One question I'm often asked is if a herniated disc can heal on its own. In this video, I'm going to answer this question in two parts.
First, if the symptoms of the disc will get better. And second, if the herniated part of the disc will heal. The short answer is yes. Usually a herniated disc gets better over time, and the symptoms may even get better without medical intervention.
However, that does not mean that the herniated disc in your back has healed. First, let's quickly define a herniated disc. A disc is diagnosed as herniated, when a portion of the inner, gelatinous core of the disc leaks into a tear of the annulus fibrosis or all the way through the annulus fibrosus This gel like substance called the nucleus pulposus contains inflammatory proteins, and the nearby nerve root can become painful due to the local inflammation or if the herniated disc material is pressing on the nerve root.
Over time, the pain can lessen or resolve due to the body's ability to neutralize the chemicals that are contained in the disc material that are the cause of inflammation and pain. The body's natural immune response can also work to calm the inflammation. Certain physical therapy techniques may also be effective in reducing the herniation. These factors can all work in combination and resolve the symptoms caused by the herniation. After the pain resolves, the disc will usually still have a tear in it and some portion of the herniation is likely still visible on an MRI scan.
If the symptoms are severe and do not get better with time and nonsurgical treatments, surgery to remove the herniated fragment of disc may be considered. Once the herniated portion of the disc is surgically removed, the inflamed nerve root will usually heal and often leg pain is felt to be better immediately following surgery.
Absent certain emergency situations, it is your choice whether to give the herniation time and employ non-surgical treatments to heal it, or to have the disc fragment surgically removed to allow the nerve to heal.
There are a myriad non-surgical approaches to treat herniated discs causing sciatica symptoms, and the right approach may require some trial and error and should be driven by your personal preferences and your doctors advice.
If surgery is felt necessary, close consultation with a surgical spine expert is strongly recommended. As always, consult your personal health care professionals as you seek effective pain relief and healing.
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