No — that is a common misconception. More than 90% of spine and disc herniation cases recover fully with conservative treatment (medication, guided rest, and physical therapy).

Surgery is the last resort, needed only in specific cases such as severe nerve compression causing foot weakness or loss of bowel/bladder control.

See a doctor immediately if you notice any of these "red flag" signs:

• Severe persistent pain that does not improve with rest or regular painkillers.
• Numbness, tingling, or shooting pain from the back down the legs (sciatica).
• Leg heaviness or loss of balance while walking.
• Sudden swelling and warmth in the knee joint that limits movement.

• Osteoarthritis: gradual wear of the cartilage lining the joint due to age or excess weight.
• Inflammatory arthritis: may result from autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis).

Treatment: there is no way to fully restore cartilage to its original state, but current treatment (weight loss, muscle strengthening, and local injections in some cases) aims to stop deterioration, reduce pain, and restore pain-free movement.

Injections are a complementary supportive treatment, not a magic cure. Hyaluronic injections act as joint lubricant to reduce friction, and PRP helps stimulate healing in mild to moderate cases.

Their effect can be excellent and last for months when the right patient is selected (mild to moderate osteoarthritis) and thigh muscle strengthening is maintained.

Quite the opposite. The goal is to fuse vertebrae that move without stability and cause severe pain or nerve compression.

Fusion is usually performed on two or three vertebrae only, and the rest of the spine moves normally. Patients return to daily life and work with greater freedom of movement once the severe pain that limited them is gone.