It takes as long as 18 months to 2 years for an annular tear to heal.
The healing process of annular tears is slow because the outer part of the disc "the annulus fibrosus", has a limited blood supply.
The body repairs the annular tear by forming scar tissue to plug the rip in the disc.
Capillaries grow into the annular tear's outer edge and takes 2 to 4 weeks to fully form.
An annular tear is considered serious as it can lead to a herniated disc which is even more serious.
However annular tears are not as serious as a herniated disc but you should still seek medical treatment for it.
The annular tear may heal with time but it can be susceptible to future tears and the annular tears can also lead to premature degenerative disc disease, facet joints and end plates.
A herniated disc is worse than an annular tear and considered more serious.
With an annular tear you may not feel any symptoms at first, but with a herniated disc you often feel the pain which is very painful because it pinches the nerves that are around it.
Annular tears and herniated discs are related conditions.
An annular tear is a tear in the outer ring of a disc, or the annulus fibrosus.
Annular tears are often caused by aging, injuries or abnormal stress on your spine.
Annular tears can also develop without any symptoms and can worsen if pressure is put on the disc.
Herniated discs are a rupture or shift of the disc's core or nucleus pulposus, through the outer ring of the disc.
Herniated discs are often caused by a severe annular tear which weakens the outer fibers of the disc.
Symptoms of a herniated disc are weakness and numbness that can extend down the body and back pain.
Annular tears can lead to herniated discs.
And if the pressure on the disc increases after an annular tear, the nucleus pulposus can then leak out through the tear and into the spinal canal.
Treatments for annular tears as well as herniated discs include surgery if severe enough or when other treatments don't work.
Other treatments for annular tears and herniated discs are physical therapy and NSAID medications.
Annular tears are a common spinal condition that can progress into herniated discs and cause a variety of symptoms including back & neck pain.