27/01/2025
🤔Can Disc Bulges heal? ✅YES they can!
📝 Several studies have shown that larger disc bulges actually have the greatest tendency to reduce and resolve with conservative (non-surgical) management or even if left completely alone (source 1- link below).
➡️ Scroll across to the second picture above. This shows a massive disc bulge, that had completely resolved on MRI 12 months later. The patient was managed with physiotherapy and exercise, no surgery.
❓SO... HOW MUCH DO DISCS IMPROVE AND HOW LONG DO THEY TAKE TO HEAL?
One paper looked at a large group of patients with large disc prolapses over a 2 year period by repeatedly scanning them and monitoring what was happening to their disc prolapses over time.
A large proportion of these patients had severe sciatica initially, but improved as time went on despite having a large disc herniation on their scan.
They found that 83% of the people they studied had a complete and sustained recovery when followed up two years later with only four patients requiring surgery!
On average, over the two years, the size of the disc protrusions were reduced by 64% (source 2).
Another paper found that 38% of all the disc prolapses they observed became smaller in size when left completely alone.
Among their results they found that more specifically, extruded disc 'fragments' resolved 100% of the time and disc 'herniation' resolved in 83% of cases!
Over a six month period most disc protrusions were on average 1/3 of their original size (source 3).
❓ CAN WE PREDICT WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
Where early improvement is seen then the outlook is far better (source 4). This is why it is important to see your physiotherapist early, and get started on appropriate guided rehabilitation and exercise.
❓WHAT IF MINE DOESN’T HEAL
The good news is this does not mean you will have pain forever. Most disc bulges will eventually become asymptomatic, and many people are walking around with disc bulges without an issue. Physiotherapists can help you regain mobility, strength and reduce pain even if disc bulges remain!