What happens when a disc ruptures in the lower back?

What happens when a disc ruptures in the lower back?

The gelatinous material inside the disc begins to dry out and grow stiffer, and the layers of the fibrous wall of the disc start to separate and fray. If a damaged disc presses on nearby spinal nerves, they become inflamed. Disc ruptures in the low back typically affect the sciatic nerve roots that exit the spine on either side of the discs.

How long does it take for a ruptured disc to heal?

Disc surgery is not guaranteed to work, and the pain might get worse. The disc may rupture again later, or a different disc may fail. Most disc pain substantially improves within a month. Expect gradual improvement after the early, acute stage right after the flare-up. Going forward, exercise can help to prevent future flare-ups of disc pain.

Can a disc rupture after a microdiscectomy?

After a microdiscectomy for a disc herniation, another disc may rupture and impinge again on the nerve root. This can happen anywhere from days to years after the surgery. The hallmark of this is pain that is gone initially after surgery, but then spontaneously returns.

What kind of surgery is needed for a ruptured disc?

Surgical techniques vary, but diskectomy removes part of the ruptured disc so it doesn’t press on the spinal nerve roots anymore. In many cases, it can be done as an outpatient procedure. Disc surgery is not guaranteed to work, and the pain might get worse. The disc may rupture again later, or a different disc may fail.

The gelatinous material inside the disc begins to dry out and grow stiffer, and the layers of the fibrous wall of the disc start to separate and fray. If a damaged disc presses on nearby spinal nerves, they become inflamed. Disc ruptures in the low back typically affect the sciatic nerve roots that exit the spine on either side of the discs.

Disc surgery is not guaranteed to work, and the pain might get worse. The disc may rupture again later, or a different disc may fail. Most disc pain substantially improves within a month. Expect gradual improvement after the early, acute stage right after the flare-up. Going forward, exercise can help to prevent future flare-ups of disc pain.

Surgical techniques vary, but diskectomy removes part of the ruptured disc so it doesn’t press on the spinal nerve roots anymore. In many cases, it can be done as an outpatient procedure. Disc surgery is not guaranteed to work, and the pain might get worse. The disc may rupture again later, or a different disc may fail.

After a microdiscectomy for a disc herniation, another disc may rupture and impinge again on the nerve root. This can happen anywhere from days to years after the surgery. The hallmark of this is pain that is gone initially after surgery, but then spontaneously returns.