Slipped disc surgery (lumbar discectomy)

An operation to remove the part of a slipped (prolapsed) disc in the lower back that is pressing on a nerve, mainly to relieve leg pain (sciatica).

✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review

In short

Discectomy mainly relieves leg pain (sciatica) from a trapped nerve — it is much less reliable for back pain.
Most slipped discs improve without surgery, so an operation is usually considered only after time and non-surgical treatment.
Leg pain often eases quickly, but numbness or weakness can take weeks or months to recover, and the disc can slip again.
Sudden bladder or bowel problems, or severe spreading weakness, are an emergency — seek urgent help.

A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.

At a glance

TypeSpinal (neurosurgical or orthopaedic) operation

AnaestheticUsually general anaesthetic

How long it takesOften around 1–2 hours

Hospital stayDay case or a short stay of 1–2 nights

Time off workOften around 4–6 weeks, depending on your job

When you'll see resultsLeg pain often eases quickly; numbness or weakness can take weeks or months to recover

On the NHS?Available on the NHS when criteria are met, usually after non-surgical treatment has been tried

A general guide. Your surgeon will give you advice for your situation.

Best fit

Often gives good relief of leg pain (sciatica) caused by the trapped nerve

Pause if

Your main problem is back pain rather than leg pain, where discectomy is much less likely to help.

Main recovery point

Leg pain is often easier straight away, though the back is sore. You are helped to walk on the day of surgery or the next day, and most people go home...

Good aftercare

Early help to get moving and walking after surgery.

First few days

Leg pain is often easier straight away, though the back is sore. You are helped to walk on the day of surgery or...

First 1–2 weeks

The wound heals and back soreness settles. Gentle walking is encouraged; avoid heavy lifting, bending and...

Weeks 2–6

Activity builds up and many people return to work, depending on their job. Physiotherapy often helps strengthen...

6 weeks to a few months

Numbness or weakness in the leg continues to recover, sometimes slowly. Most people are back to normal activities...

Medical line illustration of spine surgery disc decompression for Slipped disc surgery (lumbar discectomy). — Illustration only - not a diagnosis, medical advice or a promise of result. Your anatomy and treatment plan may differ. Vuemedics does not publish before-and-after photos.

What is slipped disc surgery (lumbar discectomy)?

The discs are soft cushions between the bones of your spine. A slipped (prolapsed or herniated) disc is when part of a disc bulges out and presses on a nearby nerve. In the lower back, this often causes pain, pins and needles, numbness or weakness down the leg — known as sciatica.

A lumbar discectomy is an operation to remove the part of the disc that is pressing on the nerve, taking the pressure off it. It is mainly an operation for leg symptoms (sciatica), not for back pain itself.

This is the most important point to understand. Discectomy is generally good at relieving leg pain caused by nerve pressure, but it is much less reliable for relieving back pain. If your main problem is back pain rather than leg pain, a disc operation may not help, and other approaches are usually better.

Most slipped discs settle over weeks to months without surgery. An operation is usually considered only when leg pain is severe or not improving, when there is significant nerve weakness, or in an emergency where the nerves to the bladder and bowel are affected.

Types & techniques

There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.

Microdiscectomy

The most common version, using a microscope or magnification and a small cut to remove the prolapsed part of the disc. Usually means less tissue disruption and a quicker recovery.

Open discectomy

A slightly larger cut without a microscope. Less common now, but may be used in certain situations.

Endoscopic discectomy

Uses a thin telescope through a very small cut. Available in some centres; suitability depends on the disc and the surgeon's experience.

Emergency discectomy

Urgent surgery if a large disc presses on the nerves to the bladder and bowel (cauda equina syndrome), which needs treating quickly to protect those nerves.

What surgery helps — leg pain vs back pain

Symptom	How well discectomy helps
Leg pain (sciatica)	Often helps well
Pins and needles in the leg	Often improves over time
Leg weakness	May improve, can be slow or partial
Back pain	Much less reliable

Discectomy targets nerve pressure causing leg symptoms. If back pain is your main problem, discuss whether this operation is the right one.

