Herniated Disc
A herniated disc presses on a nearby nerve and often causes leg pain as well as back pain. Most cases improve without surgery, and physiotherapy is usually the first and only treatment needed.
Common symptoms
- , Lower back pain, often worse than a typical strain
- , Pain, tingling or numbness running down one leg
- , Pain that worsens with sitting, coughing or bending forward
- , Weakness in the leg or foot on one side
- , Difficulty standing fully upright
Common causes
- , Age-related disc degeneration, the most common cause after 60
- , A single awkward lift or twist
- , Years of loading a spine already weakened by disc wear
- , Sudden strain on top of long-term poor core strength
What a herniated disc actually is
The discs between the vertebrae have a tougher outer layer and a softer centre. When part of that centre pushes through the outer layer, it can press on a nearby nerve. That pressure is what usually produces the leg pain, tingling or numbness that makes a disc problem feel worse than ordinary back pain.
Disc material changes with age in almost everyone, which is why herniated discs become more common, not less, after 60. That is a normal ageing change, not a sign that something has gone badly wrong.
Why families call us about this one specifically
A herniated disc in an older relative often produces more alarm than the average back complaint, because the leg symptoms look serious and the word “disc” gets associated with surgery. In practice, an assessed, non-surgical recovery is the normal outcome, and our first job on a call like that is usually to bring the worry back down to size before we even see the patient.
The second thing families ask about is getting her there. Sitting in a car is often the most painful part of the day when a disc is irritated, particularly for someone who is already stiff or unsteady getting in and out of a vehicle. A home visit removes that barrier at exactly the point in the day when it matters most.
What treatment looks like
Early on, we find the positions and movements that ease the nerve pressure rather than aggravate it, because pushing through pain here is counterproductive. As symptoms settle, we move into gentle mobilisation, nerve-gliding work for the leg symptoms, and progressive strengthening of the core and hips that support the spine going forward.
The pace is set by the individual, not the calendar. An 82-year-old and a 42-year-old with the same scan finding often need very different rates of progression, and we adjust for that rather than following one protocol for both.
How we treat it
- , Positions and movements that reduce nerve pressure
- , Gentle mobilisation once the acute pain has settled
- , Nerve gliding techniques for leg symptoms
- , Progressive core and hip strengthening
- , Guidance on which everyday movements to avoid short-term, and for how long
Typical recovery: Most people improve substantially within 6–12 weeks without surgery
See a doctor urgently if you have
- !Loss of bladder or bowel control
- !Numbness in the groin or inner thighs (saddle numbness)
- !Rapidly worsening leg weakness
- !Weakness affecting both legs
These are not physiotherapy problems. Go to a doctor or hospital rather than booking with us.
Treatments that help
Common questions
My mother is 72 and was told she has a herniated disc. Is surgery the only option?
Almost never the first option, and rarely necessary at all. The great majority of herniated discs, at any age, settle with physiotherapy and time. Surgery is reserved for the red-flag situations above or for pain that genuinely fails to respond after several months of proper treatment.
Is it safe to treat an older person with a disc problem, or should we just rest her?
Prolonged bed rest is one of the worst things for a herniated disc at any age, and it is particularly damaging for an older citizen, who loses strength and confidence far faster than someone younger. The right amount of the right movement, assessed properly, is safer than rest.
She struggles to get to appointments. Can you come to her?
Yes, and for a painful disc this is often the better option regardless of age. Getting in and out of a car is frequently the single most painful part of someone's day when a disc is irritated, so removing that journey removes a real barrier to recovery.
Is this the same as sciatica?
Related but not identical. A herniated disc is a cause; sciatica is a pattern of leg pain that a herniated disc can produce by pressing on a nerve root. Not every herniated disc causes leg pain, and not every case of sciatica comes from a disc.
Book a physiotherapist in Nairobi
Clinic appointments in Westlands, or a physiotherapist at your door anywhere in Nairobi. Same-week slots.