Physical therapy for a herniated disc.
A herniated disc can cause low back or neck pain and sometimes pain, tingling or weakness down the leg or arm. Many people improve with conservative care, and physical therapy is an important part of it.
We support you as you manage pain, regain movement and get back to your activities with confidence. If your doctor has mentioned surgery, we can also help before and after it.
We're in Hacienda Agua Caliente, Tijuana, and see patients from Tijuana and San Diego. Care in English and Spanish, by appointment only.
Lumbar and cervical.
What it can feel like
Every case is different. These are some common symptoms:
- Low back or neck pain
- Pain down the leg or arm
- Tingling or numbness
- Stiffness
In session
We combine whatever helps you at each stage.
- Manual therapy
- Therapeutic exercise
- Core
- Posture habits
- Physical agents
Your goals
What we work toward with you:
- Less pain
- More mobility
- Back to work
- Back to sport
- Looking after your back
Step by step, with you.
Assessment
We talk about your history and how the pain started, and run mobility and strength tests. If you have imaging or instructions from your doctor, we take them into account for your plan.
Pain management
Manual therapy and physical agents as support, so pain lets you move and rest better.
Guided exercise
Mobility, core strength and movement control, with exercises that progress with you session by session.
Back to your life
We give you tools for work, sport and home, and teach you to look after your back on your own.
“I had been told I needed surgery for a herniated disc. Fortunately, I was referred to physical therapy with these therapists, who give you an assessment from the start and explain the rehabilitation. Within the first months I was back to my normal activities.”
When to get urgent medical care.
These signs aren't for physical therapy: go to the emergency room or see your doctor right away if you have any of them.
- Loss of bladder or bowel control.
- Numbness in the buttocks, genitals or groin.
- Weakness in one or both legs that gets worse quickly.
- Severe pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, or after a hard fall or blow.
What people ask us.
Does a herniated disc always need surgery?
Do I need an MRI to start?
Can I exercise with a herniated disc?
How many sessions will I need?
More guides.
The information on this page is general and not a substitute for an in-person evaluation. Every plan is defined after your assessment.