Can Herniated Discs Heal on Their Own?

In almost 90% of cases, the symptoms of a herniated disc resolve on their own.¹Dydyk AM, Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Disc Herniation. [Updated 2023 Jan 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/

If your leg pain and function improve in a few days or weeks, it is a sign that the disc has sufficiently healed and is no longer causing irritation to a spinal nerve. 

How long a spinal disc takes to heal 

The amount of time it takes for you to recover from a herniated disc depends on the degree of nerve involvement.

The average time it takes for herniated disc symptoms to improve is between 6 and 12 weeks.¹Dydyk AM, Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Disc Herniation. [Updated 2023 Jan 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/

• If your only symptoms are pain in your lower back and/or leg (sciatica), you could be feeling back to normal in as early as 2 weeks as the inflammation subsides.¹Dydyk AM, Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Disc Herniation. [Updated 2023 Jan 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/
• The healing time is typically longer if there is numbness, tingling, and/or weakness (radiculopathy) in the leg.¹Dydyk AM, Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Disc Herniation. [Updated 2023 Jan 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/

As for how long it takes for a herniated disc to fully heal itself, the process is usually longer, ranging from 6 to 12 months. In some cases, the disc remains only partially healed but does not necessarily cause symptoms.²Yu P, Mao F, Chen J, et al. Characteristics and mechanisms of resorption in lumbar disc herniation. Arthritis Research & Therapy. 2022;24(1). doi:10.1186/s13075-022-02894-8

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3 ways a herniated disc repairs itself

A combination of several natural healing processes contributes to the repair of a herniated disc. 

The body's defense mechanism can spontaneously retract, shrink, or eliminate disc herniation.

1. Spontaneous retraction. In some cases, the herniated disc material retracts into the disc, and the normal cylindrical shape of the disc is restored.²Yu P, Mao F, Chen J, et al. Characteristics and mechanisms of resorption in lumbar disc herniation. Arthritis Research & Therapy. 2022;24(1). doi:10.1186/s13075-022-02894-8^,3Turk O, Antar V, Yaldiz C. Spontaneous regression of herniated nucleus pulposus: The clinical findings of 76 patients. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(8):e14667. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000014667
2. Re-absorption of water. The disc material contains a high concentration of water. As a defense mechanism, the body gradually absorbs some of this fluid from the herniated part of the disc, causing it to dehydrate and shrink.²Yu P, Mao F, Chen J, et al. Characteristics and mechanisms of resorption in lumbar disc herniation. Arthritis Research & Therapy. 2022;24(1). doi:10.1186/s13075-022-02894-8 
3. Immune response. If the inner disc material breaks away from the disc and migrates into the spinal canal (also called a sequestered disc), the body recognizes the fragment as foreign material and triggers an inflammatory response. During this process, specialized immune cells and enzymes break down and remove the disc fragment.²Yu P, Mao F, Chen J, et al. Characteristics and mechanisms of resorption in lumbar disc herniation. Arthritis Research & Therapy. 2022;24(1). doi:10.1186/s13075-022-02894-8

Your overall health and rehabilitation efforts, such as exercise and avoiding activities that worsen herniation, also play a role in how quickly your body heals the disc.

Steps you can take to promote healing in a herniated disc 

As a general rule, decreasing stress on a herniated disc improves pain and promotes healing. 

Engaging in therapeutic exercises specifically designed for disc pain relief and taking steps to reduce inflammation around the affected spinal nerve speed up the disc healing process.

• Exercises recommended for relieving disc pain are⁴Studnicka K, Ampat G. Lumbar Stabilization. [Updated 2023 Aug 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562179/^,5Mann SJ, Lam JC, Singh P. McKenzie Back Exercises. [Updated 2023 Jul 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539720/:
  • McKenzie method
  • Core strengthening exercises
  • Lumbar stabilization exercises
• Anti-inflammatory medications reduce inflammation and swelling around the nerve root. However, these medications should not be used long-term due to the potential for serious side effects.¹Dydyk AM, Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Disc Herniation. [Updated 2023 Jan 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/^,6Goldberg H, Firtch W, Tyburski M, et al. Oral steroids for acute radiculopathy due to a herniated lumbar disk: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015;313(19):1915-1923. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.4468 Medications commonly recommended to relieve disc pain include:
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen
  • Oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone
  • Topical pain medications such as diclofenac (Voltaren) gel

Before starting a new medication or exercise routine, consult with your doctor to ensure safety and prevent worsening of your symptoms.

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Healing of a herniated disc after surgery 

After a microdiscectomy surgery (removal of the herniated part of the disc), most individuals experience resolution of nerve pain and symptoms. However, it’s possible for the disc to herniate again if you don’t give yourself enough time to heal and regain strength.

Preventing the recurrence of herniation is the long-term goal of healing a herniated disc. Carefully adhere to the postsurgical instructions and follow the required activity restrictions as you heal.

Engaging in low-impact aerobic activities (such as walking or stationary biking), taking measures to control pain and inflammation, and quitting smoking are also recommended after surgery to foster healing and prevent recurrence.⁷Belykh E, Krutko AV, Baykov ES, Giers MB, Preul MC, Byvaltsev VA. Preoperative estimation of disc herniation recurrence after microdiscectomy: predictive value of a multivariate model based on radiographic parameters. Spine J. 2017;17(3):390-400. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2016.10.011

See Postoperative Care for Lumbar Microdiscectomy Surgery

Whether a disc heals naturally or requires surgery, patience and lifestyle adjustments to support your overall health are priorities in the recovery process.

Learn more:

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5 Little-Known Tips for Lumbar Herniated Disc Pain Relief