The Stages Of Herniated Disc Healing Are Broken Down Into Three To Four Phases
- Acute Inflammatory Phase
- Tissue Repair Phase
- Maturation, Remodeling Phase
- Long Term Management Phase
Each stage has a basic timeline. It’s important to remember that the timelines overlap and vary significantly between people and cases.
The healing process is not cut and dried, black and white. It’s more gray.
The reason we are saying three to four stages is because some research describes the maturation, remodeling phase as the final stage and some research states that there is fourth stage. Called the long term management phase.
Honestly, it’s not important if we say there is fourth phase or only three. It’s really just perspective and semantics.
Acute Inflammatory Stage Of Herniated Disc Healing
0-2 Weeks
This may only last 3-4 days for some people and may last 3-4 weeks for some people. There is a large variance between individuals as far as the time frame goes. You will have the most pain during the acute inflammatory phase.
This is typically the time that people require prescription or over the counter pain meds. Often times people have lots of trouble simply moving around and doing everyday things. Even sleeping.
As the inflammation decreases the severity of the pain gradually decreases as well.
Tissue Repair Stage Of Herniated Disc Healing
2-8 Weeks (2 weeks to 2 months)
During this stage your body begins to get rid of injured, damaged tissue and starts to lay down new tissue.
This can start as soon as day two and last well past weight weeks. Typically the tissue repair phase is in that 2-8 week window.
During this time it’s common for you to still have pain, but the pain is not as severe compared to the acute inflammatory stage.
You will start to notice less difficulty moving around and doing everyday things. Your ability to sleep will start to improve. You may have periods of time when your back does not bother you too much at all. And periods of time where it bothers you significantly.
Maturation, Remodeling Stage Of Herniated Disc Healing
8-16 Weeks (2-4 months)
During the maturation, remodeling stage of herniated disc healing the disc and surround tissue starts to become stronger. It starts to mature and remodel.
This happens with tissue loading. Meaning it literally requires force through the lumbar discs, ligaments, and muscles to make them stronger.
This is referred to as mechanostimulation in the rehabilitation literature.
Basically cells use force to deal with injury. The right forces through the lumbar discs and surrounding tissues at the right time makes the discs and tissues heal. It’s really that simple.
This is best achieved through a specific, progressive lumbar disc rehabilitation program.
It’s very important to be doing a specific rehabilitation program during this time so the lumbar discs, ligaments, and muscles become stronger.
The proper disc rehab program will not only help the disc heal, it will make the disc stronger so future issues are less likely.
During this phase some people still have pain.
Some have no pain at all.
Some people don’t have any pain unless they do certain activities or get in specific positions.
Some people have pain that comes and goes, seemingly unrelated to what they do or don’t do.
This phase can last for up to a year, or even longer.
Long Term Management Phase Of Herniated Disc Healing
16 Weeks (4 months) and onward
Some research says that after sixteen weeks the long term management phase starts. This phase is based primarily on time. During the long term management phase maturation and remodeling of tissue can still be happening.
This is typically the stage where people have returned to regular activities. They may still have lower back pain but it’s usually less frequent and less severe.
8 Signs Your Herniated Disc Is Healing outlines what to look for if you’re unclear on whether or not your disc is healing.
