Herniated Disc: Can You Heal Without Surgery?

Up to 2% of adults have disc herniation and, for many, the issue can lead to a good deal of back pain, as well as symptoms that radiate into the extremities.

If you count yourself among the many Americans who are dealing with back pain related to disc herniation, the idea of piling surgery onto the problem isn’t an ideal one. The good news is that 9 out of 10 people with herniated discs can heal without surgery.

To explain how people heal from a herniated disc non-surgically, we turn to the team of spine health experts at SOAR Spine and Orthopedics. As big advocates for non-surgical treatments, we present key steps for managing herniated discs.

What happens when a disc herniates

Let’s first take a look at why herniated discs can lead to so much discomfort. Under normal circumstances, the 23 intervertebral discs along your spinal column act as spacers between your vertebrae and provide cushioning, support, and range of motion in your spine.

To do this, your discs are formed by a tough exterior made of fibrous cartilage — the annulus fibrosus — which houses a gel-like interior called the nucleus pulposus.

When a disc herniates, it usually results from degenerative disc disease, which affects most of us as we age. In fact, by the age of 60, about 90% of people have some degree of disc degeneration, though the issue often doesn't lead to symptoms.

When it does, it’s largely due to disc herniation, which occurs when the disc loses moisture over time and becomes more brittle, making it vulnerable to herniation. With herniation, pieces of the disc escape the vertebral space and irritate surrounding nerve roots and fibers, leading to symptoms such as back pain, as well as numbness and tingling that travels down into the lower extremities.

Non-surgical roads to relief from herniated discs

Now that we explained what happens when a disc herniates, let’s look at a few key strategies for managing herniated discs non-surgically, which include:

Rest, but not too much rest

During the first day or two of managing a symptomatic herniated disc, it’s a good idea to take it easy, but not too easy. The reality is that resting for more than a day or two can lead to problems like stiffness, which can lead to more pain. So, after a day or two of taking it easy, it's a very good idea to move around with some light walking to keep resources flowing and inflammation down.

Medications

Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are usually enough to minimize symptoms, such as pain and inflammation.

Physical therapy

One of the best treatments for herniated discs is physical therapy (PT). During PT, the physical therapist focuses on spine stretches and back-strengthening exercises that not only combat current symptoms but also, alongside individualized exercise instruction, set the stage for better spine health moving forward. 

Spine injections

If your herniated disc is causing a good deal of pain and over-the-counter medications aren’t doing the trick, we can administer a spine injection that can relieve the inflammation and quiet the pain.

Complementary therapies

We also find that many patients benefit from complementary therapies that can help with herniated discs, such as:

• Icing therapy
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy

As you can see, there are many steps we can take to treat herniated discs before having surgery. 

To figure out the best approach for your herniated disc, contact us today at one of our offices in Santa Clara or Redwood City, California, to schedule a sit-down with one of our spine experts.