What is a herniated disc?
The discs between your vertebrae work like cushions. Each one has a firm outer ring and a soft center. When the outer ring weakens, the soft center can push through and press on a nearby nerve. That pressure is what turns a back problem into pain, numbness, or weakness that travels down an arm or a leg.
A lumbar herniated disc in the lower back tends to send pain into the buttock and leg, the pattern most people call sciatica. A cervical herniated disc in the neck sends symptoms into the shoulder, arm, or hand. Where the disc sits decides where you feel it.
Herniated disc symptoms
In the lower back and legs
- Sharp or burning pain that runs from the lower back into the buttock, thigh, or calf
- Numbness or tingling down one leg or into the foot
- Weakness when lifting the foot or pushing off
- Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, coughing, or sneezing
In the neck and arms
- Pain radiating from the neck into the shoulder blade, arm, or fingers
- Pins-and-needles or numbness in the hand
- Grip weakness or dropping objects
- Pain that eases when you rest the arm overhead
When to seek care right away
Get urgent help for any of these
- Loss of bowel or bladder control, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs. These can signal cauda equina syndrome, a surgical emergency. Go to the emergency room.
- Weakness that is getting worse, such as a foot that slaps or drags when you walk
- Severe pain after a fall, car accident, or other significant trauma
- Back pain with fever, chills, or unexplained weight loss
Everything else on this page can wait for an appointment. These signs cannot.
What causes a herniated disc
Discs lose water content and flexibility as we age, so a herniation can happen with an ordinary movement. A single heavy lift, a fall, or a twist under load can also tear the outer ring.
For people who work with their bodies, herniated discs often trace back to the job: repeated heavy lifting, bending and twisting, long hours behind a wheel, or a fall from height. If your injury happened at work, tell the office when you book so the visit and paperwork are set up correctly.
How Dr. Merola diagnoses herniated discs
Dr. Merola takes a full history, examines you, and reads your MRI, X-rays, and any electrodiagnostic studies directly. Reading the imaging himself is how he matches the picture on the screen to the symptoms you actually feel, so the plan treats you and your goals rather than a scan in isolation.
Every patient meets with Dr. Merola directly. He reads your imaging himself.
Herniated disc treatment: conservative care first
Non-surgical care first
- Most herniated discs improve without surgery. Dr. Merola starts with structured physical therapy, activity guidance, and targeted anti-inflammatory care.
- When leg or arm pain is stubborn, an image-guided epidural or selective nerve-root injection can calm the inflamed nerve and buy the disc time to heal.
- Bone health and core conditioning are built into the plan so the same problem is less likely to return.
When surgery is indicated
- Surgery is reserved for clear indications: pain that does not respond to a fair trial of conservative care, progressive weakness, or nerve compression that threatens function.
- When an operation is appropriate, the procedure is matched to the documented compression, stability, symptoms, and patient goals. For a selected single-level herniation, that may be a microdiscectomy, performed by Dr. Merola himself.
Recovering from a herniated disc: what to expect
Recovery with non-surgical care varies with the location and severity of the herniation, neurologic findings, activity demands, and response to treatment. Recovery after a microdiscectomy also depends on the operation, overall health, and postoperative findings.
Return-to-work is individualized. Dr. Merola discusses restrictions and progression based on healing, symptoms, strength, neurologic function, and the actual demands of the job.
If this happened on the job
Herniated discs are among the most reported workplace spine injuries in New York. A single heavy lift on a loading dock, years of bending and twisting on a job site, or a fall from a ladder can all tear the outer ring of a disc.
Dr. Merola is an authorized New York Workers' Compensation Board provider (authorization 189354-4).
Work status and activity restrictions are based on the examination, imaging, diagnosis, treatment plan, and the demands of the individual job. Tell the office that the condition may be work-related when scheduling so the visit can address those clinical questions.
The New York Workers' Compensation Board publishes official guidance for injured workers at wcb.ny.gov. Questions about filing deadlines, benefits, coverage, or a claim's status should be directed to the Board or a qualified legal professional.
Why patients choose Dr. Merola
- More than 30 years and over 20,000 patients treated across cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine care
- Every patient meets Dr. Merola in person. He reads your imaging himself and performs every operation personally
- Conservative care first. Surgery is reserved for clear indications
- Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Fellow of the Scoliosis Research Society, affiliations with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell
- Authorized New York Workers' Compensation Board provider, authorization 189354-4
Procedures used for herniated disc
Microdiscectomy
Minimally invasive decompression for selected patients with herniated-disc nerve pain.
Learn more →Laminectomy
An educational overview of cervical and lumbar decompression for spinal canal narrowing.
Learn more →ACDF
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for nerve or cord compression in the neck.
Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
Can a herniated disc heal without surgery?
Often, yes. A large share of herniated discs improve with time and the right conservative care. Surgery is considered when pain does not settle, weakness is progressing, or a nerve is at risk.
Can I get a herniated disc from lifting at work?
Heavy lifting, repeated bending and twisting, and falls can contribute to a lumbar herniated disc. The history, examination, and imaging help assess the likely cause in an individual case.
Will I be seen by Dr. Merola or by a physician assistant?
You see Dr. Merola directly. He examines you, reads your imaging himself, and stays involved through recovery.
How long is recovery after a microdiscectomy?
Recovery varies with the reason for surgery, neurologic findings, overall health, operation performed, and activity demands. Dr. Merola explains the expected milestones for the individual case.
Can you recover fully from a herniated disc?
Many people improve with appropriate treatment, but no result can be promised. Expected recovery depends on the severity and duration of nerve compression, neurologic findings, and the treatment required.
Can a herniated disc be related to physical work?
Heavy lifting, repeated bending and twisting under load, and falls can contribute to a herniated disc. The history, examination, and imaging help determine the likely cause in an individual case.
Where can I find official New York workers' compensation guidance?
The New York Workers' Compensation Board publishes guidance for injured workers at wcb.ny.gov. Tell the office if the injury may be work-related so the visit can address work status and activity restrictions.
Which office should I go to?
Whichever is easier for you. Dr. Merola sees patients at 141 West 28th Street in Manhattan and 567 1st Street in Brooklyn, and the standard of care is identical at both.
Additional reading
Trusted sources for going deeper. These sites are independent of the practice.
- Cleveland ClinicHerniated Disk
Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment in plain language.
- WebMDUnderstanding Spinal Disk Problems
A patient-friendly overview of how discs fail and what it feels like.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeBack Pain
The federal research institute's overview of back pain and nerve compression.
- New York Workers' Compensation BoardInformation for Injured Workers
Official NY guidance on reporting an injury and filing a claim.
References
- Herniated Disk in the Lower Back. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/herniated-disk-in-the-lower-back/
- Herniated Disk. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/herniateddisk.html
- Herniated Disk. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000442.htm
Educational content prepared July 2026. This page is educational and does not create a doctor-patient relationship.