Can a mild lumbar disc herniation heal itself?

Mild lumbar disc herniation cannot heal completely on its own, but the symptoms can be relieved on their own after rest for the first attack and for patients with a short duration and mild symptoms. If the symptoms of lumbar disc herniation are mild and no obvious spinal stenosis is found on imaging, the symptoms can be reduced or disappeared after conservative treatment to partially retract the herniated disc to release the compression on the nerve root and reduce the edema of the nerve root. Patients should try to avoid repeated bending, straining and heavy physical labor, and lumbar traction therapy can be performed if necessary. Patients with lumbar disc herniation should pay attention to daily care, change bad habits, adopt correct standing, sitting and sleeping posture, so that the spine is evenly stressed, and also strengthen the lumbar muscle exercise, such as doing small swallow flying movements, to assist in improving the discomfort symptoms.