Patient Testimonial – Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Lan (49 years old)
Sharp pain shooting from the lower back into the hip, severe muscle spasms that left her unable to stand or walk—Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Lan (49) found herself almost completely immobilized by a herniated disc.
When Every Step Became Impossible
At 49, a time when she should have been enjoying an active and fulfilling life, Ms. Quynh Lan was suddenly overwhelmed by severe, acute pain that spread from her lower back into her hip.
The sharp, stabbing pain and numbness completely disrupted her daily life. Recalling those difficult days, she said emotionally:
“The pain was so intense that I couldn’t walk at all. Every attempt to move my leg felt like a sharp pain shooting through my entire body.”
When she arrived at ICCARE, diagnostic imaging revealed the source of her condition. She was diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disc, with the protruding disc compressing the spinal nerve root, accompanied by severe muscle spasms around the hip joint.
In a single morning alone, she experienced six episodes of intense muscle spasms. Her body became so rigid that she was unable to move naturally, leaving her almost completely immobilized by the pain.
Doctor’s Explanation: What Causes Acute, Sharp Lower Back Pain?
The severe pain experienced by Ms. Quynh Lan was far more than ordinary back discomfort. According to the specialists at ICCARE, it was the result of a complex chain reaction within the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
• Sudden Compression of the Spinal Nerve Root
When the nucleus pulposus breaks through the outer layer of the intervertebral disc, it can directly compress the lumbar nerve roots—most commonly the L4, L5, or S1 nerve roots. This compression generates intense nerve pain that radiates from the lower back through the hip and down the leg, often described as a sharp, electric shock-like sensation. This explains the severe, shooting pain Ms. Quynh Lan experienced.
• Protective Muscle Spasm
When a spinal disc is injured, the body instinctively activates a protective mechanism by tightening the surrounding muscles—including the lower back, hip, and pelvic muscles—to stabilize the spine and limit further movement.
While this response is designed to protect the injured area, persistent muscle spasms can become a major source of pain themselves. In Ms. Quynh Lan’s case, repeated muscle spasms occurred several times each morning, effectively “locking” her hip joint and leaving her unable to stand or walk normally.
• Acute Sterile Inflammation
The displaced disc material can trigger a localized inflammatory response, even without infection. If the pressure on the affected nerve is not relieved promptly, the inflammation may cause swelling around the nerve root, increasing the risk of prolonged nerve dysfunction, progressive muscle weakness, or even permanent sensory loss.
Discovering a New Treatment Approach
Before coming to ICCARE, Ms. Quynh Lan had already tried many different treatment methods. Whenever her back pain flared up, she would undergo acupuncture and even receive pain-relief injections. While these treatments provided temporary relief, the pain always returned—and each recurrence seemed even more severe than the last.
At her most desperate moment, a trusted acquaintance recommended ICCARE.
Although she had many doubts, as the treatment approach was completely different from anything she had experienced before, she chose to place her trust in the recommendation of someone close to her.
With little left to lose, she decided to give herself one final chance—to break free from the pain and regain her independence.
Her Recovery Journey at ICCARE: Remarkable Improvement Without Medication
At ICCARE, the medical team developed a personalized treatment plan to address Ms. Quynh Lan’s acute herniated disc pain.
What surprised her the most—and even exceeded her expectations—was the clinic’s treatment philosophy.
- No medication: She did not need to take a single painkiller or anti-inflammatory drug throughout her treatment.
- Rapid improvement: After just two consecutive treatment sessions, the severe pain that had left her unable to stand or walk steadily was dramatically reduced.
- Treating the source of the problem: Rather than masking symptoms, the treatment focused on relieving pressure on the affected spinal nerve and releasing the protective muscle spasms, allowing her body to begin healing naturally.
“I could feel the improvement almost immediately. Before, whenever the pain came back, I relied on injections or acupuncture. This experience was completely different. I was honestly amazed that I could walk again without taking any medication,” Ms. Quynh Lan said with a bright smile after completing her treatment.
Ms. Quynh Lan’s journey is a powerful reminder that when the underlying cause is properly identified and treated with the right approach, even severe acute pain caused by a herniated disc can be significantly relieved.
