Can a Disc Herniation Heal Itself?

A herniated disc can heal itself. Dr. Shim explains how.

Citations:

Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina TS, Patronas NJ, Wiesel SW. Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1990 Mar;72(3):403-8. PubMed PMID: 2312537

Chiu CC, Chuang TY, Chang KH, Wu CH, Lin PW, Hsu WY. The probability of spontaneous regression of lumbar herniated disc: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2015 Feb;29(2):184-95. PubMed PMID: 25009200

Demirel A, Yorubulut M, Ergun N. Regression of lumbar disc herniation by physiotherapy. Does non-surgical spinal decompression therapy make a difference? Double-blind randomized controlled trial. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2017 Sep 22;30(5):1015-1022. PubMed PMID: 28505956

Macki M, Hernandez-Hermann M, Bydon M, Gokaslan A, McGovern K, Bydon A. Spontaneous regression of sequestrated lumbar disc herniations: Literature review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2014 May;120:136-41. PubMed PMID: 24630494

Yang X, Zhang Q, Hao X, Guo X, Wang L. Spontaneous regression of herniated lumbar discs: Report of one illustrative case and review of the literature. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2016 Apr;143:86-9. PubMed PMID: 26907997

[mfaisalmehmood]

How many people are watching this with back pain?

[Cheeba__]

Praying for everyone in the comments, that our bodies heal itself quickly 😭🙏🏽 im right there with you 😭💚

[vaakdemandante]

Got a herniated disk, the orthopedic surgeon I consulted with recommended he removes my two adjacent bones and replaces them with a single titanium implant, which would limit my mobility and then have to be replaced every 10 years - his words, not mine.

I did not listen to him and just used a mild form of stretching and waited it out - I feel fine and do an MRI from time to time, to keep it under control. No surgery was ever needed.

If I let this quack operate on me, I would lose both money and health, and be forever tied to hospitals and surgeries. Some doctors are just criminals in white coats.

Thank you for the video, I support this message and confirm that in mild cases there's nothing to worry about - rest and let the body repair itself.

[julioarturo]

I’m a doctor From Mexico. I want to share my experience. I had two dorsal hernias. I was in permanente pain for 15 years. I couldn’t walk straight. I had to use my arms to stand. I saw a lot of specialists one of them its my friend a specialist in rehab. , he said to me , you don’t need surgery your ciático nerve it’s not compressed. I ha a change in my live. I quit my job in a public hospital and worked only in my private practice. I start having a better life with my family, ejercice ( walking and swimming) and less stres. My pain disappeared miraculously in 1990. . I’m 73 years old now. My body heal itself. My greetings and my best wishes from Mexico. I’m sure you all wil be ok. Surgery must be the last option.

[shakthi]

Im suffering from pain past 5 months...Now my pain is gone away😌...U just need a good dr. And excellent physio✅...And a full bed rest🙂...Ur body will mostly heal itself...If you r reading this with ur painnn...You will be cured...Im praying...God Bless You💝

[desertspectre]

I thought this guy was BS because I was in serious pain! But one day I woke up and didn't feel so bad. Then as weeks went on I forgot what pain I had. My own body healed itself. Thank God and bless this man for spreading positive energy.

[smith]

This is the only video out of 1000s i have seen in YouTube where people really came out to write there success story of recovery in comment section, really appreciate you guys ❤️

[Teh-Jones]

More information in this 5 minute video than I've been able to leach from two doctors, physician assistants, and physical therapists over the past month and half... Thank you kindly.

[shyamsundar]

I had l4 l5 & l5 s1 disc bulge/disc herniation(MRI) . I had severe pain in my lower back . Now I don't have any pain may be 0.5 sometimes or 0 out of 10 . Am doing some decompression stretches and praying to Jesus daily.
Everyone who reads this comment. Don't worry 😊 It will heal by God's grace😇
Don't lose hope

[dakotadad]

This video almost brought me to tears giving me hope. I’ve been in agonizing pain for weeks, I couldn’t walk or stand for days and this is the only positivity I’ve heard yet. Thank you so much

[Flokiabob]

3 things I can suggest that have always helped my back repair itself from pain:
1. Get a neck and back massager. The kind you put your arms thru in the sleeves.
2. Stretch. Stretch when you wake up. Stretch before you go to bed. Stretch before you exercise and even when you’re bored. Stretch, stretch, stretch.
3. Ice. NEVER use heat if it is swollen or inflamed. Ice within the first 2-3 days, then heat the swelling has down.
4.EXERCISE! Work out! Walk! Run! Strengthen your back! The stronger it is the less likely it will be hurt.
5. Last but certainly not least. Eat right. Lay off the junk food, sugar, and flour. Stay away from ooey gooey cheese. As good as it is. NO SODA. And always WATER, WATER, WATER!

[davidamarquez]

I suffered a herniated disc Christmas weekend 2022. It was debilitating and could hardly walk or get up to watch my kids open their presents but made them wait 😂. MRIs revealed 1 bulge, 1 hernia ruin, and arthritis. It does improve over time but I also did the right chiropractic (soft tissue focused) and physical therapy focused on strengthening the entire core. I feel great! I highly recommend that to everyone. Also learn how to properly lift heavy objects. Stay safe everyone!

