How long does a herniated disc last?
Definition
The length of time how long the symptoms persist in the case of a herniated disc varies widely and is influenced by several factors. So can individual severity of the herniated disc, the respective height at which the herniated disc is located, as well as the symptoms and ultimately the therapy have an influence on how long a herniated disc lasts.
A herniated disc is a very serious condition that takes a relatively long time to fully recover. In order to achieve a quick healing, it is therefore of great importance to follow the recommendations of the attending physician.
As disc prolapse is a disease of the spine in which parts of the Intervertebral disc enter the area of the spinal canal in which the Spinal cord lies. The cause for this is usually one damage the structure and stability of the intervertebral disc due to Preloads.
Duration of healing
A herniated disc is a serious, serious disease, which is a relative long healing prognosis Has.So, depending on the therapy, a complete healing until symptom-free can take a few months. Most often a herniated disc "conservative“Treated without surgery. In most cases, such therapy is sufficient.
It is difficult to give a general answer as to how long it takes to completely heal a herniated disc, as this depends on many factors and can vary greatly from person to person.
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A herniated disc is difficult to treat. On the one hand it is exposed to high mechanical loads, on the other hand it has great mobility.
Therefore, treating a herniated disc requires a lot of experience.
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.
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Duration of recovery / overall treatment
A herniated disc is a serious condition that takes time to heal. How long recovery takes varies from patient to patient and is difficult to predict across the board.
For one, the recovery time depends on how severe the herniated disc was. Is it a Mass incidentIn the case of a pronounced herniated disc, a significantly longer recovery time can be assumed than in the case of a less serious finding.
In addition, the recovery time depends on the type of therapy.
In most cases, a herniated disc becomes exclusively conservative, i.e. treated with medication and physiotherapy.
If the doctor's instructions regarding rest (possibly with bed rest), exercise (e.g. physiotherapy or sports exercises in the further course) or pain reliever medication are not followed, the course of the disease can be further delayed.
It usually takes at least four to six weeks for complete recovery, sometimes the course can extend over several months, which among other things also depends on the general condition, age and accompanying illnesses of the patient.
Even conservative treatment by the attending physician and physiotherapist can extend over several weeks and months.
Surgical therapy can be considered if there is no improvement after about four weeks with conservative therapy. However, it should be remembered that with such operations there is a relatively high risk of another herniated disc, so that the long-term success of an operation is not necessarily superior to conservative therapy.
You might also be interested in this topic: Exercise after and after a herniated disc
Duration of the acute phase
With the description of the acute phase one Herniated disc is meant the symptomatic initial phase of the disease. Next Pain may have other symptoms like Paralysis or Paresthesia occur, which often show improvement after a few weeks.
The acute phase can last between one and six weeks, depending on the individual course of the disease. A suitable therapy, which has been discussed with the attending physician, is decisive for the individual course as well as for the duration of the acute phase of the disease.
If conservative therapy fails, the acute phase of the herniated disc can last for a longer period of time. In these cases you should alternative therapy options (e.g. a PRT - periradicular therapy) to be discussed with the attending physician in order to positively influence the course.
Duration of pain / symptoms
In a herniated disc, the intervertebral discs press into the area of the Spine, in which the spinal cord lies, i.e. in the area which contains nerve tracts. This Nerve tracts are through the intervertebral disc mechanically irritated and can strong pain cause.
It is important to remember that the majority of herniated discs are symptom-free and do not cause pain. If there is pain, it is usually very pronounced and usually restricts mobility. The attending physician can in these cases Pain medication prescribe which relieve pain. The pain can be so severe that drugs like Ibuprofen or Paracetamol not enough and possibly even Drugs containing opioids must be used.
Please also read our relevant topic: Medication for a herniated disc
How long the pain and symptoms last depends on the individual course of the disease. In most cases, after conservative therapy, the pain subsides after a few weeks, although it is possible to switch to less strong painkillers.
After about six weeks, most herniated discs are healed with conservative therapy, painlessly and without symptoms.
Persistent pain
In a herniated disc, the herniated disc presses on the part of the spine that contains the spinal cord, which has many sensitive fibers. This mechanical irritation of the nerve fibers can lead to very severe pain.
In the majority of cases, the patients are completely free of pain after about six weeks and can move freely. In rare cases, there is no improvement even after several weeks; this can be the case when important nerve tracts pinched very unhappily become.
In this case, a relieving operative therapy to be thought about. However, even an operation in these cases does not guarantee complete freedom from pain, and repeated herniated discs are not uncommon.
Alternatively, you can use for chronic pain physical therapy and in sspecial back schools is also an adequate one, suitable for the longer-term course of treatment Pain therapy essential
Duration of a sick leave / sick note
Since a herniated disc is usually very painful, the attending physician will first put the affected person on sick leave.
Even so, it is important to stay active and do normal everyday activities as soon as possible. Studies have shown that strict bed rest after a herniated disc is unfavorable for healing, while exercise is good for healing. For this reason, the attending doctor usually prescribes physiotherapy or physiotherapy in addition to the necessary medication.
The duration of the sick leave depends on the individual complaints and the type of work. For example, someone who works hard professionally can be on sick leave significantly longer after a herniated disc than someone who is less physically challenged. No general answer can be given as to how long someone remains on sick leave after a herniated disc. In these cases, the individual symptoms and the type of work determine the length of the sick leave.
Duration of hospital stay (after surgery)
In some cases, a herniated disc may require surgical treatment. How long a hospital stay is necessary after an operation on the intervertebral disc depends on various factors. There are also different surgical procedures to treat the broken disc.
Standard procedures for a herniated disc today are minimally invasive, microsurgical procedures. Depending on the procedure and any complications that may arise, a hospital stay can last a few days or a few weeks. Most patients can leave the hospital within a few days after a minimally invasive procedure on the disc. The shortest hospital stay can be achieved using endoscopic discectomy (removal of the intervertebral disc). With this procedure, the treated patients can often leave the hospital the next day.
Illustration of a herniated disc
Disc prolapse -
Nucleus pulposus prolapse
A - herniated disc from the left
B - herniated disc from above
C - Healthy disc
a - neck and chest area
b - lumbar region
- Fiber ring -
Annulus fibrosus - Gelatinous core -
Nucleus pulposus
1st + 2nd intervertebral disc
(Intervertebral disc) -
Discus inter vertebralis - Spinal nerve -
Spinal nerve - Spinal cord -
Medula spinalis - Vertebral bodies -
Corpus vertebrae - Spinous process -
Spinous process
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
