Does Non-Surgical Back Pain Treatment in Centennial Work for Herniated Discs?

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By Butler Family Health Center · Published 2026-11-05 · Last updated 2026-11-05

Yes. For most people with a herniated disc, non-surgical back pain treatment in Centennial works well enough that surgery never comes up. An exam with Dr. Butler at Butler Family Health Center is the quickest way to learn whether you are one of them. About 9 out of 10 people with a herniated disk get better on their own or with nonsurgical treatment, according to Cleveland Clinic.

"Works" means the pain, tingling and stiffness settle and you get back to normal activity. It is not a guarantee, and a smaller group of patients does need a surgeon. Long periods of sitting are a listed risk factor, which matters if your day includes an I-25 commute and a desk in the Denver Tech Center.

Below you will find the odds, what our non-surgical back pain treatment in Centennial involves, a realistic timeline, and the signs that point to surgery or the ER.

How Often Non-Surgical Back Pain Treatment in Centennial Works for a Herniated Disc

Non-surgical back pain treatment in Centennial works for the large majority of herniated discs. Cleveland Clinic says herniated disks usually heal on their own within four to six weeks. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), in its OrthoInfo guide to lower back disk herniation, says most patients are free of symptoms by 3 to 4 months and only a small percentage need surgery.

Those odds apply to a parent in Centennial who hurt a disc lifting a stroller and to an office worker in the Denver Tech Center whose pain built over months of sitting. Improper lifting and long sitting both appear on Cleveland Clinic's list of causes and risks. An exam tells you which group you are closer to.

What Does the Research Say About Spinal Manipulation for Disc Pain?

Research on spinal manipulation for back pain is encouraging but modest. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) summarizes a 2017 review of 15 studies with 1,699 participants that found moderate-quality evidence of a modest improvement in acute low back pain. For pain that travels down the leg, the evidence is limited: a 2014 study of 192 people found less leg pain at 12 weeks but no difference after a year.

Those studies looked at back pain broadly, not herniated discs alone. Progress on any plan should be measured and reviewed along the way.

What to Expect During Non-Surgical Herniated Disc Care at Butler Family Health Center in Centennial

Non-surgical herniated disc care at Butler Family Health Center starts with an exam, not a treatment. At our office in Peakview Center on South Quebec Street, Dr. Butler examines you first. If the exam does not give a clear enough picture, imaging may be the next step before going further.

When care is a good fit, the plan may include:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Spinal decompression therapy, when the exam supports it
• Guidance on staying active between visits

A Colorado chiropractic license does not allow the holder to practice surgery, prescribe or administer drugs, or give anesthetics (C.R.S. 12-215-117). Our care is non-surgical by law. When a case needs a surgeon or medication, Dr. Butler tells you and points you to a medical doctor.

A Realistic Recovery Timeline for a Herniated Disc Treated Without Surgery in Centennial

A realistic recovery timeline for a herniated disc treated without surgery runs from a few weeks to about four months for most people. Your own pace depends on your exam and plan, but the published stages look like this:

Stage	Typical window	What the sources say	What care aims to do
Severe early flare	1 to 3 days	Brief rest only, no long bed rest	Exam, ease pain, set the plan
Acute phase	A few days to a few weeks	Most discs slowly improve	Reduce pain, keep you moving
Checkpoint	4 to 6 weeks	Many disks have healed; lasting symptoms need review	Measure progress, review next steps
Subacute phase	4 to 12 weeks	No longer new, not yet chronic	Build strength, return to activity
Recovery	By 3 to 4 months	Most patients symptom-free	Step down care

Same-day appointments and walk-ins make an early start easier for a commuter on Arapahoe Road or a parent working around Cherry Creek Public Schools pickup times. Use this as a guide:

• If the pain is new and you can still walk normally, book a same-day exam so care starts in the first week.
• If pain or tingling runs into your leg or arm, book now. Our article on herniated disc pain that runs down the leg or arm explains how it is treated.
• If you are four to six weeks into care with little change, Dr. Butler reviews the plan with you, and the next step can include a surgical opinion.
• If any emergency sign listed below appears, go to the ER first.

How Many Visits Might a Herniated Disc Need in Centennial?

