Living with a Herniated Disc: Understanding the Condition and Treating the Pain

You’re bending over to tie your shoe, or maybe you just lifted a laundry basket off the floor—and suddenly, something shifts. A sharp, electric jolt shoots through your lower back and radiates down your leg. Within days, sitting becomes excruciating. You feel tingling in your foot. Or worse—your leg feels weak, like it might buckle underneath you.

It's not just a sore back. You could be dealing with a herniated disc—a spine condition that can disrupt your daily life, mobility, and comfort. But the good news? It’s treatable, and in many cases, you can fully recover without surgery.

What Is a Herniated Disc (And Is It the Same as a Slipped Disc)?

Your spine is made up of 33 vertebrae, and between most of them are intervertebral discs—soft, cushion-like pads that absorb shock and allow flexibility in your back.

Each disc has two parts:

• A soft, gel-like inner core (the nucleus pulposus)
• A tough, fibrous outer shell (The annulus fibrosus)

A herniated disc, also known as a ruptured disc or colloquially as a “slipped disc”, occurs when the inner core pushes out through a crack or tear in the outer shell. This herniation can press against nearby nerves, triggering pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness—depending on the location and severity of the compression.

Slipped disc vs. herniated disc: While the term "slipped disc" is commonly used, nothing actually “slips” out of place. The disc material bulges or leaks, which is more accurately described as a herniation.

The Difference Between a Bulging Disc and a Herniated Disc

	Herniated Disc	Bulging Disc
What it is	The disc's inner gel-like material breaks through a tear in the tough outer layer. The outer wall is torn or ruptured.	The disc extends outward beyond its normal boundary, usually evenly around the disc's circumference. The outer wall remains intact but stretched out.
Severity	Typically, more severe than a bulging disc. Especially if it compresses nearby nerves.	Often considered less severe than a herniated disc and can often be asymptomatic.
Symptoms	Sharp pain, sciatica, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs.	Mild back pain or none at all. Sometimes asymptomatic.
Causes	Trauma, heavy lifting, or progression of a bulging disc.	Degeneration from aging, posture, and repetitive stress.
Treatment	May need physical therapy, injections, or even surgery if conservative care fails.	Often responds to conservative care and lifestyle changes.

Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

Symptoms of a herniated disc depend on the location of the herniation and which nerves are affected. In general, the most common areas are the lumbar (lower back) and cervical (neck) spine.

How Long Does It Take to Heal?

The recovery timeline depends on the severity of the herniation and the treatment used. It can take time and varies depending on your health, age, and activity level:

Severity	Differentiator	Recovery Timeframe
Mild-Moderate	Responds to rest, physical therapy, and medication.	4-6 weeks
Persistent	Involves nerve compression or recurrent flare-ups.	8-12+ weeks
Chronic or Severe	Presents with significant neurological symptoms.	Extensive treatment or surgical intervention

What Causes a Herniated Disc?

The most common causes of a herniated disc can include:

• Age-related disc degeneration: As we get older, discs lose hydration and elasticity, making them more prone to tearing.
• Repetitive stress or motion: Frequent bending, lifting, or twisting can wear down the outer disc layers.
• Sudden trauma: Car accidents, sports injuries, or heavy lifting with improper form can cause acute disc rupture.
• Poor posture and sedentary lifestyle: Slouching and weak core muscles put extra stress on the spine.
• Obesity: Extra weight increases pressure on spinal discs.
• Smoking: Reduces oxygen supply to spinal tissues and accelerates disc degeneration.

What Should You Do Immediately If You Suspect a Herniated Disc?

If you experience sudden back or neck pain along with radiating symptoms, take the following steps:

Meet Our Orthopaedic Spine Specialists

Seeing a Doctor for a Herniated Disc

When Should You See an Orthopaedic Specialist?

If you suspect you have a herniated disc, don’t wait. If you have any of the following symptoms you should seek care as soon as possible:

• Pain that doesn’t improve after a week of rest and home care
• Numbness or tingling that spreads or worsens
• Muscle weakness, especially in your legs or arms
• Trouble with your balance or coordination
• Loss of bladder or bowel control (this is a medical emergency called cauda equina syndrome)

What Kind of Specialist Should You See?

For the best outcomes, consult with an orthopaedic specialist. At POA, these may include:

• Orthopaedic Spine Surgeons: Our orthopaedic surgeons who are experts in surgical and nonsurgical care of spinal disorders.
• Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physicians: Thes physicians focus on conservative and physical rehabilitation approaches.
• Pain Management Specialists: If more agressive care is not neede our spesialists may offer injections, nerve blocks, or other targeted treatments.

Every person is unique so every treatment approach and plan is tailored for your specific needs.

How Is a Herniated Disc Diagnosed?

A typical diagnosis can include a review of your medical history such as prior injuries, sumptom patterns, lifestyle, and your work habits. It also involves a physical exam which may include reflex testing, muscle strength, raings of motion, and nerve response.

Imaging may also be ordered to assist in a comprehensive evaulation.

