 1: Conservative Care
Smart Rest (Not Total Rest)
Short-term rest is helpful, but prolonged bed rest isn't.
● Walk slowly, avoid heavy lifting, and change positions frequently to help the disc environment recover.
● Avoid sitting for too long. Set a timer to stand and stretch every 30 minutes.
● Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to reduce spinal pressure.
Pain Medication
For mild to moderate pain, over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen are commonly used. For more intense pain, doctors may prescribe muscle relaxants or short-course oral corticosteroids.
Hot and Cold Therapy
This simple home remedy is surprisingly effective in the early stages.
Ice packs (first 48-72 hours) reduce acute inflammation and pain. Heat increases blood flow and relaxes tight muscles around the disc.
● Apply ice for 15-20 minutes at a time, wrapped in a cloth, and never directly on the skin
● Switch to a warm heat pack after 2-3 days to ease muscle tension and improve circulation
● Alternating hot and cold can be useful for chronic cases to manage ongoing discomfort
Check Out: Your Personal Gut Health Report, Made Simple
Step 2: Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is a non-surgical game-changer for slipped disc pain.
Research published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that over 90% of patients with disc herniation saw significant improvement within three months of spinal manipulation therapy.
You Might Also Like: Dealing with radiating leg pain? Learn how Total Health Chiropractic treats Sciatica
What Chiropractors Actually Do for a Slipped Disc
At Total Health Chiropractic Singapore, every patient begins with a thorough evaluation. We study case history and conduct orthopaedic tests, neurological examination, and all necessary imaging. Treatment is never one-size-fits-all.
● Spinal Adjustments. Precise, controlled force to specific spinal segments. This restores alignment, reduces nerve pressure, and improves mobility. Techniques are always modified for disc conditions.
● Flexion-Distraction Technique. A gentle, table-assisted method that decompresses the disc space. The Flexion-Distraction technique can reduce intradiscal pressure, helping retract herniated material away from the nerve root.
● Spinal Decompression Therapy. A specialised table is used to gently stretch and relax your spine, helping relieve pressure on the slipped disc. Clinical data show 70-89% of patients experience significant improvement.
● Pelvic Blocking. Wedge-shaped blocks under the pelvis are used. These blocks use gravity to help gently reposition disc material.
● Soft Tissue Therapy. Releases tight paraspinal muscles guarding around the injured disc. This reduces pain and allows better spinal alignment to hold.
Most patients begin noticing improvements within 4-6 weeks of consistent chiropractic care.
Treatment frequency typically starts at 3-4 sessions per week and reduces as symptoms improve.
You Might Also Like: Best Way to Sleep for Good Posture: Positions That Protect Your Spine
Step 3: Physical Therapy and Targeted Exercise
Physical therapy (physiotherapy) is a critical partner to chiropractic care. While chiropractic care addresses the spine's structure and alignment, physiotherapy builds the muscular foundation. Muscles are essential to keep the corrections in place.
● Core stabilisation exercises. Strengthen the deep abdominal muscles as well as the muscles that protect the lumbar spine.
● McKenzie Method. Directional exercises designed to "centralise" pain by moving it from the leg back toward the spine, where it becomes more manageable.
● Neural mobilisation (nerve flossing). Gentle movements that slide the nerve back to its normal path and function, reducing nerve hypersensitivity.
● Posture correction. Ergonomic retraining for the desk-bound. This is a critical component for Singapore's office workers who are often aggravating their discs for 8+ hours daily.
● Walking and swimming. Discs have no direct blood supply and rely on movement to draw in nutrients. Even 20 minutes of walking daily meaningfully improves disc health.
Step 4: Injections For Faster Relief
If conservative therapies haven't provided enough relief after 4-12 weeks, or if the pain is severe enough to prevent participation in therapy, injections may be recommended by your doctor.
Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI)
● Corticosteroid is injected directly into the epidural space around the spinal nerves
● Reduces inflammation rapidly
● Effects can last weeks to months
● Enables better participation in physical therapy during the recovery window
● Typically limited to 2-3 injections per year to avoid steroid-related side effects
Selective Nerve Root Block (SNRB)
● More targeted than ESI, these are delivered to a specific nerve root under X-ray guidance
● Useful both therapeutically and diagnostically, and confirms exactly which nerve is affected
You Might Also Like: How Much Does a Chiropractor Cost in Singapore?
Step 5: Surgery as a Last Resort, Not a First Step
Surgery is appropriate only for a minority of slipped disc cases.
Most leading spine guidelines recommend at least 6-12 weeks of conservative treatment. This is recommended before considering surgical consultation.
Surgery removes the bulging disc material pressing on the nerve, but it does not address the underlying causes. These include issues like poor spinal biomechanics, weak core musculature, or lifestyle factors. Without addressing these, re-injury can happen.
Why Chiropractic Should Be Your First Call in Singapore
Singapore's desk-bound work culture, long commutes, and sedentary lifestyles have made disc problems very common.
Chiropractic adjustments and treatments address the underlying biomechanical dysfunction, not just the pain signal. By restoring proper spinal alignment, reducing nerve irritation, and building a prevention plan, chiropractors help patients recover fully and stay recovered.
Lifestyle Changes That Accelerate Recovery (and Prevent Recurrence)
Recovery isn't just what happens during your appointment. What you do during the other 23 hours of the day matters enormously.
● Position your monitor at eye level, use a lumbar-supportive chair, and ensure your feet rest flat on the floor.
● Weight management is critical. Every kilogram of excess body weight adds disproportionate load to your lumbar discs. Even a 5-10% weight reduction can significantly reduce disc pressure.
● Quit smoking. Smoking reduces oxygen supply to the discs, leading to faster disc degeneration than in non-smokers.
● Stay hydrated. Discs are 80% water when young. Dehydration makes them stiffer and more prone to injury.
● Use proper lifting technique. Bend at the knees, not the waist, and keep your back straight.
● Sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees, or on your side with a pillow between your knees.
Pain medication only masks the problem. Call Total Health Chiropractic today to book your $99 First Visit Consultation
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. How long does it take to recover from a slipped disc?
A. Most patients with mild to moderate disc herniation recover within 4-12 weeks of consistent conservative care. Full recovery in severe cases, or in those requiring surgery, may take 3-6 months.
Q. Can a slipped disc heal on its own without treatment?
A. Sometimes, but it's unpredictable and can take a long time. The disc material can gradually reabsorb over time. However, without treating the underlying spinal biomechanics, the same disc (or an adjacent one) is at risk of re-injury.
Q. Is chiropractic treatment safe for a slipped disc?
A. Yes. Chiropractic care is safe when performed by a trained chiropractor. Reputable research has found no increased risk of surgical escalation with chiropractic care compared to primary medical care. Chiropractors modify their techniques for disc conditions to ensure safety.
Q. What is the difference between a bulging disc and a herniated disc?
A. A bulging disc extends beyond its normal boundary, but the outer layer remains intact. A herniated disc involves a tear in the outer layer, allowing the inner gel to protrude. Herniation is generally more severe and more likely to directly compress a nerve root.
Q. Should I avoid exercise if I have a slipped disc?
A. Prolonged bed rest is actually counterproductive. Gentle, low-impact movement like walking, swimming, and targeted rehabilitation exercises improve blood flow and disc nutrition.
Q. How much does slipped disc treatment cost in Singapore?
A. Costs vary significantly by treatment type. At Total Health Chiropractic, an initial evaluation starts at just $99. Surgical options can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the procedure complexity and the hospital chosen.
Q. Can a slipped disc cause permanent damage if left untreated?
A. Chronic nerve compression can lead to permanent numbness, muscle weakness, or, in worst-case scenarios (cauda equina syndrome), loss of bowel and bladder function. This is why early evaluation matters.
