In many cases, torn discs will heal on their own with rest and time, though the area will be more prone to repeat injury and degenerative disc disease. In the event that symptoms don’t lessen over time, however, the common orthopedic option is spinal fusion, a procedure in which two vertebrae are screwed or fused together. Spinal fusions have been shown over time to be no more effective than sham or placebo surgeries while complications occur in 25% of fusion patients.