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Living with a herniated disc is something I'm very familiar with. I've had this problem for many years. Approximately 15 years ago, I had to have surgery for my herniated disc.

Surgery relieved the pain, but if one doesn't properly care for his back, the problem will reoccur. I was ordered by my doctor to do practically nothing for about a month after my surgery. I faithfully followed my doctors orders, as I didn't want to go through that pain again.

Here's a list of things I do now to maintain and care for my back. These were given to be by doctor.

1. Exercise. One of the best forms of exercise is walking. You don't need to run or jog, just walk at a steady pace. This should be done on a regular basis, preferably 4 or 5 times a week, if not daily. This is the number one form of therapy, I was told, to straighten those back muscles.
2. Rethink your way of doing everyday chores, so don't put too much strain on those back muscles. Lifting the wrong way is the worse thing you can do. That's how I injured my back and ended up on the operating table. Squat, instead of bend, and lift with your knees, not your back. Employers provide their employees with proper safety techniques to avoid injuries. I work in health care now, and that's vital.
3. When you start to feel your back aching, slow down and rest. If you need to take a day off work, for a back ache, do it. One day of rest is better then 3 months of forced work off, when you injured yourself.
4. If rest doesn't help after a day or two off, see you're doctor if you're in pain. He may give you a prescription for some muscle relaxers, and order some therapy. My doctor did this for me, but it didn't work. My injury was beyond that. Surgery ended up to be my only option.
Chiropractors are also available for back pain. Many individuals I know rely on them just to maintain their backs.
5. Listen to your body. When you feel pain, it may be a sign to slow down. When you're tired, take a break and put your feet up, even if it's only for a few minutes. Rest and relax when you feel the need to do so. We only have one body, therefore, we need to take proper care of it. As we age, we can't do what we did when we were in our teens.
6. Good posture is a must. As our parents and teachers once told us, "sit up straight".
Recliners, as comfy as they are, aren't good for our backs. I was told this by my doctor and I have found it to be true.

These things I have found to be helpful in living with a herniated disc. I hope it will be helpful to someone else who may be suffering with this back problem.

Learn more about this author, Shirley Norling.
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