Herniated Disc
Understanding the Condition & Finding Lasting Relief
What Is a Slipped Disc?
A herniated disc, also known as a slipped disc or prolapsed disc, occurs when the soft inner portion of a spinal disc pushes through its outer layer.
This can irritate nearby nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness in the back, neck, arms, or legs. The severity of symptoms depends on where the herniation occurs and whether it compresses spinal nerves.
Slipped discs are a leading cause of back and neck pain and can make daily activities like walking, bending, or even sitting uncomfortable. While some cases improve with rest and non-surgical treatments, others may require medical intervention to prevent long-term nerve damage.
How a Slipped Disc Impacts Your Life
A slipped disc can significantly disrupt mobility, work, and overall well-being.
Pain may prevent you from sitting comfortably at work or driving long distances.
Nerve compression can cause weakness that affects daily tasks like lifting, gripping objects, or walking.
Untreated slipped discs may lead to chronic pain and long-term nerve damage.
If your symptoms persist beyond six weeks or worsen over time, it's essential to seek medical advice to prevent complications.
Common Causes of a Herniated Disc
How Mr Gordan Grahovac Can Help
As a Consultant Neurosurgeon & Complex Spinal Surgeon in London, Mr Grahovac specialises in diagnosing and treating slipped discs using a patient-first, minimally invasive approach. Whether you need non-surgical therapy, targeted pain relief, or advanced spinal surgery, he creates a personalised treatment plan to help restore mobility and relieve pain.
Mr Grahovac performs a thorough assessment to identify the severity of your condition:
Medical History & Physical Examination – Identifying symptoms, mobility restrictions, and pain patterns.
Neurological Tests – Checking muscle strength, reflexes, and nerve function.
Advanced Imaging (MRI/CT/X-ray) – To confirm the location and severity of the disc herniation.
His Diagnostic Process:
Treatment Options for a Slipped Disc
Mr Grahovac and the teams he works with take a holistic approach to your treatment, considering the severity of your symptoms, underlying condition, and overall well-being to create a personalised plan that promotes long-term relief and spinal health.
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Postural & Ergonomic Advice – Improving workstation setup, sleeping posture, and daily movement habits to reduce disc strain.
Physiotherapy & Targeted Exercises – Strengthening core, back, and spinal stabilising muscles to prevent excessive stress on the spine.
Pain Management Strategies – Including heat therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, and gentle activity modifications to reduce pain and inflammation.
Bracing (For Select Cases) – Short-term use of lumbar or cervical braces to provide support and limit excessive movement during recovery.
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Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI) – Reducing inflammation and swelling around the herniated disc and compressed nerve.
Nerve Root Blocks – Targeted injection to block pain signals from the irritated nerve root.
Facet Joint Injections – Relieving joint-related inflammation that may be contributing to discomfort.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) (For Chronic Pain Cases) – Using heat energy to interrupt nerve pain signals from affected spinal structures.
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Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (MISS) – Small incisions with a faster recovery time, used for disc decompression and structural correction.
Robotic-Assisted Surgery – Highly precise spinal surgery for cases requiring nerve decompression or disc correction.
Endoscopic Discectomy – Using a small camera and micro-instruments to remove the herniated portion of the disc with minimal disruption.
Percutaneous Discectomy (Nucleoplasty) – A technique that uses radiofrequency energy to shrink and decompress the disc without open surgery.
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Lumbar Discectomy – Removing the herniated portion of a lumbar disc that is pressing on spinal nerves.
Cervical Disc Replacement – Replacing a damaged cervical disc with an artificial one to preserve natural movement.
Spinal Fusion Surgery – Stabilising the spine in cases of severe disc damage or spinal instability by permanently joining vertebrae.
Spinal Decompression Surgery – Used in severe or complex cases where herniated disc fragments, bone spurs, or spinal stenosis are causing significant nerve compression.
What Patients Are Saying
Frequently Asked Questions: Slipped Discs
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A slipped disc can cause a range of symptoms depending on its location.
Lower back slipped disc – Dull or sharp pain, shooting pain down the leg (sciatica), numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg or foot.
Neck slipped disc – Pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, or hand, sometimes with tingling or weakness.
General symptoms – Pain that worsens with movement, sitting, or coughing, and improves when lying down.
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Maintaining good posture, staying active with gentle exercises, using an ergonomic chair, and avoiding heavy lifting can help manage symptoms.
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Yes, many cases improve with non-surgical treatments such as physiotherapy, pain management injections, and lifestyle modifications. Surgery is only recommended if symptoms persist or worsen.
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Recovery time varies. With non-surgical treatments, most people improve within six weeks. If surgery is required, recovery can take between six weeks to three months, depending on the procedure.
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Not necessarily. Many people recover fully with proper treatment. However, without intervention, severe cases can lead to chronic pain or long-term nerve damage.
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Seek medical attention if pain persists for more than six weeks, worsens, or is accompanied by numbness, weakness, or bladder/bowel issues.
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A true slipped disc (herniated or prolapsed disc) cannot be manually put "back in place," but treatments can help reduce pain and inflammation. Effective strategies include:
Physiotherapy & Targeted Exercises – Strengthening the core and back muscles to stabilise the spine.
Postural & Ergonomic Adjustments – Maintaining good posture while sitting, standing, and sleeping.
Pain Management Techniques – Using heat/cold therapy, stretching, and non-invasive treatments such as nerve root blocks.
Minimally Invasive Procedures – If symptoms persist, treatments like spinal decompression or discectomy may be needed.
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Surgery is usually considered if:
Pain persists for more than six weeks despite conservative treatments.
Nerve compression causes weakness, numbness, or loss of function in the arms or legs.
You experience red flag symptoms like loss of bladder or bowel control (potential cauda equina syndrome).
Your daily life is significantly affected, and non-surgical treatments are no longer effective.
If you’re unsure whether surgery is needed, book a consultation with Mr. Gordan Grahovac to discuss your symptoms and explore your treatment options.
Take the First Step Towards Relief
A slipped disc shouldn’t hold you back from living life pain-free. Whether you need conservative treatment or advanced spinal care, Mr Gordan Grahovac is here to help.
Book a consultation today and start your journey towards lasting relief.