A herniated disc occurs when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in its outer wall. If the material presses on a nearby nerve, it can cause back or neck pain that radiates into an arm or leg, along with numbness, tingling, or weakness.
Herniated discs are common with age and often improve on their own over weeks to months. When pain persists or nerve symptoms develop, targeted treatment can speed relief and protect function.
Common symptoms
- Back or neck pain that radiates
- Numbness or tingling in an arm or leg
- Pain that worsens with sitting or bending
- Muscle weakness along the affected nerve
How interventional pain physicians treat it
Interventional pain physicians typically match treatment to the disc level involved and the nerve affected, favoring the least invasive effective option. Care may include:
- Physical therapy
- Epidural steroid injections
- Selective nerve root blocks
- Percutaneous discectomy
Treatment is always determined by a physician based on individual evaluation. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do herniated discs heal on their own?
Many do. The body often reabsorbs herniated disc material over time, and symptoms improve in a majority of cases within a few months. Treatment focuses on controlling pain and protecting the nerve while that happens.
What does an epidural steroid injection do?
It delivers anti-inflammatory medication directly to the space around the irritated nerve, reducing inflammation and pain. For many patients it provides enough relief to progress in therapy and avoid surgery.
When does a herniated disc need surgery?
Surgery is generally considered for progressive weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe pain that fails months of appropriate non-surgical care. Most patients never reach that point.
Independent, physician-owned practices in the DxTx network provide this kind of care across 11 states. One call connects you to the practice closest to you.