Treatment for herniated discs at multiple levels: preparing for your assessment
Does your report mention several affected discs? Prepare the complete report, a timeline of your symptoms and a description of activities that have become difficult. The number of levels listed does not, on its own, determine a treatment.
This resource helps you arrive with an organized file and focused questions, whether the findings involve your neck or lower back. It complements the disc and imaging guides with a practical preparation method.
An easy-to-use file in three parts
1. What you experience
A brief timeline and a description of the side, distribution and course of your symptoms.
2. What has been documented
Complete reports, access to available images and records of previous procedures.
3. What you want to regain
Two or three concrete activities, such as walking, sleeping, working or sitting more comfortably.
Several MRI levels: which question should you ask?
Ask: “Which findings from my examination actually correspond to each abnormality in the report?” Disc changes can occur in people without pain; their meaning depends on the clinical context. A review of studies in asymptomatic people supports this caution, without establishing that your particular finding is unimportant. [1]
You can prepare a simple table using the exact terms in the report. Leave their interpretation to the professional: you do not have to identify the responsible disc yourself.
| What to note from the report | What you can describe | Question for the assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Region and levels mentioned | Neck, back, arm or leg symptoms | Which levels are consistent with these symptoms? |
| Side and the radiologist’s terminology | Affected side and perceived symptom distribution | Is there a match or a discrepancy to explain? |
| Date and comparison with an earlier scan | Changes since that examination | Does this imaging still address the current clinical question? |
Documents to prepare
- The complete imaging report: all pages, the date and the region examined; keep more than the conclusion alone.
- Available images: secure access link, disc or transfer instructions from the imaging centre, depending on what the clinic can receive.
- Previous procedures: reports of surgery, fusion or injections, if available.
- Care already tried: approximate dates, duration, perceived benefit, unwanted effects and reason for stopping.
- Relevant medicines and history: an up-to-date list for the professional; do not change a prescription to prepare for the appointment.
- Your three priority questions: write them down so that you can raise them even if time is limited.
Keep this information with you or send it only through the secure method agreed with the clinic. This page does not collect health answers.
Prepare a timeline and two functional reference points
On one page, note when symptoms began, the main changes and your response to previous care. Distinguish pain, numbness and a perceived loss of strength: these are different observations to explain.
Then choose two familiar activities to describe, without provoking symptoms to perform a test. Examples include your usual walking time before a pause and your tolerance for sitting. Note what happens during the activity and afterwards.
Your preparation note
- My priority: ____________________
- The change that concerns me: ____________________
- What limits everyday life most: ____________________
- What helped, for how long and with what limitations: ____________________
The assessment may examine strength, sensation, reflexes and walking. Your observations guide the conversation; they do not replace that examination. [2]
Discuss treatment and non-surgical spinal decompression
If you are considering non-surgical spinal decompression, bring the same file. Ask why it would be chosen for your situation, which precautions apply, what other options are reasonable and how the outcome will be assessed.
A report describing several levels does not, on its own, establish that traction is suitable for every level or will correct them. Results from a protocol cannot automatically be extrapolated to multilevel disease. NICE advises against traction for low back pain with or without sciatica; that limitation belongs in an informed discussion of evidence and alternatives. [3]
Goal
Which activity or symptom are we trying to improve?
Reassessment
When will the plan be compared with your starting point?
Other pathways
When should adapted exercise, medical advice, an injection or a specialist consultation be discussed?
Changes to report before the appointment
New or progressing weakness needs prompt medical assessment. New difficulty passing urine, loss of bladder or bowel control, or loss of sensation around the saddle area warrants urgent evaluation. Do not delay seeking care to finish organizing your file or wait for a routine appointment. [4]
When booking, also mention previous surgery, a recent fall or an important change since the scan. The professional can determine the appropriate priority and pathway.
Treatment for a herniated disc in Montreal and Terrebonne
For local clinical information and the TAGMED consultation pathway, choose your city. French versions of these guides are also available.
Ten frequently asked questions
Do two herniations mean that two levels must be treated?
The number in the report does not determine the plan. Ask which symptoms and examination findings support the relevance of each level, then which goals will guide care.
Should I bring the MRI report or the images?
Prepare the complete report and, if you have access, a way to view the images. Ask the clinic which format it accepts. A photograph of the conclusion alone may leave out useful information.
Do I need another MRI before attending?
Not automatically. Ask whether another examination would change management. Several levels on an older report are not, alone, enough to justify repeat imaging; the course of symptoms and the examination also matter. [3]
How should I describe neck and lower-back symptoms?
Prepare two separate short descriptions, each covering onset, side, distribution, limited activities and recent changes. Bring the reports for both regions if you have them.
Is the level that looks most affected necessarily responsible?
Not necessarily. The radiological description and the intensity you experience do not always align. Ask how the report is interpreted alongside your examination, rather than choosing a level from a word or a measurement. [1]
What should I record about previous treatments?
For each type of care, give approximate dates, duration, what improved, how long the benefit lasted and any difficulties. A partial response is also worth describing.
Can I prepare this file without an MRI?
Yes. Your timeline, limitations and previous care are still useful. The professional will determine whether imaging would provide necessary information; do not arrange a scan simply to complete this checklist. [3]
What should I ask if decompression is proposed?
Ask about the reason for choosing it, evidence relevant to your profile, risks, alternatives, measurable goals and reassessment criteria. Mention any known surgery or implant in the relevant region.
Does multilevel disease require surgery?
That finding alone does not settle the decision. The discussion considers neurological findings, function, the course of symptoms and previous care; some presentations need specialist advice. The file supports that discussion without predetermining its outcome. [4]
What goal should I prepare for the first assessment?
Choose a concrete priority, such as an everyday activity you want to regain, and note what prevents it today. Ask what information is still missing and what the next decision will be after the examination.
Sources and scope of this resource
- Brinjikji et al. (2015) — Imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. AJNR, 36(4), 811–816. DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173.
- Mayo Clinic (2026) — Herniated disk: diagnosis and treatment.
- NICE — NG59 recommendations on low back pain and sciatica, including imaging and traction.
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (2024) — Herniated Disc.
Sources consulted on October 24, 2026. The preparation checklist is an editorial organization tool, not a validated diagnostic questionnaire. The sources below do not establish the effectiveness of a particular treatment for multilevel herniated discs.
Arrive with your documents, priorities and questions
Concise preparation leaves more time for the examination and decisions that concern your situation.
Sylvain Desforges, docteur en ostéopathie · The Spine Page