Neck Disc Bulges Can Heal Themselves

Cervical Disc Herniation: Spontaneous Regression

BACKGROUND:

Spontaneous regression of herniated lumbar disc has been well established in the literature, but, not for cervical discs.

3 Proposed Mechanisms for Spontaneous Regressions of Discs:

Dehydration and shrinkage of the herniated nucleus pulposus.
Retraction of the protruded disc.
Recognized as a foreign body, leading to an inflammatory response, and subsequent disc resorption.

Sharma et al. (2021), published a case study and reviewed 75 cases of spontaneous regression of herniated cervical discs from the literature.

CASE STUDY:

24-year-old male.
3 weeks of severe neck pain.
Right upper arm radicular pain.
Right C7 distribution weakness/numbness.

MRI showed a right paracentral disc extrusion at the C6-C7.

The patient chose to try conservative management, including:

NSAIDS
Analgesics
Muscle relaxants
Cervical collar
Physical therapy

After 4 weeks, all symptoms vastly improved.

The follow-up MRI 3 months later revealed significant spontaneous regression of the C6-C7 disc extrusion.

LITERATURE REVIEW:

75 Cases included

Predominant symptoms included:

Neck pain and/or radiculopathy (91%).
Myelopathy (9%).

Herniations were:

Paracentral or foraminal in 61 cases (84%).
Central in 12 cases (16%).
At C5-C6 (31 cases)
At C6-C7 (22 cases)

Average time of spontaneous regression was 9.15 months.

CONLCUSIONS:

Successive MRI studies documented the spontaneous regression of herniated cervical discs over an average of 9.15 months.

Conservative therapy is a viable initial treatment strategy over surgery.

SOURCE:

Sharma et al. 2021. Spontaneous regression of herniated cervical disc: A case report and literature review. Surgical Neurology International. 12(141).

Dalton Urrutia, MSc PT

Dalton is a Physical Therapist from Oregon, currently living and running the performance physiotherapy clinic he founded in London for Grapplers and Strength & Conditioning athletes. Dalton runs the popular instagram account @physicaltherapyresearch, where he posts easy summaries of current and relevant research on health, fitness, and rehab topics.

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