An MRI of a 30-year-old male with persistent lower back pain and sciatica reveals a herniated disc at the L5-S1 level. What is the next step in management?
Management of a herniated disc depends on the severity of the symptoms and the patient's response to conservative treatment. Initial treatment generally includes pain control with NSAIDs, physical therapy, and possibly a short course of oral steroids. If the patient has severe pain, neurological deficits, or if symptoms do not improve with conservative management, then surgical options such as a microdiscectomy may be considered.