Preparing for your surgery

See the operating surgeon (a neurosurgeon or spinal orthopaedic surgeon), who will confirm the slipped disc on a scan such as an MRI matches your symptoms.
Be clear about whether your main problem is leg pain or back pain, as this affects how likely surgery is to help.
Tell the team about all medicines and supplements, especially blood thinners, and ask what to stop and when.
Stop smoking if you can, as it is linked to poorer healing and a higher chance of the disc slipping again.
Arrange time off work, help at home and a lift, as you should not drive straight after surgery.
Ask about doing gentle activity and the physiotherapy plan for after the operation.
Make sure you understand the realistic aims — relief of leg pain rather than a cure for back pain.

What happens

A lumbar discectomy is usually done under general anaesthetic, so you are asleep. You lie face down, and the surgeon makes a small cut in your lower back over the affected level.

Using a microscope or magnification, the surgeon gently moves the nerve aside and removes the part of the disc that is pressing on it. The aim is to free the trapped nerve while leaving as much healthy disc as possible.

The cut is closed with stitches or clips, and a dressing is applied. The operation often takes around one to two hours. Many people can go home the same day or after a night or two, once they can walk, pass urine and manage their pain.

Is this operation right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

May not be suitable if…

Your main problem is back pain rather than leg pain, where discectomy is much less likely to help.
Your scan does not clearly show a slipped disc that matches your symptoms.
Your sciatica is improving on its own, so more time and non-surgical treatment may be better.
Your symptoms are mild and manageable, so the risks of surgery may outweigh the benefit.
There is significant instability or another problem that needs a different operation.

Delay surgery if…

You have an active infection.
Your sciatica is settling and could improve further without surgery.
Blood-thinning medicines have not yet been safely managed.
Important scans are out of date or do not match your current symptoms.
Genuine emergencies such as cauda equina syndrome, however, need urgent surgery, not delay.

Alternatives to discuss

Time, gentle activity and painkillers, as most slipped discs settle without surgery.
Physiotherapy and a structured exercise programme.
A nerve root (epidural) steroid injection to ease leg pain in selected people.
Pain management approaches where surgery is not suitable.
Watchful waiting with review, where symptoms are improving.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

What matters most to me?

Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.

What are all my options?

Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.

What would make me pause?

Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.

What happens if I do nothing today?

For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.

Anaesthetic choices

The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.

General anaesthetic

Most commonly used, so you are fully asleep during the operation.

Spinal or regional anaesthetic

Used in some centres and selected patients, numbing the lower half of the body; your anaesthetist will advise if suitable.

Benefits

Often gives good relief of leg pain (sciatica) caused by the trapped nerve
Can relieve pins and needles and help leg weakness recover, though this may be slow
Can speed up recovery compared with waiting longer in selected people with severe sciatica
Takes pressure off the nerve to protect it
In emergencies, can protect the nerves controlling the bladder and bowel

Risks & complications

More common

Back soreness and stiffness for a few weeks after surgery
Bruising and discomfort around the wound
Leg numbness or weakness that takes time to recover

Less common

A tear in the lining around the nerves (dural tear), which can cause headaches and occasionally needs further treatment
Wound or deeper infection needing antibiotics
The disc slipping again at the same level (recurrence)
Continued or returning leg pain despite surgery

Rare but serious

Nerve injury causing new or worse weakness, numbness or pain
Bladder or bowel problems
Bleeding or a blood clot in the legs or lungs
Very rarely, serious nerve damage

The biggest uncertainties are that back pain may not improve, that the disc can slip again, and that numbness or weakness may recover slowly or only partly. A small but important risk is a tear in the lining around the nerves. Ask your surgeon how likely the operation is to help your specific symptoms, what the chance of recurrence is, and what happens if leg pain returns.

Published figures to discuss

Outcomes and complication rates vary with the size and position of the disc, how long symptoms have been present, smoking, and the surgical technique used. The figures below come from published reviews and should be treated as cautious guides rather than promises, and discussed in your own situation.

