You bend down to pick up a laundry basket. A sharp pain shoots down your leg and does not let go. This is one of the most common ways people discover they have a herniated disc. It sounds scary, but for most people it is very treatable.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
Your spine is made of small bones called vertebrae. Between each bone sits a soft, jelly-like cushion called a disc. Think of these discs as shock absorbers for your back. A herniated disc happens when the tough outer layer of one of these cushions tears and the soft inner gel pushes out. If that gel presses on a nearby nerve, it can cause pain, numbness, or tingling that travels down an arm or leg.
Herniated discs show up most often in the lower back. They can happen after lifting something heavy the wrong way, twisting quickly, or from years of everyday wear and tear.
Can a Herniated Disc Heal on Its Own?
Often, yes. Researchers writing in Spine Surgery and Related Research reviewed years of imaging studies and found that many herniated discs shrink on their own over time, without surgery. Discs where material has fully broken away, called extrusions, are often the most likely type to shrink [1].
A study in Neurosurgical Review followed 91 patients and found that younger patients with smaller herniations and healthier spinal alignment were the most likely to see this natural shrinking happen [2].
One case report published in the journal Cureus described a 52-year-old man with a disc pressing on nerves in both legs. After ten weeks of chiropractic care, including spinal adjustments and home exercise, his pain and weakness improved. A follow-up MRI six months later showed the herniation had resolved on its own, and he remained pain-free at nine months [3].
Is It Safe to See a Chiropractor for a Herniated Disc?
This is one of the most common questions people ask. Some worry that a spinal adjustment could make a disc problem worse, or even cause a rare but serious nerve condition called cauda equina syndrome.
A 2026 study in the journal PM&R looked at more than 68,000 patients with disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or nerve pain. Researchers compared patients who received chiropractic spinal manipulation to those who did physical therapist-led exercise instead. The two groups had no meaningful difference in the risk of cauda equina syndrome. The chiropractic group actually had a lower rate of bladder and bowel problems, which are warning signs doctors watch for [4]. Large studies like this help patients and their doctors make informed decisions instead of relying on fear alone.
A proper exam still matters before starting any treatment. Not every herniated disc is a good fit for spinal adjustments, and symptoms like loss of bladder control need immediate medical attention.
What Are the Treatment Options?
Most people with a herniated disc improve without surgery. Common options include physical therapy, targeted exercise, anti-inflammatory medication, and chiropractic care. For related reading, see how exercise-based programs helped patients with degenerative disc disease, how a structured rehab program improved outcomes for lumbar spinal stenosis, and how some patients pursue chiropractic care for disc bulges and sciatica.
Chiropractic care is one option some patients use alongside exercise and other conservative approaches, with the goal of easing nerve pressure and restoring movement.
The Bottom Line
A herniated disc can feel alarming in the moment, but the research is reassuring. Most discs improve on their own with time and the right conservative care. Talking with a doctor or chiropractor about your specific case is the best way to build a plan that fits your body and your goals.
Sources
- Zeng Z, Qin J, Guo L, et al. Prediction and Mechanisms of Spontaneous Resorption in Lumbar Disc Herniation: Narrative Review. Spine Surgery and Related Research. 2023.
- Wang S, Sun K, Li J, et al. Spontaneous resorption of disc herniations in adjacent segment after endoscopic spine surgery: Cohort study. Neurosurgical Review. 2026.
- Chu EC, Sabourdy E. Non-surgical Restoration of L3/L4 Disc Herniation. Cureus. 2023.
- Trager RJ, Baumann AN, Perfecto RT, Goertz CM. Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy versus physical therapist-led exercise and the risk of cauda equina syndrome in adults with lumbar disc herniation, stenosis, or radiculopathy. PM&R. 2026.
