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All surgery involves some risk. If you are considering surgery, consider the following factors:

• People with moderate to severe symptoms may gain relief from surgery. Surgery is usually not done unless symptoms are severe enough to interfere with normal activities and work, and to require strong pain medicines. People who have surgery may feel better faster. But in the long run, people treated with surgery and people treated without surgery have similar abilities to work and to be active.^{6, 7}
• People with milder symptoms tend to do well without surgery.
• Some people require additional disc surgery after their first surgery.
• A number of technologies using small incisions or injections for destroying the disc are used by some surgeons. Examples are endoscopic discectomy and electrothermal disc decompression.⁸ These techniques are experimental and unproven. If your doctor recommends one of them to treat your herniated disc, make sure to get as much information as possible about the procedure. Consider a second opinion to further evaluate whether such a procedure is appropriate for you.

Should I have surgery for a herniated disc?

Many people are able to gradually resume work and daily activities soon after surgery. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a rehabilitation program after surgery, which might include physical therapy and home exercises.