The number of visits a herniated disc needs depends on your exam and how quickly you respond. Our guide to how many chiropractic visits a herniated disc takes in Centennial covers typical ranges.

When Surgery Makes More Sense Than Non-Surgical Care for a Centennial Patient

Surgery makes more sense than non-surgical care when a period of nonsurgical treatment has not relieved your symptoms, or when muscle weakness, difficulty walking, or loss of bladder or bowel control shows the nerve is clearly affected. That is the AAOS guidance. AAOS also notes that surgery after about 9 to 12 months of symptoms tends to help less than surgery before 9 months.

Signs that call for a surgeon's opinion:

• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms, hands, legs or feet
• Trouble standing or walking
• Pain that gets worse, or does not improve after four to six weeks of care

Non-surgical care suits most other cases, such as a retiree in Castlewood with a sore lower back, or a patient in Centennial whose leg pain is easing and whose strength is normal.

Which Herniated Disc Symptoms Should Send a Centennial Resident to the ER?

A herniated disc needs the emergency room, not an appointment, when it affects the nerves to the bladder, bowel or legs. Go straight to the ER for:

• Loss of bladder or bowel control, or being unable to pee
• Numbness around your bottom or genitals
• Loss of feeling in one or both legs
• Back pain that started after a serious accident, such as a car crash

AAOS calls bladder or bowel loss extremely rare and a possible sign of cauda equina syndrome, a medical emergency. After a serious crash on I-25 or Arapahoe Road, get emergency care first. Once you are cleared, we accept auto accident and personal injury cases for follow-up care.

What You Can Do Between Visits to Help a Herniated Disc Settle in Centennial

Between visits, keep moving within your pain limits. Cleveland Clinic and AAOS both advise only a short rest for severe pain and warn against longer bed rest.

1. Rest briefly if the pain is severe, then get back on your feet within one to three days.
2. Walk a little each day, on short loops near home or a stretch of the High Line Canal Trail, which is open to walkers year-round. The Willow Creek Trail and Big Dry Creek Trail work too.
3. Break up long sitting. On an I-25 drive or a workday in the Denver Tech Center, stand and walk at regular intervals.
4. Lift with your hips, keep the load close, and avoid bending and twisting at once. Improper lifting and repetitive bending or twisting are listed causes of herniation.
5. Follow the activity guidance you are given, and call before your next visit if numbness or weakness is new or spreading.

How Often Does a Herniated Disc Come Back After Treatment?

A herniated disc can come back after either surgery or non-surgical care. AAOS puts the lifetime chance of a repeat herniation at up to 20 to 25%. That is why the later part of a plan focuses on lifting habits and breaking up sitting. If symptoms return, book an exam early.

Why Centennial Patients Choose Butler Family Health Center for Herniated Disc Care

Centennial patients choose Butler Family Health Center for herniated disc care because the plan starts with a careful exam and an honest answer about whether chiropractic care fits. Dr. Christopher Butler, D.C., graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College and has been a chiropractor since 1996. He treats patients of all ages, and some have been seeing him for 20 years.

• Same-day appointments and walk-ins, so a disc flare does not have to wait
• 4.9 stars on Google from more than 70 reviews. Melanie H. wrote, "From the very beginning, I felt listened to, cared for, and never rushed."
• Preferred provider for Anthem, Blue Cross, Aetna, Cofinity, Humana, Cigna, United Healthcare and others, and auto accident, personal injury, slip and fall and workers' compensation cases accepted
• Cash plans for patients without insurance or with high deductibles
• Spinal decompression therapy in the same office when your exam supports it

We are at 6500 S Quebec St #250 in Peakview Center. Patients come from Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Cherry Creek, Englewood, Littleton, Castlewood and Southglenn, home of The Streets at SouthGlenn on Arapahoe Road.

The Bottom Line

Non-surgical back pain treatment in Centennial works for most herniated discs: about 9 in 10 people improve without surgery, and most are symptom-free within 3 to 4 months. Results still vary from person to person. Weakness, trouble walking or little progress after four to six weeks deserve a surgical opinion. Bladder or bowel changes or numbness around the bottom mean the ER today. For everything else, start with an exam. Call or text Butler Family Health Center at (303) 741-2444 to book a same-day visit with Dr. Butler.