Depending on its shape, a disc herniation is classified as either broad-based or focal (1).

Discs can also protrude or extrude. Protrusions have wider bases than domes (the protruded portion of the disc), whereas extrusions have a “neck” portion that is thinner than the dome (2).

An extrusion is considered more severe than a protrusion, and can become a sequestration where the dome breaks off from the rest of the disc. This is the most severe form of a herniation.

Discs may also migrate inferiorly as they protrude, extrude, or sequester. The outer ring of the disc, the annulus fibrosus, can also tear.

Disc Herniation Symptoms
Some individuals may not experience any symptoms from a disc herniation. In fact, up to one out of every five young adults and more than three out of every four adults over age 70 have been found to have asymptomatic disc herniations identified by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (3).

Disc herniations can cause a multitude of symptoms ranging from general spinal pain to neurological issues. Neurological issues may arise if the herniated disc begins to press on the spinal cord or nerve roots. Symptoms can include sensations of burning, numbness, tingling, or pins and needles. 

These sensations can be felt from anywhere in the buttocks to the thigh, back of the leg, calf, or foot. Another name for these symptoms is “radicular pain” because they are felt in a radiating pattern into the buttock and down the leg, past the source of the issue in the spine. 

In more severe cases of herniation, muscle weakness in the legs can result. You may have trouble lifting up the thigh or foot, which is called “foot drop.” 

You could also exhibit diminished reflexes in the leg due to compression on the nerves that supply the muscles and control the reflex arcs in the leg and foot. 

Bowel and bladder incontinence or decreased sensation in the perianal and genital areas could indicate cauda equina syndrome, which is an urgent medical condition the necessitates seeing a medical provider for treatment.

Typically, conservative treatments such as easy movement, physical therapy, NSAIDs, and possibly corticosteroid injections are the first line of treatment for less severe disc herniations.

Many disc herniations will resolve in a matter of weeks. However, if symptoms persist past six weeks or if the herniation is extreme or is causing major motor deficits, surgical intervention may be considered. A variety of surgical interventions are used to treat herniated discs.

Microdiscectomies
Microdiscectomies are a type of minimally invasive surgery where a portion of the disc that is protruding or extruding is removed to resolve any nerve compression and thus alleviate any symptoms (4).

Because this is a minimally invasive surgery, the recovery time frame is much shorter than standard, invasive surgeries. Most individuals leave the hospital within 24 hours and the total rehabilitation process takes about 6 weeks (5). During these weeks, you will likely participate in physical therapy to build back strength, range of motion, and endurance to return to your prior level of function.

You will most likely have lifting restrictions of no more than 5 to 15 pounds for several weeks, as well as bending and twisting restrictions to prevent a reherniation from occurring and to prevent compromise of the incision site.

Disc Replacement
Artificial disc replacements are another type of surgery to alleviate symptoms of herniated discs. Some artificial discs just replace the nucleus pulposus or the center of the disc while leaving the outer ring, the annulus fibrosus, intact while other discs replace both the inner and outer portions (6).

You may need to remain in the hospital for up to a few days after the procedure (7). Full recovery for heavy exertional activities can take up to four months (8).

You will likely have the same lifting, bending, and twisting restrictions as the microdiscectomy procedure, but these may last for a longer period of time since disc replacements are an invasive surgery with a longer recovery period.

Vertebral Fusion
Spinal fusions involve placing bonelike material between two vertebrae and connecting them with plates, rods, or screws to prevent motion between the two vertebrae (9). The bonelike material will come from a bone graft to help facilitate healing (10).

You may be in the hospital for up to a week after the surgery (11).

Total recovery time can take up to four months for this surgery as well. The same bending, lifting, and twisting restrictions will likely be placed on you by your physician for several weeks to up to a few months.


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