Imaging to evaluate a herniated disc may include:

• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Shows disc herniation and nerve impingement in detail
• CT Scan (Computed Tomography): Offers detailed bone and disc imaging
• X-rays: Useful to rule out fractures or arthritis but won’t show disc herniation directly
• EMG (Electromyography): Measures how well nerves and muscles function and detects damage

Treatment For Herniated Disc

Conservative (Non-Surgical) Treatments:

• Physical Therapy: Core strengthening, stretching, and posture correction exercises to relieve pressure on the affected nerve.
• Medications:
  • NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) for pain and inflammation
  • Muscle relaxants for spasms
  • Nerve pain medications (gabapentin or pregabalin)
• Activity Modification: Limiting activities that aggravate symptoms while staying gently active.
• Epidural Steroid Injections: Reduce inflammation around the nerve root and provide temporary relief.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Options (if conservative care fails):

• Microdiscectomy: This is where a small portion of the disc is removed to free the compressed nerve.
• Endoscopic Discectomy: Performed through a thin tube using a camera, often with quicker recovery.

Extensive Surgical Options (for severe cases):

• Laminectomy: Removes part of the vertebra to relieve pressure on nerves.
• Spinal Fusion: Joins two or more vertebrae together to stabilize the spine when discs are severely damaged.

Why Choose a POA Spine Specialist?

At POA, we specialize in restoring comfort, strength, and movement—without rushing to surgery.

What sets us apart:

Whether you’re newly injured or have struggled with back pain for months, POA’s spine experts can help you get your life back on track.

You Deserve to Feel Better

A herniated disc can feel like a life-altering injury, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right care team and a focused treatment plan, recovery is not only possible—it’s probable. Don’t wait in pain! Schedule with one of our Orthopaedic Spine Specialists today and take your first step toward relief and recovery.

This blog post is meant to be informative and should not act as a self-diagnosis tool. If you’d like to see one of our doctors, please contact us here.

What Can Help Relieve Herniated or Bulging Disc Pain?

A common back and spine problem is herniated or bulging discs. Nearly everyone will know someone who has experienced a herniated disc at some point in their lives. It's painful and we hope you're one of the fortunate ones who don't have to endure it. In many cases, these discs will heal on their own with no long-term consequences. However, if you have a herniated disc and aren’t able to treat it successfully by yourself, you may need to reach out for professional help from an experienced physical therapist or orthopaedist.

Fortunately, there are several exercises that can ease the pain caused by a herniated disc and strengthen your back to prevent relapses. 

Core stabilization exercises

Many people suffering from back pain have weak core muscles. When the core muscles are weak, the spine receives less support. This may be a reason why people with weak core muscles experience back pain more often than those who have a strong core. Core stabilization exercises strengthen the core and make your body less prone to back pain. One of the best exercises to strengthen the core is the pelvic tilts. It should be done in two variants to strengthen your core in different ways. Another exercise that strengthens your core is the bent knee hug. Other exercises that strengthen the core are the bicycle and the knee to chest. Other core stabilization exercises you can try are:

• Planks
• Side plank
• floor prone cobra 
• cable anti-rotation (requires equipment found at most gyms.)

Stretching Exercises

A herniated or bulging disc can lead to muscle spasms in your back. Thus, it’s recommended that you stretch your muscles as often as possible to ease the pain and prevent muscle spasms from becoming chronic. There are many great stretches that you can do to ease the back pain caused by a herniated disc. 

The knee to chest is one of the best stretches that you can do on a daily basis. It will help you ease the pain caused by a herniated disc and improve your overall posture. To perform this stretch, you should lie on your back and use your hands to grab one leg by the ankle. Next, you should pull that leg towards your chest and hold this position for 30 seconds. After performing this stretch, you should repeat it with the other leg. This is one of the best knee-to-chest stretches that you can do while dealing with a herniated disc. It will help you ease the pain caused by the condition and improve your overall posture. These are the best exercises that you can do while dealing with a herniated disc. They will help you ease the pain caused by the condition and also improve your posture.

One of the best stretches is the hip stretch. It will help you ease the pain in your back and improve the blood flow to your lower extremities. To perform this exercise, you should lie on the floor and use your arms to pull one leg up towards your head. Next, you should try to reach your hands towards your toes while keeping the other leg on the floor. 

Another great stretch is the triceps stretch. You should perform this stretch while standing upright. Then, you should lift one arm towards the sky while keeping the other arm on your side. You should hold this position for about 30 seconds and then perform the same stretch with the other arm. This stretch will help you ease the pain caused by a herniated disc and improve your overall posture. 

Finally, the seated hamstring stretch. It will help you ease the pain in the back of your leg and improve your posture. To perform this exercise, you should sit on a chair and place one leg on another. Then, you should try to bend towards the leg that’s on the chair. You should perform this stretch for 30 seconds and then switch legs. These are the best stretching exercises that you can do while dealing with a herniated disc. They will help you ease the pain caused by the condition and also improve your posture.

Exercises To Avoid With A Herniated Disk

Not all stretching and exercises are created equal, especially when it comes to herniated and bulging disc pain. A lot of folks experience this pain when bending and rotating their body. This ought to tell you that rotational exercises aren't the ones you want to try out. Leg raises are also out since they tend to put a lot of stress on the lower back. You should also avoid sit-ups and a common runner's stretch - toe touches. These will often exacerbate the pain and potentially do more damage to the injured disc.

Other Solutions For A Herniated Disk

Of course, gentle stretching and exercising may not be the solution to your herniated or bulging disc problem. Before trying any of these stretches or exercises, you should consult with one of our spine and neck specialists to make sure that you're not doing something which could contribute to future damage. We can begin with physical therapy which may get rid of the issue altogether. If that doesn't work, there are other options including surgery. Your case will be unique so no matter what we encourage you to set up an appointment with us today.