Disc herniation and disc herniation are usually synonymous. Herniated discs most often occur in patients between the ages of 20 and 50, but can occur in all age groups. In older patients, they may be associated with arthritis and nerve root compression. Symptoms and diagnosis: Typically, most people have one or two lower back pains not necessarily related to a traumatic event that subsequently develop into leg pain, which is often referred to as sciatica. The herniated disc is due to the degeneration and rupture of a portion of the disc. Patients with symptoms longer than a few weeks or those with severe and/or progressive leg weakness or loss of bowel and bladder function should have an MRI scan or CT scan to identify abnormalities. Treatment: Symptoms are often self-limiting and respond to activity restriction, treatment with NSAIDs, and short periods of bed rest. Most people heal without surgical treatment. If the pain is particularly severe, then exercise and physical therapy should be considered. If symptoms are reduced, adequate activity for gradual recovery may take about 4 weeks. Although the steroid medications that have been used in the past to treat sciatica are still important in the treatment of this condition, they are often associated with serious complications and should be used only briefly, if at all. Surgery may be recommended if there is no improvement within 1 to 3 months after the use of non-surgical treatment measures, or if the leg pain or weakness persists or worsens. In this case, the most common method is lumbar discectomy, in which a small incision is made in the back and the herniated part of the disc is removed. The reduction in symptoms is usually very dramatic. The procedure can be done on an outpatient basis for able-bodied patients, but occasionally anesthesia and side effects for post-operative pain medication require a day or two in the hospital. After surgery, some recovery is necessary, but a gradual return to activity is the hard rule. The time it takes for a patient to return to work and physical activity is different and should be discussed with the patient’s surgeon.