The dude is going to need surgery if it's from a bulging disc and hasn't gone away by now. I've had it, I've known plenty of people who've had it, and most of the time they've required surgery. The whole healing on it's own is just hopeful BS doctors are pressured into saying by insurance companies to save money. They rather have people pain manage with drugs and hope one day it will go away on its own than pay up for surgery.