Figure	Reported range	How to interpret it	Source / confidence
Tear in the lining around the nerves (dural tear)	Reported around 2–7% depending on technique (lower with microdiscectomy)	Often managed at the time; occasionally causes headaches or needs further treatment.	Complications of lumbar discectomy techniques (systematic review) — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure
Disc slipping again (recurrence)	Commonly reported in the region of 3–6% in surgical series, higher over longer follow-up	Higher in smokers and with heavy repeated lifting; sometimes needs further surgery.	Complications of lumbar discectomy techniques (systematic review) — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure
Wound or deeper infection	Reported around 1–4%	Usually treated with antibiotics; deeper infection is less common.	Complications of lumbar discectomy techniques (systematic review) — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure
Nerve root injury	Uncommon, generally reported under about 1%	Can cause new or worse weakness, numbness or pain.	Complications of lumbar discectomy techniques (systematic review) — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

Recovery — what to expect, and when

Many people notice their leg pain is better very soon after surgery, even while the back wound is still healing. Getting moving gently and early is encouraged, with a gradual build-up of activity over the following weeks.

First few days

Leg pain is often easier straight away, though the back is sore. You are helped to walk on the day of surgery or the next day, and most people go home within a day or two.

First 1–2 weeks

The wound heals and back soreness settles. Gentle walking is encouraged; avoid heavy lifting, bending and twisting. Stitches or clips are removed if needed.

Weeks 2–6

Activity builds up and many people return to work, depending on their job. Physiotherapy often helps strengthen the back and core.

6 weeks to a few months

Numbness or weakness in the leg continues to recover, sometimes slowly. Most people are back to normal activities, with ongoing exercises to protect the back.

What's normal — and not a worry

Leg pain easing soon after surgery, even while the back is still sore
Back stiffness and tiredness for a few weeks
Numbness or tingling in the leg that fades gradually
Needing to build up activity slowly rather than all at once

Aftercare

Keep moving with gentle, regular walking rather than long periods of bed rest.
Avoid heavy lifting, repeated bending and twisting in the early weeks.
Take pain relief as advised so you can move comfortably.
Keep the wound clean and dry and follow advice on showering and dressings.
Follow the physiotherapy plan to strengthen your back and core.
Build up sitting, walking and work gradually over the weeks.
Go to follow-up appointments and report any new leg weakness or wound problems.

Before-surgery checklist

Time off work arranged (often around 4–6 weeks)
Help at home for the first week or two
A lift home and cover for driving while restricted
Pain relief collected and a plan for taking it
Physiotherapy or exercise plan understood
Contact number for the surgical team saved
Clear advice on warning signs needing urgent help

Scars and how they heal

A microdiscectomy leaves a small scar in the lower back, usually a few centimetres long. Open surgery leaves a slightly larger scar. Scars are firm and pink at first and usually fade over months.

⚠ Get urgent help if…

Numbness around the back passage or genitals, or difficulty controlling your bladder or bowel — seek emergency help
New or rapidly worsening leg weakness
Severe, spreading or unbearable pain
A high temperature, or a wound that is red, hot, swollen or leaking fluid
A clear fluid leak from the wound or a severe headache when sitting or standing
A swollen, painful calf or sudden breathlessness, which can signal a clot

Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A good result usually means your leg pain (sciatica) is much better, with pins and needles and weakness improving over the following weeks and months. Many people get good relief of leg pain, but back pain is much less likely to change, and recovery of numbness or weakness can be slow or incomplete.

Surgery removes the prolapsed disc material but does not stop you having back trouble in future, and it cannot guarantee the disc will not slip again. Keeping active, managing your weight and not smoking all help protect your back.

How long it lasts

For most people, removing the prolapsed disc gives lasting relief of the leg pain it was causing. However, the same disc can slip again, and other discs can cause problems over time, so the result is not guaranteed to be permanent. The chance of a further slipped disc is higher in people who smoke or do heavy repeated lifting. Staying active and looking after your back help keep the benefit.

