13/10/2025
Lumbar Disc Herniation (slipped or ruptured disc)
🔹️The four stages of disc herniation are disc degeneration, prolapse (or protrusion/bulge), extrusion, and sequestration.
1. Disc degeneration
The disc weakens and thins over time due to aging, but its contents remain intact.
2. Prolapse
Also called a protrusion or bulge, the disc's inner material starts to push against the outer layer (annulus fibrosus).
3. Extrusion
The inner gel-like material breaks through a tear in the outer layer but still remains connected to the disc.
The material pushes further into the spinal canal but is not yet completely separate.
4. Sequestration
This is the final stage where a piece of the disc's inner material breaks off completely and lies free in the spinal canal.
The nucleus pulposus breaks through the annulus fibrosus and lies outside the disc in the spinal canal (HNP).
👉In fact, 80% of herniated discs get better on their own, without the need for surgery - and improve about 3 months after the onset of leg pain.
