If you don't fix a bulging disc, it often worsens over time, leading to increased pain, numbness, and weakness due to ongoing nerve compression, potentially progressing to chronic pain, spinal stenosis, or even severe neurological issues like bladder/bowel dysfunction or paralysis (Cauda Equina Syndrome), a medical emergency, highlighting the importance of early intervention.
What are the consequences of not treating a herniated disc? Herniated discs are serious health problems. Because you're dealing with a spinal injury, you could be at risk for permanent paralysis or long-term chronic pain if you leave your herniated disc untreated.
An untreated herniated disk can get worse. That's especially true if you continue the activities that caused it — for instance, if it developed because of your work. A worsening ruptured disk may cause chronic (ongoing) pain and loss of control or sensation in the affected area.
Herniated Disc: A bulging or ruptured disc can press on nerves that connect to the stomach and digestive system, potentially leading to nausea. Degenerative Disc Disease: As discs deteriorate with age, pain and inflammation may contribute to feelings of nausea.
For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm. This pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain is often described as sharp or burning.
Numbness or tingling in the buttocks, legs, or feet. Trouble walking or standing for long periods. Most bulging discs can be treated with conservative methods. But, some symptoms need urgent medical care.
The goal of minimally invasive microdiscectomy is to remove the bulge from the herniated portion of the disc and relieve pressure on the affected nerve. The surgeon makes a half-inch incision and uses x-ray or CT navigation to insert a circular retractor tube.
Seeking Medical Care for Herniated Discs
Emergency departments are equipped to handle acute symptoms and can facilitate urgent imaging and consultation with a spine specialist. For non-emergency symptoms, scheduling an appointment with a spine specialist can provide the necessary evaluation and treatment plan.
When you have a disc herniation, bulging disc, or spinal stenosis, these nerves can be compressed, disrupting the communication needed for normal bowel control. Disrupted signals can show up as spinal nerve involvement constipation, sudden or gradual stool leakage, or odd nerve-related sensations.
Surgery for a herniated disc is typically considered when conservative treatments have failed to provide relief after six weeks to three months.
Diskectomy is most effective for treating pain that radiates down your arms or legs. It is performed to relieve the pressure a herniated disk — also called a slipped, ruptured or bulging disk, or disk prolapse — places on a spinal nerve.
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.
You should seek emergency medical attention for herniated disks if you experience symptoms such as bladder and bowel dysfunction or other serious symptoms. These symptoms include pain, numbness, or weakness that increases to the point of interfering with daily activities.
Symptoms resolve in 60% to 80% of patients with herniated discs in 6–12 weeks, and in 80% to 90% over the long term (≥ 1 year). According to the guidelines, 6–12 weeks of conservative treatment are recommended in the absence of significant neurologic deficits.
A herniated disc can cause numbness or weakness in an arm or leg in some cases. People who have had multiple episodes of sciatica may suffer from permanent nerve damage as well as chronic pain that lasts for years after treatment. Nerve damage can occur if you do not see an orthopedic surgeon for your back injury.
Arthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to cause lower back pain. Ankylosing spondylitis, another type of arthritis, causes lower back pain, inflammation and stiffness in your spine. Disease: Spine tumors, infections and several types of cancer can cause back pain.
Low back pain red flags signal serious underlying issues like infection, fracture, tumor, or cauda equina syndrome, requiring urgent medical attention; these include severe night pain, unexplained weight loss, fever, history of cancer or IV drug use, new bowel/bladder dysfunction (incontinence, retention), saddle anesthesia, progressive neurological deficit (weakness/numbness), age <20 or >50, significant trauma, immunosuppression (steroid use, HIV), and pain not improving with rest or worsening in certain positions.
Do not lay down all day. Instead, limit activities or exercise that cause pain or make it worse. Slowly increase your activity as you are able. Use over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers for severe pain as directed by your doctor.
When the lumbar disc herniation is in an acute or semi-acute phase, the inflammation of the sciatic nerve is likely to become so disabling that the person cannot walk, and even standing becomes quite painful. If this sounds like your situation, we recommend rest until the inflammation subsides.
Summary: Chiropractors can often diagnose and treat herniated discs through spinal manipulation, targeted exercises, and non-invasive therapies.
In the presence of a herniated/prolapse/ruptured/slipped disc, URGENT surgery (within 24-36 hours) is recommended for CAUDA EQUINA symptoms. These symptomsinclude but not limited to: Loss of bladder and bowelsensation or control (incontinence) Numbness in the perianal/perineal (saddle) region (private parts)
For symptoms that have lasted at least 6 weeks and that make it hard to do your normal activities, surgery is an option when other treatments haven't helped. Over the long term, surgery and non-surgical treatments work about the same to reduce pain and other symptoms.
A neurologist focuses on diagnosing and treating problems of the central nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, spinal column, and peripheral nerves. They often treat issues like herniated discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, and more.
Unique Risks for Lower Back Surgery
Back surgery for a pinched nerve is generally safe but has risks. These can include infection, nerve damage, and spine instability. It's important for patients to know these risks and talk about them with their doctor.