Most herniated discs heal without surgery. Learn when conservative treatment works and when you need microdiscectomy.
Soft inner material pushes through a tear in the disc outer shell, potentially compressing a nerve. Causes back pain, sciatica, numbness, or weakness.
80-90% improve without surgery in 6-12 weeks. PT, anti-inflammatories, epidural injections, activity modification, and time.
Persistent sciatica after 6-12 weeks, progressive weakness, cauda equina syndrome (emergency), severe functional limitation.
Microdiscectomy: Gold standard. Minimally invasive. Endoscopic discectomy: Even smaller incision. Cervical disc replacement or fusion: For neck herniations.
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