What do doctors do to fix a herniated disc?

Disc Herniation: Most herniated discs heal on their own--80%. For those that are too painful or fail to improve with pt, nsaid's, 6-18 weeks time, nerve blocks, other medications, then discectomy (plucking out the ruptured fragment) is very successful. In the neck, this is often accompanied by disc replacement or fusion. In the lumbar spine, discectomy is all that is necessary.

Herniated disk: The surgical treatment is a surgery in the back or neck then coming down to the disc space and surgical removing the portion of the disk that has herniated, typically causing compression of a nerve root.

Time & exercise: A herniated disc does not necessary require treatment. If there is associated nerve root compression/irritation then treatment may be required. Understand that 90% of pain associated with nerve root irritation will resolve with time. Otc prescription nsaids, oral steroids, heat/cold and stretching exercises will help resolve the acute pain. If not then epidural steroids may be beneficial.