Does a herniated disc get worse if it’s not treated over time?

A friend of mine has a L4 L5 herniated disc. What are some treatment options that don’t cost too much and does it get worse over time?

Here’s the thing.
MRI’s have shown that people often have a herniated disc with no symptoms at all.
Sometimes a pt will present with symptoms that could be a number of things but a herniated disc does show on the MRI so they are given that diagnosis.
A MRI however will pick up other things as well.
So was your friend given the diagnosis from an MRI result or from her Dr’s opinion?

If it is guaranteed to be pain from the Herniated Disc then hot packs, anti inflammatories and specialised exercises to strenthen the muscles around the vertebrae to stop it happening again but also to try and coax the bulge back in. Physio will also use TENS machine and ultrasound to ease the associated muscle spams in the lower back.

If it is not a herniated disc then those exercises may cause harm and prolong the recovery.

Suggestion? Get an MRI and/or a CT scan to firstly acknowledge there is a bulge in the disc and secondly to rule out an alterior injury.

September 05 2009 03:35 pm | Herniated Disc

2 Responses to “Does a herniated disc get worse if it’s not treated over time?”

  1. tim m Says:
    September 5th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    rest it.
    References :

  2. jo j Says:
    September 5th, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    Here’s the thing.
    MRI’s have shown that people often have a herniated disc with no symptoms at all.
    Sometimes a pt will present with symptoms that could be a number of things but a herniated disc does show on the MRI so they are given that diagnosis.
    A MRI however will pick up other things as well.
    So was your friend given the diagnosis from an MRI result or from her Dr’s opinion?

    If it is guaranteed to be pain from the herniated disc then hot packs, anti inflammatories and specialised exercises to strenthen the muscles around the vertebrae to stop it happening again but also to try and coax the bulge back in. Physio will also use TENS machine and ultrasound to ease the associated muscle spams in the lower back.

    If it is not a herniated disc then those exercises may cause harm and prolong the recovery.

    Suggestion? Get an MRI and/or a CT scan to firstly acknowledge there is a bulge in the disc and secondly to rule out an alterior injury.
    References :
    going through it now myself plus am a healthcare professional

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