Non-surgical and surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease in the course of peripheral neuropathy

The aim of this article is to review current reports pertaining the effects of treating patients with diagnosed degenerative disc disease in the lumbosacral section of the spine. Materials and methods: the method of descriptive analysis was used. The research was conducted on the basis of materials from MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from the last ten years. The cases of patients with sciatic neuritis caused by degenerative disc disease undergoing conservative treatment, and similar group of patients treated surgically, were analysed. Conclusions: Conservative treatment lowers the intensity of pain, but does not improve the functional abilities of the spine. Surgical treatment gives good and quick therapeutic results, but its long-term effects do not seem better than in the case of conservative treatment. Moreover, surgical treatment may result in serious complications. In rare cases the condition results in a severe impairment of motor functions in legs and sphincter paralysis. Such patients should undergo immediate surgical treatment.