There are 2 main treatment methods. Medical and surgical. Medical: Medications can include NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), muscle relaxants, steroids, corticosteroid injections, and narcotic drugs. Physical therapy can accompany stretching, massage, strengthening, and spinal manipulations. Surgical: Surgery can be indicated for severe cases. It is reserved for when all other treatment methods fail. If there is neurological loss, loss of bowel and bladder control, then surgery becomes a necessity. Surgical procedures such as discectomy, foraminotomy, spinal fusion, and laminectomy are performed.