Question
Hi Lawrence,

I have a herniated disk and was advised to try
epidural steroid injections. Had an MRI that
diagonosed the hernation at L4-L5. Causes pain
in my lower back with tingling and numbness down
the back of my right leg. Have had it for
about 5 weeks. If it doesn't stop after 6 weeks or so, told to consider the injections. But a
friend of mine suggested I look into rolfing. In
your opinion, can rolfing really help me without
needing the injections? Thanks.

Answer
In a word, maybe.

Herniations often follow from high muscular tensions in the low back area.  Rolfing can change your balance so that the tensions may abate.

In my opinion, a more direct route is to retrain the muscles, and for that a brain-muscle retraining process is the most direct route.  That is why I recommend (and practice) Hanna Somatic Eudcation.

By the way, I am also certified in the Rolf method, so I am not biased by "allegiance," but by expectation of results.

See my articles on back pain:

www.somatics.com/backpain.htm
www.somatics.com/functnl.htm