This is the big problem after a disc herniation. The disc is avascular (no blood supply) so the tear through the disc wall is permanent. That is, it is incapable of healing itself and is a permanent feature of the disc.
The very outer layer of the disc (there are thirty layers) does have some blood supply so you can develop a scar over the tear. This can take as much as six weeks to form but this new “scar layer” is nowhere near as strong as the torn thirty layers.
This is why there is a 10% (or greater) chance of a recurrent disc herniation after the initial disc herniation.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
