First Assessment
Free
45 minutes, at home
- Full clinical examination at the patient's home
- The likely cause explained in plain language
- A realistic recovery plan and what it will cost
- No obligation to book any further sessions
Slip disc is a common name for a bulging or herniated disc in the spine, and the usual story is a bend, a lift or a twist that seemed ordinary at the time. In the lanes around Tilak Road, a lot of that bending happens on stairs: carrying a gas cylinder or a bag of vegetables up a narrow flight, or hauling a carton of stock into a first-floor storeroom.
The disc itself is explained on our slip disc physiotherapy page. This page covers the situations specific to older buildings and trading lanes, and how the home plan deals with them.
Stairs, loads and awkward angles
The older buildings in the peths behind Tilak Road often have steep, narrow staircases, with landings that make it hard to carry a load squarely. In these conditions it is easy to lean forward, round the lower back and twist to turn the corner, which is the posture that puts the greatest pressure on a disc. Trading brings its own versions of the problem: unloading a carton from a tempo, lifting a sack onto a shelf, or stooping to a low drawer a hundred times a day.
- carrying a loaded bag or cylinder up a flight with one hand;
- bending over a low bed or a floor mat to help an elderly parent;
- lifting boxes of stock from floor level without bending the knees;
- a sudden twist while carrying, such as turning on a stair landing.
What the home assessment includes
A disc problem usually shows itself as back pain that may travel into one leg, and which is aggravated by bending, sitting, coughing or sneezing. The physiotherapist checks how the spine moves, tests strength in the legs, checks sensation and reflexes, and looks at which movements ease or worsen the symptoms. Scans are not always needed to start, and the finding of a bulging disc on an MRI is common in people who have no pain at all, so the examination matters more than the picture.
The assessment can include a trial of the loads in your home. You may be asked to show how you pick up a cylinder or climb your stairs with a bag. The physiotherapist then corrects the technique on the spot. If leg pain is the main complaint, sciatica treatment discusses that side of the problem in detail, and for a general back ache without leg pain, see back pain physiotherapy.
A plan that protects the disc while it settles
Most disc problems improve with time, gradual activity and good movement habits, and surgery is rarely needed. The early plan is to find postures that ease the pain, avoid the movements that provoke it, and keep walking in short, frequent bouts. As the pain settles, strengthening for the trunk and hips takes over and lifting is re-introduced in graded steps.
- Lift smart. Keep the load close, bend the hips and knees, and move your feet to turn rather than twisting your back.
- Split loads. Two trips with lighter bags are safer than one heavy one.
- Use the rail. On a narrow staircase, keep one hand free for support and let someone else carry the heavier item for now.
- Avoid long sitting. Stand and walk every half hour, especially in the first weeks.
When a disc problem is an emergency
Go to an emergency department at once if you notice numbness in the groin or inner thighs, difficulty passing urine, loss of bowel control, or weakness in a leg that is getting worse. These can be signs that the nerves are under severe pressure, and waiting for a physiotherapy session is not safe.
To arrange a visit, use the booking page, or read about our visits around Tilak Road.