Prognosis and course – healing process
The duration of the disease cannot be predicted in this way. This depends very much on the external circumstances of the patient. Depending on how much movement, how much restraint in sports activities and how regularly the prescribed exercises are performed, the healing time can be prolonged or shortened.
In most cases, a disc protrusion proceeds without complications, but takes a relatively long time (three to six months). If not treated in time, or if the recommended restrictions are not taken into account, severe forms of progression can occur. Chronic shoulder stiffness can occur if there is increased pressure on the intervertebral discs in the area of the cervical spine over a long period of time.
In addition, if the symptoms persist for a longer period of time without treatment, a bulging disc can become a herniated disc. In this case the fibrous ring is completely torn and the prognosis is worse compared to the bulge, i.e. with a longer course of the disease and possibly associated with surgery.
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