Lumbar disc disease: the natural history.

Symptomatic lumbar disc disease represents a major cost to societies providing modern care for these conditions. The impact of any treatment cannot be assessed without an understanding of the natural history of the disease process. The majority of individuals with degenerative disc disease are asymptomatic. Although the natural history of sciatica is associated with a good overall prognosis, that of discogenic low-back pain is less promising. For patients with symptomatic lumbar disc herniations, the results of discectomy are better than those predicted by the natural history of the disease process.