Is surgery necessary for a patient with a herniated disc in the lumbar spine? This can be clearly answered that it is not necessary. A herniated lumbar disc, which is a common clinical condition, is a degenerative change in which the bone degenerates as the patient ages. Approximately no more than half of the patients with a herniated lumbar disc require treatment by surgery. These patients who need to be considered for surgery are usually those who have had ineffective conservative treatment for more than three months and who also have an impact on their work life, as well as some patients who have urinary and bowel disorders and decreased muscle strength in the lower extremities. There are some patients with herniated lumbar discs who feel particular pain at the beginning of the disease, but this is a condition that does not necessarily require surgical treatment. The reason is that the herniated discs compress the nerves and make the patient feel painful. The herniated discs may spontaneously absorb away with time, which is an example of successful conservative treatment. After these herniated discs are absorbed, the effect is the same as if the herniated discs were taken out through surgical treatment. Therefore, surgery is not necessary for a lumbar disc herniation.