What is a herniated disc?
Discs are the cushions between the bones of the spine. Each has a tough outer ring and a soft center. When the outer ring weakens or tears, part of the center can push out and press on a nearby nerve.
Herniations happen most often in the lower back (the L4–L5 and L5–S1 levels) and in the neck (C5–C6 and C6–C7).
Symptoms
- Lower back or neck pain
- Pain that travels down the leg (sciatica) or down the arm
- Numbness or tingling in the leg, foot, arm or hand
- Weakness in specific muscles, such as trouble lifting the foot or gripping
How it is diagnosed
Dr. Dare starts with your history and a neurological examination to find which nerve is involved. An MRI shows the disc and nerves in detail and confirms whether the herniation matches your symptoms.
Treatment
Most herniated discs improve within six to twelve weeks with conservative care: activity changes, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy and, for some patients, an epidural steroid injection.
Surgery is considered when pain stays severe despite that care, or when there is progressive weakness. In the lower back the usual operation is a microdiscectomy, which removes only the fragment pressing on the nerve through a small incision. In the neck, options include anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
Common questions
Will a herniated disc heal on its own?
Often, yes. Many herniations shrink over weeks to months and symptoms settle with conservative care. Surgery is for pain that does not improve or for nerve weakness.
How long is recovery after a microdiscectomy?
Many patients go home the same day and return to desk work within a few weeks. Heavier activity is added back gradually over the following weeks.
This page is general information reviewed by Dr. Amos O. Dare and is not a substitute for a medical evaluation.