Herniated disks get better on their own over time or with nonsurgical treatment for 9 out of 10 people. If other treatments don't relieve your symptoms, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery.
Slipped discs usually resolve on their own, but physical therapy or other medications can help with pain. The majority of disc herniations improve on their own within six weeks to three months, as the body releases enzymes to clear away the herniated piece and the pressure on the nerves goes away.
Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer as to whether your disc herniation will fully heal. With treatment, a disc herniation can dry up, shrink or go away. Your body may have an autoimmune response and aid in healing the herniation.
There is always the chance (about 10-15 percent) that the same disc may herniate again. It is most likely to occur in the first six weeks after surgery, but it can occur anytime.
Your chances of getting better are good. Most people who have a herniated disc are better in about 4 weeks. Sometimes it takes longer. If you still have pain or numbness after 4 to 6 weeks, or if you feel worse, talk with your doctor.
Essentially if you have lower back pain and/or symptoms travelling down your leg – there is hope! Even if you have had a scan to confirm a bulging or herniated disc – lots can be done to help your recovery without the need for surgery. 66% or 2 out of 3 of these conditions can recover spontaneously.
Who gets herniated disks? People ages 30 to 50 are most likely to get a herniated disk. The problem affects men twice as often as women.
In most cases, a slipped disk happens because of wear and tear, something known as disk degeneration as you age. Your disks become less flexible and are more prone to tears and ruptures. Most people cannot identify the cause of their herniated disk.
Both of these abnormalities have the potential to irritate or compress nearby nerves. Therefore, if you go solely by what happens when a disc is bulging or herniated, herniation is worse. Another reason herniation could be worse is because of what the protruding disc material does once it's exposed.
In nearly all cases, surgeons can remove just the protruding portion of the disk. Rarely, the entire disk must be removed. In these cases, the vertebrae might need to be fused with a bone graft. To allow the process of bone fusion, which takes months, metal hardware is placed in the spine to provide spinal stability.
Daily walks are an excellent way to exercise with a herniated disc, without putting additional strain on your spine and causing painful symptoms to flare up.
This injury will not only affect the short-term competition ability of the athlete, but may also reoccur and become chronic possibly resulting in a career ending injury. Managing disc herniation in the athlete usually begins with conservative treatment and if this fails, surgical options are considered.
According to Spine Universe, chiropractic care is a non-surgical option for herniated disc treatment. This makes choosing a chiropractor to address problems with a herniated disc a viable option if you want to avoid undergoing any surgical procedures.
Most people can generally expect to feel better in a few weeks. The healing time for a herniated disc depends on the exact nature of the injury and symptoms, and can last from just a few days to months, according to Gbolabo Sokunbi, M.D., Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
There are four stages: (1) disc protrusion (2) prolapsed disc (3) disc extrusion (4) sequestered disc. Stages 1 and 2 are referred to as incomplete, where 3 and 4 are complete herniations.
Sleeping on your back or side, rather than on your stomach. Wearing flat or low-heeled shoes to relieve pressure on your spine. Carrying weighty objects close to your body. Keeping your back straight and bending with your knees and hips when lifting an object, as opposed to bending over and lifting.
The most common cause of disc herniation is a degenerative process in which, as humans age, the nucleus pulposus becomes less hydrated and weakens. This process will lead to a progressive disc herniation that can cause symptoms. The second most common cause of disc herniation is trauma.
There is no specific number of times a disc can herniate, although there are some factors that determine whether you could have issues with reherniations.
Unless you have multiple herniated discs, height loss is likely to be practically unnoticeable. At the most, you might lose an inch in height over time from a herniated spinal disc. However, you could lose a bit more height if you have multiple herniated discs, although this is rare.
Fortunately, the majority of herniated discs do not require surgery. With time, the symptoms of sciatica/radiculopathy improve in approximately 9 out of 10 people. The time to improve varies, ranging from a few days to a few weeks.
This article explains what should be avoided if you have disc-related issues to prevent further injury or painful flare-ups. On a related note, squats, both with and without weight, should be avoided. The main reason is because the motion required for squats shifts your body weight down to your lower spine area.
While some people may think they need to stop exercising if they have a disc herniation, this is not the case! Exercise is recommended for people with a disc injury with the main goal of strengthening the muscles of the back to support the spine.
Massage therapists can't cure a herniated disc, but therapeutic bodywork enhances the muscle health of the surrounding area, which can take a lot of the stress off the injured area, allowing it to heal itself. Circulation is stimulated, muscle tension is reduced, and the release of feel-good endorphins means less pain.