Prognosis of Lumbar disc Herniation

The natural course of patients with lumbar disc herniation shows improvement or resolution of symptoms. Around 30% of cases improve within six weeks, and 60% after six months.
On the other hand, 13% of patients develop new herniations or experience worsening symptoms due to the primary herniation (Atlas et al., 2005).

The natural history of the disease supports the use of conservative clinical treatment as the first-line option for lumbar disc herniation (Modic, Ross et al., 1995; Modic, Obuchowski et al., 2005).

Regardless of the treatment chosen, there is about a 5% chance of herniation recurrence.

Surgical outcomes are generally very good. This type of surgery mainly improves leg pain, not so much back pain, and is therefore rarely performed solely for back pain.

Most patients feel improvement during the first few weeks after surgery, but continue to improve over several months. Typically, pain is the first symptom to improve, followed by restoration of leg strength, and later, sensation. It's common for some patients to report that, despite pain relief, they still have a numb area in the leg or foot.

Almost all patients gradually return to normal daily activities within several weeks after surgery.