Background: Conservative treatments have been reported to diminish or resolve clinical symptoms of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH) within a few weeks.
Case summary: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar region of a 25-year-old male diagnosed with LIDH showed prolapse of the L5/S2 disc. The disc extended 1.0 cm beyond the vertebral edge and hung along the posterior vertebral edge. The patient elected a conservative treatment regimen that included traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture, and massage. During a follow-up period of more than 12 mo, good improvement in pain was reported without complications. MRI of the lumbar region after 12 mo showed obvious reabsorption of the herniation.
Conclusion: A conservative treatment regimen of TCM, acupuncture, and massage promoted reabsorption of a prolapsed disc.
Keywords: Acupuncture; Case report; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Massage; Reabsorption; Traditional Chinese medicine.
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