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SLIPPED DISC

Slipped disc: does it need an operation?

A slipped disc (disc prolapse or herniation) happens when the soft centre of a disc between two spine bones bulges out and presses on a nerve. In the lower back this causes sciatica: pain down one leg. In the neck it causes pain down one arm.

The good news: in most people the pain settles over 6 to 12 weeks without an operation, and the bulge often shrinks by itself. Surgery is the right answer for a minority, and for them it usually relieves leg pain well.

See Dr. Imran, 4 to 5 pm Call +91 89193 41154
A doctor shows a patient a model of the spine
Illustrative image

Surgery should not wait if there is

  • Loss of bladder or bowel control, new trouble passing urine, or numbness between the legs or around the back passage. This is cauda equina syndrome. Call 108 or go to an emergency department with a neurosurgeon the same day
  • Weakness that is getting worse, such as a foot that drags or slaps on the floor, or a hand that cannot grip: see a spine surgeon within a day or two
  • Clumsy hands or unsteady walking from a disc in the neck pressing on the spinal cord

Caspian Healthcare has no emergency department. The first of these needs a hospital the same day.

Surgery is worth considering if

An MRI finding alone is not a reason for surgery. Many people have disc bulges on MRI with no pain at all. What matters is whether the scan matches your symptoms and examination.

Treatment without an operation

  1. Stay active and avoid bed rest. Short walks several times a day.
  2. Medicines for pain, including medicines for nerve pain, as your doctor advises.
  3. Physiotherapy and exercises once the worst pain eases.
  4. Injection near the nerve in selected people with severe leg pain.

What the operation involves

Microdiscectomy

The surgeon removes only the piece of disc pressing on the nerve, through a small cut, using a microscope. Most people walk the same day or the next day.

Endoscopic discectomy

The same goal through an even smaller opening, using a camera. Suits some patients and not others. Read more on endoscopic spine surgery.

Neck disc surgery

A disc in the neck is often removed from the front and the space is filled with a spacer, or a disc replacement in some cases.

Recovery

Leg pain often eases soon after surgery. Numbness can take weeks or months. Most people go back to desk work in 2 to 4 weeks and to heavy work later, as the surgeon advises.

Every operation has risks, including infection, bleeding, a leak of the fluid around the nerves, nerve injury and the disc slipping again. Your surgeon will explain the risks for your operation before you decide.

Read more on back pain and sciatica, neck pain and your MRI report.

See Dr. Imran at Caspian

Dr. Mohammed Imran, Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon. MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Neurosurgery), Gandhi Medical College. Telangana Medical Council 60634.

Monday to Saturday, 4 to 5 pm. Walk in, no appointment needed. Consultation ₹600, valid for 6 days or 2 visits, whichever comes first.

Bring any MRI, CT or X-ray you have had (the films or CD and the written report), and the list of every medicine you take.

Dr. Imran’s profileCall +91 89193 41154

Common questions

Will the disc go back in by itself?

The disc does not slip back like a bone into a joint, but the bulging part often shrinks over weeks to months as the body clears it. This is one reason most people improve without surgery.

How long should I wait before deciding on surgery?

If there are no warning signs, most guidance suggests about 6 to 12 weeks of proper treatment first. If the leg or arm pain is still severe after that and the MRI matches your symptoms, surgery is a reasonable choice. Warning signs, listed on this page, mean you should not wait.

Will an operation fix my back pain?

Disc surgery is best at relieving leg pain (or arm pain) caused by a pressed nerve. It is less reliable for back pain alone. This is why the decision depends on what your main symptom is.

Can the disc slip again after surgery?

Yes. A small number of people have another slip at the same level, usually within the first year or two. Keeping your weight down, not smoking, strengthening the back and lifting correctly lower the chance.

Are injections an option?

For some people with sciatica, a steroid injection near the nerve can ease leg pain for a while and help them through the worst weeks. It does not suit everyone and does not remove the disc. Your surgeon will tell you whether it is worth trying.

Where will the operation be done?

There is no operation theatre at Caspian. If you need surgery, Dr. Imran operates on you himself at Mahavir Hospital or CARE Hospitals, Nampally.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed Imran, Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon, Telangana Medical Council 60634. Last reviewed 13 November 2026. General information for patients of Caspian Healthcare: your own doctor’s advice comes first.