I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago with a herniated disc (L-4/L-5) and I always have pain in my legs, lower back, and even feet. Well, here lately I have noticed tingling and numbness in the middle of my back and even up to my neck! Is this normal? And does a herniated disc ever heal completely by itself, or is surgery my final option? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!:)

I had a spine specialist tell me once that at six years, there is no statistical difference in pain from a herniated disc that was operated on and one that was not.

His feeling was that it would get better on it's on given enough time IF you could stand the pain.

Hi

I had a herniated disc an my specialist told me it has healed by itself and my pain is caused now by my Facet Joints.

Not really 100 percent sure that that can happen but who am i to argue!!

Best wishes

I herniated mine way back in the day...and it did get better than the initial injury...over time chronic back problems..flaring up again I thought it was still herniated disc but it turned out now to be degenerative disc disease, same disc.