--- title: "Slipped Disc Treatment in Haslemere" description: "Physiotherapy in Haslemere for disc injury and disc related back and leg pain. What a disc bulge on a scan really means." canonical: "https://healthflex.co.uk/services/disc-injury" --- ![Older woman listens as a doctor explains a full spine model in a bright medical office](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-disc-injury.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790157212389&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Back and neck conditions # Disc injury and slipped disc £62–£72 30–45 mins [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) **A slipped disc has not slipped.** The discs between your vertebrae are firmly attached, and what people mean by the term is usually a bulge or a herniation, where the softer inside of the disc pushes out and can press on or inflame a nearby nerve. That is worth explaining properly, because the mental image of something having slipped out of place makes people far more frightened than the situation warrants. ## What a scan report actually tells you This is the part that causes the most unnecessary alarm. **Disc bulges and degenerative changes are extremely common in people with no pain whatsoever**, and become more common with age in everybody. A report describing disc degeneration is not describing a disaster. It matters when the findings match your symptoms and your examination, which is why **NICE advises against routine imaging for back pain**. ## Will it heal Usually, yes, and this surprises people. Disc herniations frequently reduce over months without any intervention, and symptoms improve as they do. **Most disc related pain, including most sciatica from a disc, settles without surgery.** ## What treatment involves Settling the irritation, finding the positions and movements that ease rather than aggravate it, restoring movement, then rebuilding strength. Progress is measured in weeks and months rather than appointments, and we will be honest with you about that at the start. ## When surgery is discussed Where pain is severe and unrelenting despite proper conservative treatment, or where there is progressive weakness, a surgical opinion is appropriate and we will write to your GP. **Cauda equina symptoms, meaning saddle numbness or loss of bladder or bowel control, are an emergency and need hospital the same day.** [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Frequently Asked Questions What is a slipped disc? Nothing slips. Discs are firmly attached to the vertebrae. The term usually describes a bulge or herniation, where the softer inside of the disc pushes outwards and can press on or inflame a nearby nerve. The name is unhelpful because it suggests something has moved out of place. My scan shows disc degeneration. Is that serious? Usually far less serious than it sounds. Disc bulges and degenerative changes are very common in people with no pain at all and increase with age in everybody. Findings matter when they match your symptoms and examination, which is why NICE advises against routine imaging for back pain. Can a herniated disc heal without surgery? Frequently, yes. Disc herniations commonly reduce over months without intervention and symptoms improve as they do. Most disc related pain, including most disc related sciatica, settles without surgery, though it takes weeks to months rather than days. [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Available Team Members These team members perform this service - ![Martin Dyer, physiotherapist and director of Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Martin Dyer, physiotherapist and director of Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has swept back dark hair greying at the sides and a warm, closed mouth smile, and wears a pale pink striped shirt with a pink and blue striped tie. The background is a blurred garden of autumn shrubs and trees.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-martin-dyer-physiotherapist-director-haslemere-48x59.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158917409&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Martin Dyer Physiotherapist and Director [View](/team-members/martin-dyer) - ![Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight fair hair and is smiling at the camera, wearing a white Healthflex Physical Therapy Centres polo shirt. Behind her, out of focus, are a green playing field, a wooden rail fence and autumn trees under a cloudy sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-anneke-webb-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x53.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158550952&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Anneke Webb Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/anneke-webb) - ![Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight light brown hair and a wide, friendly smile, and wears a navy zip neck fleece. Behind her, out of focus, are a yellow green hedge and trees under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-phillipa-frankland-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x61.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159136941&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Phillipa Frankland Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/phillipa-frankland) - ![Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Close head and shoulders portrait of Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has short dark hair and a full dark beard flecked with grey, with a relaxed closed mouth smile, and wears a navy polo shirt. Behind him is soft green foliage under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2FNick%2520Thornhill-48x57.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159610604&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Nick Thornhill Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/nick-thornhill) Show more team members - ![Theika Botterill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Theika Botterill, physiotherapist specialising in sports and musculoskeletal care at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has brown hair tied back and a wide, beaming smile, and wears a pink Healthflex polo shirt. The background is a blurred autumn hedge under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-theika-botterill-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x60.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159715633&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Theika Botterill Physiotherapist, sports and musculoskeletal [View](/team-members/theika-botterill) - ![Gill Onslow, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Gill Onslow, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has wavy light brown hair with a fringe and a gentle smile, and wears a pink polo shirt under a navy V neck jumper. The background is a soft, bright blur of green garden foliage.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-gill-onslow-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x72.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158706868&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Gill Onslow Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/gill-onslow) - ![Imogen Scott-Plumber, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Imogen Scott-Plumber, physiotherapist specialising in sports injury and rehabilitation at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has fair hair tied back and a relaxed smile, and wears a navy polo shirt. Behind her is a dense green hedge, softly out of focus.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-imogen-scott-plumber-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x57.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159848262&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Imogen Scott-Plumber Physiotherapist | Sports Injury & Rehabilitation | Performance [View](/team-members/imogen-scott-plumber) - ![Kathryn Lewis, neurological physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Kathryn Lewis, physiotherapist specialising in adult neurological rehabilitation at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has shoulder length dark brown hair lit by sunshine and a broad smile, and wears a white Healthflex polo shirt. Behind her is dark green foliage, softly out of focus.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-kathryn-lewis-neurological-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x71.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158869397&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Kathryn Lewis Physiotherapist, adult neurological rehabilitation [View](/team-members/kathryn-lewis) ## Related Services Complete your experience with these services - Back and neck physiotherapy £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/back-and-neck-physiotherapy) - Strength and conditioning programmes £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/strength-and-conditioning-programmes)