Non-pharmacological Treatment vs Pharmacological Treatment for Non-acute Lumbar Disc Herniation

Exclusion Criteria12

• diagnosed with specific severe diseases that could be the cause of lower back pain or leg pain (e.g., spinal metastasis, acute fractures, and spinal dislocation).
• showing progressive neurological deficits or severe neurological symptoms.
• with pain originating from soft tissue disorders other than the spine (e.g., tumors, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, gout).
• with other chronic conditions (e.g., stroke and myocardial infarction, renal disease, diabetic neuropathy, dementia, epilepsy) that may interfere with the treatment effect or result interpretation.
• taking steroids, immunosuppressive drugs, psychiatric medications, or other medications that may impact the study results.
• acupuncture or nerve block treatment is inappropriate or unsafe, such as those with a history of bleeding disorders, receiving anticoagulant therapy, or diagnosed with uncontrolled diabetes.
• taken non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other pain-affecting drugs or received acupuncture treatment within the past 5 days.
• Pregnant women, those planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding women.
• within 3 months after lumbar surgery.
• who have not completed participation in another clinical study within the past month or have plans to participate in another clinical study within 6 months from the selection date or during the study participation and follow-up period.
• Inability to provide written informed consent.
• \- Other cases where the researchers determine that participation in the clinical study would be difficult.