Can a Slipped Disc Fix Itself? Expert Opinion

Quick Guide to Recovery

What's a Slipped Disc?

Imagine your spine is like a stack of doughnuts. Each doughnut is a disc that helps your spine bend and twist. Sometimes, the jelly-like center of the doughnut can push out and press on a nerve. This is called a slipped disc, and it can cause pain and discomfort.

Why Does a Slipped Disc Hurt?

A slipped disc can cause different levels of pain in your back or neck, along with numbness or weakness in your body. You might feel pain on one side of your body, pain that gets worse at night or with certain movements, or even pain when walking short distances.

Can a Slipped Disc Fix Itself?

Yes, it can! Just like how your body can heal a cut on your skin, it can also fix a slipped disc. Over time, your body can absorb the part of the disc that has slipped out. This means that after some weeks or months, you might feel less pain and the slipped disc might not even show up on an MRI scan anymore.

Three Ways Your Body Helps a Slipped Disc

Your body has three main ways to help a slipped disc:

1. Your body's immune response: Sometimes, your body sees the part of the disc that has slipped out as something foreign and attacks it. This can make the slipped part smaller.
2. Absorption of water: The part of the disc that has slipped out contains water. Over time, your body will absorb this water, which makes the slipped part smaller.
3. Natural movements of the disc: Some people believe that through certain exercises, the part of the disc causing symptoms can be moved back into the disc and away from the nerves.

What Doctors Say

Here are some things doctors have said about slipped discs:

• "Yes, indeed, a slipped disc can heal on its own. More precisely, the extruded disk fragment can be absorbed; after a couple of weeks or months the pain has subsided and it is no longer visible on another MRI scan." - Mr G. Michael Hess
• "The good news is that in most cases — 90% of the time — pain caused by a herniated disc will go away on its own within six months." - Harvard Health

Our Special Belt

One way to help a slipped disc heal that really stands out is our special belt available at Treatopedia. This belt provides traction and decompression to the spine, which creates a negative pressure within the discs. This action moves stress away from the affected disc and nerve. It's an easy solution you can use at home that has no risk factors and can really help in the healing process of a slipped disc.

Things That Can Slow Down Healing

There are certain things that can make it harder for a slipped disc to heal:

• Getting older: As we get older, our spinal discs lose their flexibility and are more likely to tear or rupture.
• Being overweight: Carrying extra weight puts more stress on the discs in our lower back.
• Having a physically demanding job: Jobs that involve lots of lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting can increase the risk of getting a slipped disc.

It's important to be aware of these things so you can help your body heal faster.

How to Help Your Slipped Disc Heal

If you have a slipped disc, your doctor will probably suggest that you take some over-the-counter pain medicine and avoid activities that cause pain. But if these things don't help, your doctor might suggest more tests and possibly other treatments, like physical therapy. Surgery is usually only suggested if other treatments don't work, if you're finding it harder and harder to move, or if your doctor thinks your spinal cord is being squished.

A Real Story: Someone Who Had a Slipped Disc

Everyone's experience with a slipped disc is different. For example, one person had sciatica (pain that travels down the leg) in his left leg because of a slipped disc in 2012. He was offered surgery but chose not to have it. Over time, his symptoms got better, showing that non-surgical treatments can help manage slipped disc symptoms. But remember, what works for one person might not work for another, so it's important to talk to healthcare professionals to figure out the best plan for you.

Ways to Help a Slipped Disc Heal

There are several ways to help a slipped disc heal:

• Pain Medicine: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help manage pain.
• Physical Therapy: Exercises and stretches can help improve flexibility and physical function.
• Spinal Injections: Injections of cortisone can reduce back, neck, arm and leg pain.
• Decompression Therapy: This therapy helps reduce pressure on the spinal discs and promotes movement of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids into the discs so they can heal.