Conservative Care vs. Surgery for Disc Herniations in Athletes

At our clinic, we see many athletes dealing with extremity and low back issues. Often, they mention having a disc herniation—an injury where the spinal discs irritate a nerve root, potentially causing pain, functional limitations, and other neurological symptoms. However, not all disc herniations require surgery.

There are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options for this common condition. Research indicates that while surgery can provide short-term relief, it may not always lead to better long-term outcomes. In fact, one study found that imaging isn’t always necessary, as nearly 70% of symptomatic patients improve within a few weeks of conservative care.

A systematic review examined return-to-play outcomes in elite athletes with disc herniations. The study compared 799 athletes who underwent surgery to 308 who received non-surgical care, such as physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications. Results showed that 83% of the surgical group successfully returned to play, compared to 81.5% of the non-surgical group. The average return-to-play time was 5.19 months for the surgical group and 4.11 months for the non-surgical group. Notably, 35% of the studies reviewed reported complications following surgical intervention.

This data suggests that surgery does not necessarily lead to a faster return to play compared to conservative care. Given these findings, athletes should strongly consider non-surgical treatment options before opting for surgery.

Athletes are at a higher risk of disc degeneration and injury due to the physical demands of their sport. While surgery is sometimes necessary, our goal is to help you stay in the game without setbacks. Through our specialized treatment options, we are confident in our ability to keep athletes performing at their best!

Phelopater Sedrak, Mustafa Shahbaz. “Return to Play after Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation in Elite Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of OPERATIVE Versus Nonoperative Treatment – Phelopater Sedrak, Mustafa SHAHBAZ, Chetan GOHAL, Kim Madden, Ilyas ALEEM, MOIN Khan, 2021.” Web. 22 Mar. 2021.