Physiotherapy for a slipped disc

If a patient comes to physiotherapy with the diagnosis of a slipped disc, the therapist will first make a new diagnosis to be able to respond to the individual situation of the patient. In an anamnesis we try to find out causes for the incorrect load, possible previous illnesses are clarified, which could have influences on the emergence of the herniated disc or influence the recovery. Also a physical examination is done again to find out exactly where the problems of the patient lie.

A herniated disc can show many different symptoms, depending on which direction the disc material has leaked and which structures are irritated. In physiotherapy, a targeted treatment plan is individually tailored to the patient and treatment goals are agreed with him/her.Regardless of the location of the herniated disc, the goal of physiotherapy is to restore function as completely as possible and to reduce pain. Depending on the severity of the herniated disc, functional maintenance and compensation strategies can also be developed.

In the course of the disease, it is important to give the back the right stimuli for healing and to minimize the false loads. No movement is no solution. A posture correction should be developed during the therapy.

A healthy back is a mobile back. The herniated disc (whether operated on or conservatively treated) heals more and more over time. Depending on the course of treatment, a full recovery is possible, structures are irreversibly damaged, compensation mechanisms can be worked out.

During physiotherapy, posture at work or in everyday life can also be analyzed and suggestions for improvement can be found. The patient should do the exercises at home independently and develop an awareness for healthy posture. Resting postures should be avoided as far as possible, a conscious posture and behavior prevent the recurrence of the herniated disc or its deterioration.

When should physiotherapy be started?

The slipped disc is an injury and is accompanied by a natural inflammatory reaction. If the patient has undergone surgery, an inflammatory reaction is also triggered by the operation. This initially manifests itself in pain and is intended to protect the body from overstrain.

In this phase the injured structures should be allowed to rest so that they can regenerate themselves. In the pain-free area, movement can take place as part of physiotherapy. In therapy, soft tissue treatments (e.g. gentle massage) can improve the care of the affected area or reduce pain.

If necessary, techniques from manual lymphatic drainage can be used to support the treatment. A gentle therapy is in the foreground. After an operation, it is essential to follow the surgeon’s instructions. Certain movements may be restricted or certain forms of stress may be prohibited. This topic could also be of interest to you: Sports after and with a herniated disc