What Is a Herniated Disc?
A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner nucleus of an intervertebral disc pushes through a tear in the tougher outer annulus fibrosus, compressing nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord. This compression triggers both mechanical pressure and chemical inflammation — the combination of which produces the characteristic symptoms of herniated disc disease.
Disc herniations are most common in the lumbar spine (L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels are the most frequent sites) and the cervical spine (C5-C6, C6-C7). When a lumbar disc herniates, it typically compresses one of the nerve roots that forms the sciatic nerve, producing the classic sciatica pattern of pain radiating from the low back through the buttock and down the leg. Cervical herniations compress nerves going to the arm and hand.
The good news: Most herniated discs improve significantly with non-surgical treatment. Studies show that disc material often reabsorbs over 6–12 months with appropriate management, and up to 90% of patients achieve satisfactory relief without surgery.
Symptoms
- Sharp, shooting pain radiating from the low back into the leg (sciatica)
- Numbness, tingling, or burning in the leg, foot, or toes
- Muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot
- Pain that worsens with sitting, coughing, or sneezing
- Neck pain radiating into the shoulder, arm, or hand (cervical herniation)
- Back pain that is relieved by lying down
Treatment Options at Our Katy Practice
Dr. Qureshi takes a multimodal, non-surgical approach to pain management. Treatment recommendations are based on your diagnosis, imaging findings, symptom severity, and prior treatment history.
- Epidural steroid injections to reduce inflammation around compressed nerve roots
- Selective nerve root blocks for targeted diagnostic and therapeutic treatment
- Physical therapy and activity modification
- Spinal cord stimulation for persistent neuropathic symptoms
- PRP therapy for disc-related degenerative pain