Anyone who has experienced pain or related symptoms from a herniated disc (sometimes referred to as a “ruptured” or “bulging” disc) just wants the discomfort to go away and stay gone. Fortunately, it's not unusual for disc-related pain to subside or dissipate entirely within a month or so, although there are some exceptions. As for whether or not a herniated disc is permanent, there are a few ways to answer this question, which we explore in more detail below.
Disc Location & the Extent of Protrusion Can Change
It's possible for a herniated disc, especially one in the more mobile lower spine, to shift in a way that takes pressure off nearby nerves. In certain cases, the inner disc material may ease back into the disc to some extent. Treatments that could cause these disc-related changes include:
• Nonsurgical decompression done on a specially designed traction table
• Massage therapy around the affected area
• Certain chiropractic treatments involving strategic pressure applications
Symptoms Can Naturally Subside Even if Disc Damage Remains
Harvard Health reports approximately 90 percent of the time, herniated disc symptoms go away within six months with little or no significant intervention. This can happen even if the damage to the affected disc is technically still present and detectable on image tests. It's also possible for age-related disc wear that’s affecting herniated discs, also referred to as degenerative disc disease, to produce symptoms that gradually subside.
How a Disc Changes or Heals Depends on Several Factors
Whether or not a herniated disc is permanent in terms of how it's damaged and affecting you will depend on several patient-specific factors. Location is the main one. If it's in a less mobile part of the spine, the herniated disc may not easily shift naturally or in response to certain treatments. The extent of the disc damage is another important factor. A severely herniated disc may also be more on the permanent side as far as how it affects nearby nerves.
Seek Treatment Early to Reduce the Risk of Long-Term Discomfort
As soon as you begin to notice symptoms suggesting you may have a herniated disc, see what your doctor or a specialist has to say. The sooner you get an accurate diagnosis, the sooner your doctor can create a personalized treatment plan for you. Acting early also reduces the risk that herniated disc damage will last longer than what's typical. Some of the steps you can take right away when experiencing disc-related pain include:
• Briefly resting and modifying activities
• Applying ice or heat to the affected area
• Taking anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant medications to ease swelling and calm the nerve down
Lifestyle Adjustments Can Help
Even if your symptoms do go away after a few weeks or a month or so, the disc itself may still be a potential source of discomfort that returns later. This is a risk you can reduce by making some lifestyle adjustments. Talk to your doctor to get specific recommendations. However, the ones that tend to help most are losing excess weight, improving posture, and getting regular exercise to keep spine-supporting muscles strong and healthy.
If you have a herniated disc, a doctor may recommend a discectomy surgery as the best option. Although this is generally one of the most successful back surgery procedures, having a large hole in the outer ring of your disc more than doubles the risk of needing another operation in the future. A new treatment, Barricaid, is a bone-anchored device that closes this hole, and it’s proven 95 percent effective. This means 95 percent of Barricaid patients in a randomized study didn’t undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in the 2-year study timeframe. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and doesn’t require any additional incisions or time in the hospital.
If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment, ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.
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