Spontaneous Disc Healing: Slipped Discs Slip Away, Without The Scalpel Coming Out To Play

Introduction

You get the scan. It says “lumbar disc herniation.” Your back is killing you. The word “surgery” enters the room.

But here’s the science most people don't know:

Most lumbar disc herniations shrink or disappear without any surgery at all.

Let’s explore why that happens—and what it means for your treatment choices.

Letting the body's natural healing flower

The Myth of Permanence

The old-school view? Herniated disc = mechanical problem = needs to be cut out.

The reality?

A landmark 2022 review by Yu et al. found that 62–66% of disc herniations spontaneously resorb with conservative care. That means education, physiotherapy and physical activity—not a scalpel.

In fact, the “worse-looking” herniations—extrusions and sequestrations—are more likely to resorb than simple bulges.

Disc Healing - The Immune System Strikes Back

So how does this happen?

🦠Your immune system treats the disc fragment like a trespasser. It sends in macrophages, which kick off a cascade:

• Inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α)

• Enzymes that degrade the disc (MMP-3, MMP-7)

• Growth of new blood vessels (VEGF)

This combo breaks down and absorbs the herniated material.

It’s like your body has its own built-in cleanup crew.

What This Means for People with Pain

💡 A large 'slipped' disc doesn’t equal a surgical sentence.

💡 Non-surgical care should usually be first-line unless you have serious red flags like progressive muscle weakness or cauda equina syndrome.

Takeaway for Clinicians

🧠 Educating patients about resorption relieves fear and reduces unnecessary interventions. If you are discussing MRI results with a patient it can be very helpful to explain the biology. If you are short on time - send them this blog 😉

Conclusion

The body may deal with the disc healing. Give it time, support it with movement.

References

• Burns, J. W., Quartana, P., Gilliam, W., Gray, E., Matsuura, J., Nappi, C., Wolfe, B., & Lofland, K. (2008). Effects of anger suppression on pain severity and pain behaviors among chronic pain patients: evaluation of an ironic process model. Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 27(5), 645–652. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013044

• Yarns, B. C., Cassidy, J. T., & Jimenez, A. M. (2022). At the intersection of anger, chronic pain, and the brain: A mini-review. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 135, 104558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104558