[Meep-eiqu]

For any new people dealing with this, I ’ve dealt with this twice and it healed both times so don’t worry the pain is only temporary even if it doesn’t feel like it. My main advice is to be cautious of how you move shortly after it’s healed cause it can be really easy for the pain to come back and I’m now dealing with it a third time because of it 😭 so don’t push yourself too much even when the pain is gone. Hope everyone gets their healing soon!! :D

[ReelGuyTv]

Suffered this shit for two years in my 20s. Had two disc herniations. One pressing on the sciatica and the other pressing on the s1 nerve root. The commentator is correct. Don't underestimate the healing powers of the body. If the surgery goes wrong there may be no coming back from it. Avoid surgery even though the pain is unreal. My pain was constant. It suffered standing, sitting, lying down and sleeping. It never went away until it finally did. Once it did I discovered barbell training. Of all things in the world that's what kept it away. Now squatting 240lbs easily. 300lb deadlifts. To think at one time 15 years ago I was barely able to tie my shoes. It will go away.

[lindacampbell]

This video saved my life! I had the herniated disc for 6 months, before coming across this video. I went to doctors, physical therapists, massage people. Nothing helped. After hearing this doctor, I decided there was nothing else I could do, so I just trusted what he said. The stress I had put on myself was lifted and the pain started to subside. I kept getting better and better. Eventually, I was back to my old self. I was so scared I would never be the same, but after trusting that the body can heal itself, it actually did. I can't thank you enough!

[imjustmethatsall]

I’ve experienced 2x severe herniated discs in 2 years (couldn’t walk, couldn’t shuffle in bed, etc.). In both, I could walk assisted by 2 weeks, and walk without pain after 2-3 months. Swim / cycle within 5 months.

I’ve also had two smaller flare ups since, with shooting pain down to my foot and unable to lie down to sleep. each one took 6 weeks to heal properly and the back pain got worse (burning after 30 secs of standing) whilst leg pain decreased, before resolving

I remember all four times thinking I’d never get better, so I’m leaving this comment to share that it does!! Keep moving to the best of your ability in small increments, and you will get there x

(I didn’t have any surgery, turned down injections, went to PT & used pain meds with anti inflam meds)

[jeffrylim]

I had exact same situation as @Eftee02. First severe disc herniation L4L5 in June 2019. I was totally paralyzed and hospitalized for 4 days. Took me about 1 month to get normal with some pain killers and muscle relaxant and inflammation medications.

Then in 2020 due to covid pandemic, I suffered a recurring disc herniation because of bad posture when I had to cook myself. The pain wasnt as paralyzing as 2019 but it sure was more complicated and took way longer to heal. As i tried to avoid hospitals in times of pandemi and from my previous experience with herniated disc, I decided to take a bedrest for 3 weeks thinking it will help the herniated disc to reabsorb.

The pain did subside but when I was able to finally stand up, my whole body was feeling weak and I have muscle cramp because of prolonged bedrest and was super painful. It was kinda come and goes and not healing as I expected. I decided to consult doctor despite covid condition. My doctor gave me epidural steroid injection for 3-4x over a period of 3 months and prescribed me some medications. My back did start to get better and the pain start to centralised on my lower middle back. It was however still hard for me to carry out my daily activities, I had difficulties standing up or sitting down for too long, not to mention walk.

But I did force myself to stand up, do stretchings, walk bit by bit everyday to recover my muscle strength and continue to take painkiller / muscle relaxant that my doctor prescribed to me and go for routine physiotherapy about twice a week. At this point, I faced a condition whereby i will feel pain when i sit down for too long, or when i tried to get up from my seat, my back felt stiff and the lower right part of my back feels stinging pain. Once i straightenned up my posture which took some time like 10-20 secs, then i will feel better.

I did not give up. When it wasnt so pain, I would get down to the swimming pool, walk on the pool forward and backward and sideways. Then i also start swimming breast stroke, the kicking motion helps to pull and stretch my entire back and when you get up to gasp for air, the posture is almost similar to mckenzie cobra posture which helps to relieve my pain by a LOT. I swim everyday or at least 5x a week.

As this video and eftee02 said, the most important thing is I constantly told myself i WILL recover and maintain positive mindset. I tried to do freestyle swim but it makes my back worse so I stick to breaststroke, discipline in doing my stretches, TUCK my tummy in when i walk, maintain upright and sitting posture, and my back starts to feel normal after 7 months and can do most of my daily activities including driving etc!

Now i am doing core strengthening exercises to train my muscle so they will lock the part of my herniated disc area in place when i stand up or sit down to prevent future recurrence. You guys can find loads of such videos in youtube.

Well i hope by sharing my story, it helps you guys here to keep fighting and positive spirit and know that you can recover !

[vidyajayram]

A doctor affirming surgery is not needed is a breath of fresh air! Thank you

[robs]

Currently recovering from this. Herniated disc l4-l5. Pain was unbearable initially and I ended up in emergency as I passed out a couple times. But as this video mentions, handle the pain and let the body do it’s thing. Praying for anyone else who has to experience this as it’s brutal

[SaleemRanaAuthor]

This was excellent. The description and the graphics made everything remarkably clear.