Lumbar herniation
Low back pain and often pain radiating down the leg due to irritation of a nerve root.
Physiotherapy · Torremolinos
Herniated disc in Torremolinos
A herniated disc on an MRI scan doesn’t necessarily mean surgery. We explain what it means in your case and support you with active conservative treatment, based on exercise and regaining confidence in movement.
- Free consultation
- Specialist physiotherapists
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Therapeutic exercise
Spine
Herniated discs: more common and less serious than they seem
Intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. When part of the inner core moves outwards we talk about a bulge or protrusion (the disc bulges out) or a herniation or extrusion (the material pushes through the outer layer). It can happen in the lower back, causing back pain and sciatica, or in the neck, with neck pain radiating into the arm.
This is important to know: many people with no pain at all have bulges or herniations on an MRI scan. What matters is not just the image, but whether it matches your symptoms and what we find on examination. What is more, the natural course is usually favourable and some herniations shrink or are reabsorbed over time.
That is why clinical guidelines recommend starting with conservative treatment: clear information, staying active, tailored exercise and techniques to control pain. Most people improve without needing an operation. Surgery is reserved for specific situations assessed by a medical specialist.
At Centro Ubud we review your scans, if you have them, and carry out a full neurological and functional examination to design a progressive plan, different for a lumbar herniation and a cervical one.
This treatment is for you if…
- You have been diagnosed with a herniated or bulging disc in your lower back or neck.
- You have back or neck pain that radiates into your leg or arm.
- You want to avoid surgery if it isn’t necessary and try conservative treatment.
- You are afraid to move or exercise because of your herniated disc.
The following need urgent medical assessment: loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the genital area, worsening weakness, clumsiness in the hands or unsteadiness when walking with cervical herniations. If we detect these signs we refer you without delay.
Types of herniation
What we treat
Cervical herniation
Neck pain that may radiate to the shoulder, arm or hand, with tingling.
Bulges and disc degeneration
Common disc changes that don’t always explain the pain; we assess them in context.
How it works
Your treatment, step by step
01
Free consultation
We review your scans, examine strength, sensation and reflexes and assess which movements ease or worsen your symptoms.
02
Conservative plan
We explain what your herniated disc means, what you can do and give you an approximate number of sessions.
03
Progressive exercise
We move from controlling the pain to regaining strength, mobility and confidence for your activities.
Techniques
Conservative treatment of a herniated disc
An active approach: relieve pain and, above all, restore your spine’s capacity.
Education
Information without alarm
Understanding the herniation reduces fear of movement, one of the factors that most often makes pain chronic.
Exercise
Therapeutic exercise
A progressive mobility and strength programme adapted to the stage and how irritable the area is.
Advanced
Invasive physiotherapy
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation in selected cases of persistent radicular pain.
See invasive physiotherapyTechnology
INDIBA and manual therapy
Add-ons to reduce pain in the most sensitive phases, never as the only treatment.
ConservativeFirst option
UltrasoundMore precise assessment
ActiveTailored exercise
FreeFirst consultation
Frequently asked questions
Questions about herniated discs
Can a herniated disc heal without surgery?
In most cases symptoms improve with conservative treatment, and some herniations shrink over time. We can’t promise a specific result, but surgery is only indicated in specific situations.
When does a herniated disc need surgery?
When there is loss of bladder or bowel control, significant or progressive weakness, or disabling pain that doesn’t improve after appropriate conservative treatment. That decision is made by a medical specialist.
Can I exercise with a herniated disc?
Yes, and it is recommended. The right exercise, well dosed and progressive, is one of the pillars of treatment. We show you where to start.
What is the difference between a bulge and a herniation?
In a bulge the disc swells outwards without breaking its outer layer; in a herniation or extrusion, part of the core pushes through it. The clinical importance depends on the symptoms, not just the name.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the pain, any neurological symptoms and how long you have had it. After the consultation we give you an approximate plan, which we review according to your response.
Do you also treat cervical herniations?
Yes. The philosophy is similar, but adapted to the neck, with particular attention to symptoms in the arm and hand.
How much does herniated disc treatment cost in Torremolinos?
It depends on your case, how long you have had it and the techniques recommended. At the free consultation we give you a fixed quote with no obligation.
Where are you and how do I book?
We are at Calle Arenas, 12, in La Carihuela (Torremolinos, Málaga). Appointments are booked only via WhatsApp, and we see patients from Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Málaga and the surrounding area.
Centro Ubud · La Carihuela, Torremolinos
Book your free physiotherapy consultation
Tell us what you would like to improve and we will explain, with no obligation, which treatment suits you.
Calle Arenas, 12 · 29620 Torremolinos, Málaga · Get directions · Patient reviews
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Related treatments
Lower back painLumbago and back pain →SciaticaPain running down the leg →Neck painNeck and arm →Therapeutic exerciseActive treatment →Percutaneous neuromodulationNerve-related pain →
All treatments are subject to a prior professional assessment. Results are individual and may vary from person to person. Centro Ubud is an authorised healthcare centre in Torremolinos (Málaga). NICA 64610. Clínica UBUD S.L. · CIF B56756158.