Good Healthcare Requires Treatment of Your Mind, Body, and Soul

Signs It's Time To Consider Surgery For Your Herniated Disc

22 February 2021 by Hugh Larson

When people hear they have a herniated disc, they often assume that they will need surgery to correct the problem. But this is not always the case. Sometimes, herniated discs can be managed and treated with less invasive measures like chiropractic care and massage. Other times, surgery really is necessary. So, how do you know the time has come for you to consider surgery for your herniated disc? Watch out for the following signs.

It has been more than 6 months, and you're still in pain.

When you first herniated a disc, did your doctor say something like, "Give these treatments a try for a while"? If you've been trying treatments like chiropractic adjustments, exercises, and rest for 6 months and you've seen little to no improvement, then this is a sign it's time to consider surgery. Some patients may still recover after this point, but the longer your pain lingers after the injury, the lower your chances of recovering without surgery are.

You can't afford to dedicate much more time to recovery.

Have you been taking it easy and focusing on treating your herniated disc for a while but really feeling the pressure to get back to work and your everyday life? Surgery may be your best option, then. Even though there is some risk and a recovery period to consider, surgery can get you back on your feet faster than more conservative treatments. 

Your insurance policy covers surgery but not other options.

As nice as it would be to live in a world where money was not a factor in choosing medical treatments, that is not the reality. Some insurance companies will cover the cost of back surgery but not the cost of chiropractic care, pain relief injections, and other more conservative treatments. If you will have to pay for these more conservative therapies out of pocket but your insurance will cover spinal surgery, that could be a reason to pursue surgery. Many patients who try conservative therapies end up opting for surgery eventually anyways, so you may be saving yourself some money by just opting for surgery right away.

Of course, these are just a few of the signs you may benefit from surgery to correct a herniated disc. You should consult with your doctor and perhaps also get a second opinion before you decide to go through with the surgery. It does tend to be effective, but there are some risks, and those need to be considered, too.

To learn more about herniated disc treatments, contact a doctor.

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