Spontaneous regression of herniated lumbar discs: Report of one illustrative case and review of the literature

• Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common disease that induces back pain and radicular pain.
• Spontaneous regression of LDH has been recognized with the advancement of radiological diagnostic tools and can explain the reason of spontaneous relief of symptoms without treatment.
• The case of a patient with huge lumbar disc hernia regressing by itself has been presented and the potential mechanisms of disc regression have been discussed.
• Conservative treatment can be considered as an option for the patients with lumber disk herniation.

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common disease that induces back pain and radicular pain. The most efficient method for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation is still controversial. Spontaneous regression of LDH has been recognized with the advancement of radiological diagnostic tools and can explain the reason of spontaneous relief of symptoms without treatment. The proposed hypotheses are; dehydration, retraction of the disc to the hernia in the annulus fibrosis, enzymatic catabolism and phagocytosis. In this study, the case of a patient with huge lumbar disc hernia regressing by itself has been presented and the potential mechanisms of disc regression have been discussed.