Our spinal cord is enclosed by multiple vertebrae. These vertebrae are linked to each other by intervertebral discs. These discs are made up of an outer fibrous ring (annulus fibrosus) and a soft central portion (nucleus pulposus).
Inter-vertebral discs are prone to wear and tear. As the disc degenerates, it is unable to carry out its normal functioning. Patients observe signs and symptoms in correlation with the location and degree of disc degenerated and herniation.
Spinal disc herniation is a medical condition in which a tear in the outer fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc causes the inner nucleus pulposus to bulge out.
When the inner portion of intervertebral disc bulges out, it can come in contact with the nerves of the spinal cord and also tends to compress them. An inflammatory reaction takes place in this situation which results in severe pain in absence of disc compression.
Disc Herniation can occur at any Level of The Spine. It can be Classified into The Following Types
Signs and Symptoms of Disc Herniation Correlate with The Location and Degree of Disc Herniation
When patients suffering from back pain and are diagnosed with this condition, they often wonder if a herniated disc can heal on its own without surgery.
The question that can a herniated disc heals on its own largely depends upon the stage at which the condition is diagnosed and the kind of treatment approach used.
Disc herniation does not necessarily require painkillers and surgery. Since a herniated disc can occur due to a number of causes or even a combination of the above-mentioned causes, an ideal approach towards it also needs to be multi-dimensional.
On the first visit to the doctor, you will be required to give a detailed history regarding the onset, duration, and progress of your signs and symptoms. Presence of illnesses such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and cancers need to be informed to your doctor while evaluating for disc herniation.
Your doctor may run a set of blood tests or advise an x-ray and MRI or CT scans to diagnose your condition and to understand the degree of disc herniation.
If your tests reveal a herniated disc but no significant neurological troubles like weakness and loss of bladder or bowel control, your doctor may suggest you a combination of therapies to treat your complaints without the need for surgery.
[Read –Pain in Lower Left Side of Stomach and Back]
The Following Approaches may be Suggested to Manage Symptoms of A Herniated Disc
If the above-mentioned therapies work beneficially, they can be continued for as long as required. Usually, signs and symptoms of the herniated disc without neurological involvement can heal on its own over a period of time along with appropriate self-care measures.
A herniated disc cannot heal on its own if it has ruptured or if sequestration has occurred. In these cases, the affected intervertebral disc can greatly hamper your spine health and needs to be repaired surgically.
The recovery time for an uncomplicated herniated disc with an appropriate treatment plan can be expected to be up to 8 weeks without surgery. Back pain or discomfort for longer duration must be reported to your doctor for evaluation.
You may require surgical management if you notice one or more of the red flag symptoms mentioned below:
A herniated disc can be managed with certain self-help methods and home remedies:
Dr. Himanshi is a Homoeopathic consultant and currently working as a lecturer in Post-graduate faculty of Homeopathy, Parul University, Vadodara. Completed BHMS and MD in Homeopathy in January 2018 and also has a clinical experience of about 6 years. Personal interests include reading, spending time with family and traveling.
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