Herniated discs are more likely to occur in your neck or lower back, and most of them heal without surgery in six to eight weeks.
A herniated disc is when the outer covering of a disc is damaged, and the tear allows the disc’s inner material to poke out, or herniate, irritating nerves and other surrounding soft tissue. Additionally, the pain of a herniated disc can radiate into the surrounding soft tissue. It’s estimated that up to 3% of people who develop lower back pain have a herniated lumbar disc, but those who do have a herniated disc can use certain tips to reduce how long it takes for it to heal without surgery.
Four tips that can help cut how long your herniated disc takes to heal without surgery
Reducing how long your herniated disc takes to heal without surgery is possible if you follow tips like:
- Limiting bed rest — Staying still for one or two days after your back starts to heal can help jump-start your recovery. But it’s not a good idea to stay in bed all day after this point. Doing so allows your muscles and joints to get stiff and start weakening.
- Moving around — You won’t be able to run a marathon or do heavy weightlifting until a herniated disc heals. However, you should do as much walking or other light activity as you can. This will help keep your joints and muscles fit and can help reduce your pain.
- Avoiding heavy lifting — It’s possible that lifting something heavy is the cause of your herniated disc. Even if it’s not, you should still avoid lifting any heavy objects until you heal completely. Trying to lift something heavy before you’re healed can actually lead to more damage and pain. It might also extend your recovery time.
- Working with a physical therapist — Physical therapists are experts at treating musculoskeletal disorders like herniated discs. Some of the techniques these specialists can use to help you include:
- Therapeutic exercises designed to stretch and strengthen your back and core.
- Active Release Techniques® intended to relieve tension built up in your back muscles.
- Graston Technique® therapy that can help break up knots of scar tissue from old injuries.
Reduce how long your herniated disc takes to heal without surgery at SOL PT
Keen to slash how long it takes your herniated disc to heal without surgery? Our team at SOL Physical Therapy is ready and willing to help you find effective treatment for your herniated disc. We can perform a comprehensive evaluation on your back to confirm that your symptoms are being triggered by this issue.
Then, our physical therapists can build you a personalized therapy plan designed to reduce your symptoms and get you back to doing your normal daily tasks without pain. We can even help you get therapy from home thanks to our virtual therapy service.
Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat a herniated disc or to schedule an initial appointment.
