Introduction
Today there are different possibilities to treat a herniated disc (med. also: disc prolapse). Usually only about 10% of patients with this clinical picture are operated on at all.
The vast majority is now treated rather conservatively, which has positive effects on the return to everyday life and the reintegration into the job. Both are usually possible again much earlier after a conservative therapy and the number of incapacities to work and premature retirements is thus significantly lower. In order for this to work, however, it is essential to start early with the appropriate rehabilitation measures. In rehabilitation, a fundamental distinction is made between conservative rehabilitation and the follow-up treatment after a disc surgery.
Duration of rehab
The duration of the rehabilitation differs on the one hand according to the severity of the clinical picture and on the other hand according to the chosen form of therapy. Overall, after a herniated disc, at least three to eight weeks of rehabilitation must be expected in order to be almost free of symptoms and to regain the greatest possible range of motion. Last but not least, appropriate rehabilitation measures play a major role for the mental health after a herniated disc and the avoidance of pain, which in turn can be accompanied by anxiety or even depressive episodes.
A typical rehabilitation program after a herniated disc contains on the one hand stabilizing and muscle strengthening exercises in the context of physiotherapy, back school, and relaxation training. On the other hand, everyday training and measures for reintegration into the respective professional situation. A conservative rehabilitation without prior surgery should generally not last more than six to eight weeks.
The aim is to achieve a significant improvement through the training and the newly learned exercises, up to the complete absence of symptoms. This can vary individually in duration. However, if there is still no noticeable improvement after eight weeks, the whole case should be re-evaluated by a doctor and, if necessary, surgery should be performed.
The chances of successfully treating the herniated disc with conservative therapy alone are usually negligible after this period of time. In contrast, there is the follow-up treatment (AHB) after a disc surgery. This usually begins a few days directly after the operation and the patients often continue directly from the hospital to the rehabilitation clinic of their choice.
Central contents of the follow-up treatment (AHB) are on the one hand physiotherapy and water gymnastics to strengthen the muscles, but also psychological and nutritional procedures in dealing with the disease play a decisive role. The duration of such a follow-up treatment (AHB) after a disc surgery is usually about 3 weeks. An extension of this period is possible if there is a medical indication for it. Our next article could also be interesting for you: Consequences of a slipped disc
