Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate and electroacupuncture or methylprednisolone sodium succinate alone for intervertebral disc extrusion. The effects on the limb movement function and Nissl bodies of rat models after 24 h were analyzed, and the incidence of side effects in each group was analyzed to provide a basis for clinical application. Methods A total of 112 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham), model group (Model), electroacupuncture before methylprednisolone sodium succinate group ( EA + MP), electroacupuncture group ( EA), and methylprednisolone sodium succinate group ( MP). The intervertebral disc extrusion model was prepared using a custom-made silicone gasket compression method. Each group was treated separately, and the BBB limb motor function score or Nissl staining of spinal cord tissue was observed at different time points to observe the changes of nerve cell Nissl bodies, as well as side effects and mortality. Results 1) BBB scores showed an upward trend in all groups after treatment, while on the third day and seventh day in the EA + MP group, the average BBB scores of hindlimbs of the compression side were significantly higher than those of the EA group and the MP group ( P <0. 05). Moreover, on the 14th day, each group was significantly higher than the Model group ( P < 0. 05) and was close to the Sham group ( P >0. 05). (2) Nissl staining showed that, compared with the levels in the model group,the damage of nerve cells in each treatment group was mild, and the number of Nissl bodies was high. The average BBB scores of EA + MP group was superior to the other two groups in Nissl bodies protection. (3) The incidence of side effects was 30% in the MP group, 4. 16% in the EA + MP group, and 0% in the EA group. The mortality rate in the MP group was 20%, while that in the EA + MP and EA groups was 0%. Conclusions The three treatment regimens increase the number of Nissl bodies to varying degrees, maintaine neuronal cell morphology, and improved limb motor function in rats with intervertebral disc extrusion for 24 h (more than the time window for methylprednisolone sodium succinate). Among the regimens, EA + MP has the best effect, significantly reduce the side effects and mortality rate of MP therapy, and produce a better curative effect than EA alone.