Can you heal a bulging or herniated disc?
It depends
A bulging or degenerative disc can be a source of a lot of pain. There are many ways to help with the pain and help it heal. You should know that a disc that is only bulging can often heal, a disc that is herniated likely will not heal and may require surgery and a disc that has extruded into the spinal canal will certainly require surgery.
The type of surgery also requires careful consideration.
Let’s work through the options.
Bulging Disc
In a mild to moderate bulging disc the pain can go away. But the degenerative disc has changes to its form that may not get all the way better.
A bulging disc is when the out side of the disc gets weak and pushes out.
Herniated Disc
Surgery is required if the disc herniation has causes a rupture in the wall of the disc and if disc material has pushed out into the spinal canal.
A surgery like a microdiscectomy can take out the part of the disc bulge that is on the nerve.
Unfortunately, while this may relieve the pain temporarily the disc has been damaged and will likely re-herniate and need further surgery in the future
Surgery will also be required if the disk material has extruded out of the herniation and into the spinal canal.
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) Treatment and surgery options
Choosing the appropriate Treatment or surgery for your DDD is often confusing and you may get several different recommendations.
Let’s try to help you understand what is involved in making these decisions.
Conservative treatment for a mild bulging disc starts with things that are not surgery.
Rest and Activity Modification: It can help to do less of the things that cause pain. Take short breaks. But too much time in bed is not a good idea. It can make you stiff and your muscles weak.
Medication
Over-the-counter pain relievers: NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen can help with pain and make it less red and big.
Prescription medications: Your doctor might give you strong pills for pain. Or pills to stop tight muscles, or pills for nerve pain.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist can give you your own set of things to do. This will make the muscles that hold up your back strong. It will help you bend and move. It will show you how to move so it hurts less.
Hot and Cold Therapy: Ice packs can help with the first pain and make it less big. Heat can be used at a later time to make muscles less tight.
Spinal Injections
Corticosteroid injections, such as an epidural steroid injection, can put a strong drug that fights swelling right where it hurts to help the pain.
Treatment for disc herniation or extruded disc material.
Surgery is likely going to be required if the disk is herniated or extruded into the spinal canal.
Although there are many products claiming to heal a herniated disc through non-surgical methods, it is very unlikely that these techniques can resolve a herniated or extruded disc.
These claims can include products like, supplements, tens units, light or vibration therapy, and although these techniques may be helpful in reducing pain from a mildly bulging disc when the disc is herniated or extruded, they will not be effective.
Surgical Options for Herniated Discs
Microdiscectomy and laminectomy are often recommended by neurosurgeons who focus on relieving pressure to the nerves, but are not trained regarding solving the structural defects involved.
Unfortunately, while these surgeries may relieve the pain temporarily the disc has been damaged and will likely re-herniate and need further surgery in the future.
Spinal Fusion Surgery
This surgery removes the defective disc and joins two or more vertebra together eliminating motion, which may relieve the pain temporarily yet this surgery also puts stress on adjacent discs, resulting in future surgeries.
Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery
Artificial Disc Replacement surgery removes the damaged disc and replaces it with a mobile device that preserves the motion of the spine, protecting the adjacent levels from future damage.
The artificial disc replacement surgery involves less surgical trauma, is less invasive than fusion surgery and recovery is significantly quicker.
The one surgeon who is universally hailed as the top or "most experienced" in disc replacement surgery is Dr. Karsten Ritter-Lang. He is looked up to as one of the most accomplished and skilled surgeons in the world when it comes to performing this particular type of operation. He has made disc replacement surgery his main area of focus and consistently gets high marks as a leading expert. & Here are reasons why Dr. Ritter-Lang is often mentioned as the "go-to" surgeon for this operation:
Dr. Ritter-Lang, one of the worlds most experienced disc replacement surgeons, says data shows that success rates for disc replacement are well above 90% and there are no delays in scheduling surgeries for international patients.
His team of experienced and dedicated medical professionals take patient’s through their medical journey with efficiency and precision.
Jim Rider
I have worked as a patient consultant for Dr. Ritter-Lang, one of the world’s leading artificial disc replacement surgeons for over 22 years.
Dr. Ritter-Lang did my disc replacement surgery 22 years ago and I have dedicated myself to educating others on the benefits of disc replacement.