Combining with other procedures

Discectomy is sometimes combined with widening a tight area around the nerve (decompression) if there is narrowing as well as a slipped disc. It is not usually combined with fusion or disc replacement unless there is a separate reason such as instability. Physiotherapy and exercise are an important part of recovery alongside the operation.

Follow-up & long-term care

You will usually be reviewed a few weeks after surgery to check the wound and how your symptoms are settling. Physiotherapy is often arranged to help you recover. Report any new leg weakness, bladder or bowel problems, or wound issues straight away rather than waiting.

Regular exercise and core strengthening to support the back
Avoiding heavy repeated lifting and stopping smoking to lower recurrence risk
Prompt review if leg pain, weakness or bladder/bowel symptoms return

Revision and secondary surgery reality

If the disc slips again, a further discectomy may be needed.
Persistent or returning leg pain sometimes leads to more surgery or non-surgical pain management.
Repeated surgery at the same level can be more difficult and carries higher risks.
Some people are left with residual numbness or weakness even after a technically successful operation.

Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.

What good aftercare looks like

Early help to get moving and walking after surgery.
A clear physiotherapy and exercise plan to strengthen the back.
Written warning signs for cauda equina symptoms, infection and clots.
A named contact route for problems and a follow-up appointment.
Honest advice about what to do if leg pain returns or weakness persists.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

Surgeon and anaesthetist fees
Whether surgery is microdiscectomy, open or endoscopic
Hospital/theatre fee and length of stay (day case or overnight)
Scans such as MRI before surgery
Physiotherapy after the operation
Follow-up appointments
What is included if the disc slips again or further surgery is needed

Make sure your written quote includes

The operating surgeon's and anaesthetist's fees
Hospital/theatre fee and expected length of stay
Pre-operative scans (such as MRI) and tests
Physiotherapy and follow-up appointments
What is included if leg pain returns or the disc slips again
The cancellation policy
What happens, and who pays, if a complication occurs

On the NHS? Lumbar discectomy is available on the NHS when criteria are met, usually after non-surgical treatment, for severe or persistent sciatica or significant nerve weakness; private access is mainly used for speed or choice of surgeon.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.

Choosing a surgeon safely

Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Questions to ask your medical professional

Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.

Is my main problem leg pain or back pain, and how likely is surgery to help it?
Does my scan match my symptoms closely enough to operate?
What is my personal chance of the disc slipping again?
What happens if my leg pain comes back or does not improve?
Will my numbness or weakness recover, and how long might that take?
What physiotherapy and activity plan do you recommend afterwards?
Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Frequently asked questions

Can I have slipped disc surgery on the NHS?

Yes, when criteria are met. The NHS usually offers surgery after non-surgical treatment has been tried, when leg pain is severe or not improving, or when there is significant nerve weakness. Private care is mainly used for speed or choice of surgeon.

Will surgery cure my back pain?

Usually not. Discectomy is mainly an operation for leg pain (sciatica) from a trapped nerve. It is much less reliable for back pain, so if back pain is your main problem, discuss whether this is the right operation.

How soon will my leg pain go?

Many people notice their leg pain is much better very soon after surgery. Pins and needles, numbness and weakness often take longer — weeks or months — to recover, and sometimes do not fully return to normal.

Can the disc slip again?

Yes. The same disc can slip again at the same level, and other discs can cause problems over time. The risk is higher in people who smoke or do heavy repeated lifting. Sometimes further surgery is needed.

Do I really need surgery, or will it settle on its own?

Most slipped discs improve without surgery over weeks to months. Surgery is usually considered only when leg pain is severe or not improving, when there is significant weakness, or in an emergency. Your surgeon can help you weigh this up.

What is cauda equina syndrome?

It is a rare emergency where a large slipped disc presses on the nerves controlling the bladder, bowel and genitals. Numbness around the back passage, difficulty passing or controlling urine, or spreading leg weakness needs urgent hospital assessment.

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How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: NHS — Slipped disc NHS — Lumbar decompression surgery NHS — Sciatica BASS — Lumbar Disc Protrusions (patient booklet) Complications of lumbar discectomy techniques (systematic review) — PMC

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.