A footboard should be used to eliminate the weight of the bed clothes and also to prevent footdrop. A small bedpan that the patient can roll onto without discomfort is recommended. A folded towel or small pillow is placed under the lower back for support of the lumbar region. Measures must be taken to avoid constipation, which is quite common and likely to cause increased pain as the patient strains to defecate. Care should be taken in the application of heat because of the danger of burning the patient who has a loss of sensory perception because of nerve damage caused by the herniated disk.
Most physicians prescribe a special corset to be worn whenever the patient is out of bed.
The corset is designed to give proper support to the vertebral column and to relieve tension on the back muscles. Support devices of this kind usually are discontinued after symptoms are relieved, because they weaken the musculature of the back. Training in good posture and body mechanics, especially during lifting or stooping, are important in preventing recurrence of acute episodes. Special exercises may be prescribed to strengthen the back muscles. All rights reserved.