Back Pain:
Herniated Disc & Back Pain – Causes & Treatment
A 45- year old person who spends immense hours seated at his desk. Over a brief period of time the pain radiates to his right leg. Initially, he neglects and dismisses it by saying that it is a result of poor posture. However, the pain does not subside and after undergoing MRI, he is diagnosed with a herniated disc in his lumbar spine.
What is a herniated disc? For the start, a herniated disc/ slipped/ ruptured disc is caused when the gel- like center of the spinal disc pushes through a tear in a tougher exterior. Thereby, this displacement can significantly irritate the neighboring nerves, leading to pain, numbness and tingling sensations.
What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?
Herniated disc is one of the most common conditions of the musculoskeletal system- particularly the spine. Spine goes through tremendous strain due to the upright posture. Even if we see from a mechanical point of view to medical dynamic protective view. However, it is quite delicate in nature and highly functional.
Lumbar Radiculopathy/ radicular pain is a condition caused by nerve pinch in your spine.
This causes symptoms like:
- Pain in the area around the affected nerve
- Radiating pain in lower back and legs
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling sensation
Pain is exaggerated by certain movements such as bending, lifting, prolonged sitting and so on. These are the general symptoms however it should be duly noted that some individuals might have a herniated disc without the symptoms.
Can a herniated disc heal without surgery?
Yes, herniated discs have the ability to heal.
While for some, a definite complementary and conservative treatment plan might be requisite if the healing does not initiate.
According to a recent study,
- About 60% of the patients experienced a decrease in the pain in the initial two months.
- About 89% of reported individuals were symptom- free within six months. So without surgical intervention and proper treatment plan we can deal with herniated disc conditions.
What is the best treatment for a slipped disc?
The treatment plan is conservative in nature and non-surgical intervention.
Physical Therapy
Exercises or stretches to enhance and strengthen the muscles to improve flexibility and mobility of the spine.
Conventional Medications
NSAIDs and muscle relaxants can be consumed for pain relief and ease the spasms.
Chiropractic Therapy
Non-surgical and several therapy sessions help fix the spine, adjust the vertebrae.
Lifestyle modifications
Maintaining the weight and good posture, with dietary changes.
Just in case, if the conservative approaches fail, more aggressive or surgical interventions may be considered.
How long does it take to recover from a herniated disc?
The recovery time might as well vary depending upon the:
- Severity of the herniation
- Individual's healing mechanism
- Individual’s bodily response to the treatment plan
The recovery time varies and is quite subjective in nature. However, the type or the intensity or personalization of the treatment
plan is quite necessary in order to determine the recovery rate.
Can exercise make a herniated disc worse?
- If you are engaging in an intense workout or exercise session, then definitely the condition will be severe or worse in due course of time.
- High- impactful exercises or specifically those that might cause strain in the back region or that can exaggerate the symptoms.
- However, an individual can opt for gentle exercises like walking, swimming, and a few stretching exercises routines can help an individual to cope and heal from a herniated disc.
Conclusion
- Early intervention is required if the pain is persistent in nature or radiating pain. Consult a medical professional for early diagnosis and attention.
- A conservative treatment plan can help in most of herniated discs cases without any surgical interventions.
- Tailor or personalise the treatment based on severity, symptoms and so on.
- Lifestyle changes including regular exercises, ergonomic practices, dietary supplements and so on can help manage herniated discs.
REFERENCES
- Amin RM, Andrade NS, Neuman BJ. Lumbar Disc Herniation. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2017;10(4):507-516. doi:10.1007/s12178-017-9441-4
- Dydyk AM, Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Disc Herniation. 2023 Jan 16. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–. PMID: 28722852.
- Kasnakova, P., Mihaylova, A., & Petleshkova, P. (2018). Comprehensive rehabilitation of herniated disc in the lumbar section of the spine. Biomedical Research, 29(14). https://doi.org/10.4066/biomedicalresearch.29-18-874
- Awadalla AM, Al Julayi AS, Alrowaili AR, et al. Management of Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2023;15(10):e47908. Published 2023 Oct 29. doi:10.7759/cureus.47908
- Schoenfeld AJ, Weiner BK. Treatment of lumbar disc herniation: Evidence-based practice. Int J Gen Med. 2010;3:209-214. Published 2010 Jul 21. doi:10.2147/ijgm.s12270