Successful Conservative Management of a Lumbar Disc Herniation Causing Displacement of the Right S1 Nerve Root with Non-Surgical Decompression Therapy

A female in her 40s presented with complaints of right buttock and hip pain that began several weeks prior when she lifted her right leg to put on her ottoman. The discomfort was worsening over that duration. She later disclosed recent trauma that she was not initially reported, and which aggravated her symptoms. Conservative care was implemented for a couple of weeks and was initially unsuccessful. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was then obtained which revealed a large disc herniation displacing the right S1 nerve root. She was referred for a neurosurgical consultation and her treatment plan was altered to include non-surgical decompression therapy. After several treatment sessions over a month or so, her symptoms were completely resolved. The neurosurgeon was surprised by the clinical resolution of her symptoms despite MRI evidence of a disc herniation that would typically warrant surgical intervention.