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Lumbar Disc Herniation Treatment in Uijeongbu, Korea

A bulging or ruptured disc in the lower back pressing on a nerve, causing back pain and sciatica down the leg.

In short: A bulging or ruptured disc in the lower back pressing on a nerve, causing back pain and sciatica down the leg.

What is Lumbar Disc Herniation?

Lumbar discs sit between the vertebrae of the lower back. When a disc herniates, its inner material can press on and inflame a nerve root, typically at L4–5 or L5–S1. The leg pain (sciatica) is often worse than the back pain. The good news is that most lumbar disc herniations improve without surgery.

Common symptoms

  • Low back pain
  • Pain shooting down the buttock and leg
  • Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
  • Pain worse on sitting, bending or coughing
  • Weakness lifting the foot or toes

What causes it?

  • Disc degeneration
  • Lifting with a bent back
  • Prolonged sitting
  • Sudden twisting

How it is diagnosed at Yonsei Leaders

Neurological examination (straight-leg raise, reflexes, strength), X-ray and MRI.

Non-surgical treatment options

  • C-Arm Guided Spinal Injection: A spinal injection delivered under live X-ray (C-Arm) guidance so medication reaches the exact inflamed nerve or joint, with no incision and no…
  • Selective Spinal Nerve Block: An injection that calms an irritated spinal nerve root, confirmed on C-Arm imaging, to reduce radiating pain into the arm or leg.
  • Epidural Adhesiolysis: A thin, flexible catheter is guided into the epidural space to loosen scar-like adhesions around nerves and wash out inflammatory substances, an…
  • Manual Therapy: One-to-one hands-on treatment by a trained therapist to release tight muscles, mobilise stiff joints and correct posture and alignment.
  • Rehabilitation and Corrective Exercise: Guided strengthening, stabilisation and mobility exercise to rebuild support around the spine and joints and prevent pain from returning.
  • Physical Therapy: Yonsei Leaders' staged physical therapy programme: Heat, Electro, Align and Loosen, combining heat, electrical stimulation, manual alignment and…

Your plan is tailored after examination; many patients combine a targeted procedure with manual therapy and exercise for longer-lasting results.

Self-care tips

  • Avoid long sitting; stand and walk every 30 minutes
  • Lift with your legs, not your back
  • Gentle walking rather than bed rest

When to seek urgent care

Seek emergency care for numbness in the groin or saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, or rapidly worsening leg weakness (possible cauda equina syndrome).

Book: call 031-874-7500. Yonsei Leaders Neurosurgery Clinic, 3F Yugyeong Bldg II, 181 Hoeryong-ro, Uijeongbu, Korea, 1 minute from Balgok Station Exit 2. Open Mon–Fri 09:00–20:00, Sat 09:00–14:00. See directions and international patient help.

Yonsei Leaders Neurosurgery Clinic

Address: 3F, Yugyeong Bldg II, 181 Hoeryong-ro, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
경기 의정부시 회룡로 181 유경빌딩 Ⅱ 3층

Subway: Balgok Station (U Line) Exit 2, 1 min walk

Hours:
Mon–Fri 09:00–20:00
Sat 09:00–14:00
Lunch 13:00–14:00 (weekdays)
Closed Sun & public holidays

Phone: 031-874-7500

English-friendly · Parking behind the building

Frequently asked questions

Do I need surgery for a herniated disc?

Most people do not. Around nine in ten improve with non-surgical care such as injections, nerve blocks, adhesiolysis and rehabilitation. Surgery is considered for severe weakness or cauda equina symptoms.

What is the best non-surgical treatment for a lumbar disc?

It depends on the pain pattern. C-Arm guided epidural injections and selective nerve blocks calm nerve inflammation, while exercise and manual therapy reduce recurrence.

Is walking good for a herniated disc?

Yes, gentle walking is usually encouraged. Prolonged sitting and bending tend to make symptoms worse.