Treatment of lumbar disk herniation must be tailored to the individual patient. Bed rest, physical therapy, comfortable positioning, manipulation, drug therapy, and if necessary, hospitalization all have a place in the treatment of the acute phase. A surgical decision should be made only after thorough discussion with the patient. In patients with chronic or recurrent disk herniation, the prognosis for recovery from pain or dysfunction is often poor. Bed rest (if never tried before), physical therapy, biofeedback, stress management, rehabilitation programs, and drug therapy may be useful in alleviating discomfort and disability. Percutaneous diskectomy, while too new for accurate assessment, shows promise as a significant alternative to traditional lumbar laminectomy.