“Can a herniated disc heal on its own?”
I have a herniated disc. I want to fix it. Can a herniated disc heal on its own?
6 Answers
Patience is the best prescription. If you don't have loss of muscle function or loss or reflexes, I recommend a trial of meds, PT, and epidural blocks for 6-9 months before you consider any surgery. The reason is that many patients will improve to the point that most of their pain will go away.
Hope this helps!!
Dr. Bose
Hope this helps!!
Dr. Bose
Yes
Depends on symptoms and duration. Some clinical scenarios have a 90% chance of improvement. See a spine surgeon. Happy Holidays.
Herniated discs can heal on their own. Our bodies have tremendous ability to heal, reconstruct and remodel injuries in bone, muscle, tendons and discs. The disc material itself that herniates comes from the central portion of the disc and ruptures through the covering of the disc, called the annulus. The annulus has significant vascular and nerve innervations. As the annulus tears, it will create a hole that allows the central disc material to herniate through the hole and compress the nerve.
The vascular supply of the annulus will begin to send healing factors to the hole and these factors will also help to resorb or heal the herniated disc. The time frame for healing is the more difficult issue. The healing may take 5-7 years for the disc herniation, so with patients that have severe pain, this may not be a reasonable course of action.
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD
The vascular supply of the annulus will begin to send healing factors to the hole and these factors will also help to resorb or heal the herniated disc. The time frame for healing is the more difficult issue. The healing may take 5-7 years for the disc herniation, so with patients that have severe pain, this may not be a reasonable course of action.
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD
Thanks for sharing this question. I hope my thoughts, tips and suggestions help you understand more about your disc herniation.
As with many other questions I field, getting a better perspective on the fine points around the question can help guide and build an appropriate response. How did you come to learn about the disc herniation? How do you think ‘it’ happened? If it was an acute (occurred from one specific event) trauma, when was it? What types of symptoms are you having?
Disc herniations in the ‘normal’ population are quite common. Starting at around 40, your age represents the % of people who have a ‘disc herniation.’ However, not all are symptomatic (cause pain, numbness, tingling, burning, cramping, etc.). If the herniation comes from tearing of the soft tissue walls around the gelatinous disc (nucleus pulposus), then it is not likely that the wall ‘completely’ heals up 100% with the ‘normal’ tissue. However, if the pain subsides (completely or near-complete resolution of pain), and your function returns to a high level (can do those things that bring you joy and happiness), then you may as well have ‘healed’ it. Healing is enhanced by following this link:
https://www.pop-doc.com/jointpain-preactive.html
But please pay a lot of mind and time to maintaining good flexibility, mobility and strength around those damaged discs.
Finally, if there is prolonged pain, numbness, tingling, stiffness and weakness, then sometimes a consultation with an orthopedic spine specialist or pain management doctor is suggested.
I hope this helps.
David T. Neuman, MD FAAOS
As with many other questions I field, getting a better perspective on the fine points around the question can help guide and build an appropriate response. How did you come to learn about the disc herniation? How do you think ‘it’ happened? If it was an acute (occurred from one specific event) trauma, when was it? What types of symptoms are you having?
Disc herniations in the ‘normal’ population are quite common. Starting at around 40, your age represents the % of people who have a ‘disc herniation.’ However, not all are symptomatic (cause pain, numbness, tingling, burning, cramping, etc.). If the herniation comes from tearing of the soft tissue walls around the gelatinous disc (nucleus pulposus), then it is not likely that the wall ‘completely’ heals up 100% with the ‘normal’ tissue. However, if the pain subsides (completely or near-complete resolution of pain), and your function returns to a high level (can do those things that bring you joy and happiness), then you may as well have ‘healed’ it. Healing is enhanced by following this link:
https://www.pop-doc.com/jointpain-preactive.html
But please pay a lot of mind and time to maintaining good flexibility, mobility and strength around those damaged discs.
Finally, if there is prolonged pain, numbness, tingling, stiffness and weakness, then sometimes a consultation with an orthopedic spine specialist or pain management doctor is suggested.
I hope this helps.
David T. Neuman, MD FAAOS
It usually heals on its own.
Verstuurd Vanaf Mijn
Verstuurd Vanaf Mijn
