In addition to its aerobic benefits, it promotes the balanced strengthening of lumbar flexors and extensors. But for sedentary individuals, any amount of exercise, even slow walking, is better than none early on. In most cases, the regimen can be gradually increased to a low aerobic level within 1 month, and to full levels of activity within 3 months. Providing this information and encouraging compliance promotes personal responsibility for back care. Physical therapists can also play a useful role in educating patients and supervising them as they learn to perform exercises properly.
Medication is often necessary to relieve pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories are the standard prescription, both for pain and to reduce inflammation. In general, they should not be used longer than 6 to 12 weeks because of increasing risk of dangerous side effects. While it is most desirable to avoid narcotic analgesics, they may be indicated for a week or two in the presence of unrelenting pain secondary to lumbar herniation and radiculopathy. The medication helps reduce inflammation around a herniated disk and reduce pain enough for exercise therapy to begin. Patients whose pain has persisted for 3 months or longer may benefit from psychosocial intervention.