How do you know if a herniated disc is serious?

If the herniated disc is not pressing on a nerve, the patient may experience a low backache or no pain at all. If it is pressing on a nerve, there may be pain, numbness or weakness in the area of the body to which the nerve travels.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on aans.org

When should I be worried about a herniated disc?

Living with a herniated disc

If you still have pain or numbness after 4 to 6 weeks, or if you feel worse, talk with your doctor. Sometimes it takes surgery to relieve pain. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: Trouble going to the bathroom.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on familydoctor.org

How do you know if you have a severely herniated disc?

This pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain is often described as sharp or burning. Numbness or tingling. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org

Can a herniated disc turn into something worse?

Unfortunately if disc bulges are left untreated, and if the abnormal spinal stresses that caused them continue, they will often worsen over time. For the disc bulge or herniated disc to have any possibility of recovery, the instigating stress must be minimized.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on transformchiropractic.com

What percentage of herniated discs require surgery?

Herniated discs are a common cause of disability, and many patients are recommended for surgery as their first course of action to rid them of their pain. However, nearly 90% of patients with disc herniations don't require surgery.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on treatingpain.com

Wonder if you have a Herniated Disc?? Try this One Simple Test.

20 related questions found

What are the 4 stages of disc herniation?

There are four stages of a herniated disc depending on the extent of displacement of the nucleus towards the outside annulus.
  • Stage 1: Disc Compression. ...
  • Stage 2: Bulging Disc. ...
  • Stage 3: Disc Protrusion. ...
  • Stage 4: Herniated Disc.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thediscdoctor.com.au

What are 3 signs and symptoms of a herniated disk?

Herniated Disc Disorders
  • Pain that occurs on one side of the body.
  • Sharp pain in one part of the leg, hip, or buttocks and numbness in other parts. You may also feel pain or numbness on the back of the calf or sole of the foot. ...
  • Pain when moving your neck or deep pain near or over the shoulder blade.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pennmedicine.org

What are the red flags for herniated disc?

Pain that radiates below the knee is a red flag for a herniated disc or nerve root compression below the L3 nerve root. This is based on the dermatomal distribution of the nerve roots and the fact that the pain associated with inflammation radiates along the entire pathway of the nerve.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on consultant360.com

What are the red flags for back pain?

Night pain and pain at rest are red flags that can indicate a serious cause. Be suspicious for infection or malignancy in patients presenting with low back pain who experience unexplained weight loss, night pain, or pain with rest.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on journals.lww.com

What happens if you don't fix herniated disc?

If you leave a herniated disc untreated, you may experience intense, sharp pains, partial paralysis, or the inability to control bowel movements in relatively dire situations.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on neuromicrospine.com

What not to do with a herniated disc?

Activities to Avoid With a Herniated Disc
  1. Sitting too Much. Sitting for too long is never good for you, but people with herniated discs need to be especially careful because slouching in your chair puts more stress on your spine. ...
  2. Too Much Bed Rest. ...
  3. Vacuuming. ...
  4. Bending Over.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on spacecitypain.com

Is L4 L5 disc bulge serious?

A L4–L5 disc bulge (or slip-disc) in the L4-L5 region can cause severe health issues such as impotence and reproduction issues. It can also lead to infertility, loss or control of the bowel or bladder, paralysis in one or both of your legs, and even death.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on drkevinpauza.com

Is a herniated disc a lifelong injury?

Once a healthy disc herniates, it will never return to its normal anatomical state—the disease or injury is permanent in nature.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on dmlawyer.com

How long are you down for herniated disc surgery?

It may take up to 8 weeks to get back to doing your usual activities. Your doctor may advise you to work with a physiotherapist to strengthen the muscles around your spine and trunk. You will need to learn how to lift, twist, and bend so you don't put too much strain on your back.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on myhealth.alberta.ca

How long is the down time for herniated disc surgery?

Most people can return to their usual activities around 4 weeks after herniated disc surgery. People who follow a rehabilitation program after surgery may experience a shorter recovery time and better mobility.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com

What is the longest a herniated disc can last?

Most people can generally expect to feel better in a few weeks. The healing time for a herniated disc depends on the exact nature of the injury and symptoms, and can last from just a few days to months, according to Gbolabo Sokunbi, M.D., Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthcentral.com

Why is there excruciating pain with herniated discs?

The spinal canal has limited space, which is inadequate for the spinal nerve and the displaced herniated disc fragment. Due to this displacement, the disc presses on spinal nerves, often producing pain, which may be severe.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on aans.org

Is herniated disc pain unbearable?

For example, a large herniated disc can be completely painless, while a muscle spasm from a simple back strain may cause excruciating pain. This means that the severity of pain is not a determining factor for identifying a herniated disc.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on spine-health.com

What are the levels of severity of herniated disc?

The 4 Levels of a Herniated Disc
  • Bulging. Bulging occurs when disc material on the inside of the spinal disc moves around in a way that causes the disc to extend abnormally to one side. ...
  • Disc Protrusion. ...
  • Disc Extrusion. ...
  • Disc Sequestration.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on blog.barricaid.com

What is the most severe form of herniated disc?

Of the three types of herniated discs, sequestered herniation is often the most severe. It occurs when the nucleus erupts out of the outer layer of the disc. The ruptured disc material can migrate to different locations along the spinal canal and become trapped.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on midsouthpain.com

What will a doctor do for a herniated disc?

In nearly all cases, surgeons can remove just the protruding portion of the disk. Rarely, the entire disk must be removed. In these cases, the vertebrae might need to be fused with a bone graft. To allow the process of bone fusion, which takes months, metal hardware is placed in the spine to provide spinal stability.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org

Should I walk a lot with herniated disc?

Walking is a very suitable exercise for people with lumbar disc herniation. Regular daily, patients can walk for 30-45 minutes in the morning and afternoon or if they have time, they should take advantage of both sessions.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on vinmec.com

Can a herniated disc be so bad you can't walk?

Herniated Disc Work Restrictions

A herniated disc can cause severe pain, making walking impossible. This can cause muscle weakness and reduced motor function, impacting walking. If you have a herniated disc, you would not be able to do a variety of different job tasks.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on disability-benefits-help.org

What are the 10 red flag symptoms?

Examples of red-flag symptoms in the older adult include but are not limited to pain following a fall or other trauma, fever, sudden unexplained weight loss, acute onset of severe pain, new-onset weakness or sensory loss, loss of bowel or bladder function, jaw claudication, new headaches, bone pain in a patient with a ...

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on sciencedirect.com

When should you take back pain seriously?

If the pain lasts four weeks or longer. If the pain keeps getting worse as time goes by. If you are experiencing other symptoms, such as fever, major weight loss or weight gain, loss of function or weakness in extremities, bladder problems, etc.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hopkinsmedicine.org