Lumbar Disc Herniation
Q. Should I have surgery for a herniated disc?
A.
Most cases (80%) don't need surgery — try conservative treatment first.
📝 Detailed Answer
Disc surgery decision: ① 80% of disc cases improve with 6–12 weeks conservative treatment, ② immediate surgery for: cauda equina syndrome, progressive severe weakness, intractable pain after exhaustive conservative treatment, ③ Korean medicine + Chuna highly effective for most cases, ④ even ruptured discs often heal with conservative care, �5 surgery has 60–80% success rate but 30% recurrence — try conservative first.
Expert Verified
Hyo-seop Kim
Chief Director