It’s your final chance to join us for our Back Pain Workshop on Tuesday 6th October at 6pm at Silvermere Golf Club.
If you’re struggling with back pain, disc prolapse, sciatica or spinal stenosis or you know somebody who is, this is a great opportunity to come along and learn a little more about what might be going on and the different options available to help.
We’re also going to be doing a live treatment demonstration, so you’ll actually get to see how we assess and treat someone with back pain and understand exactly what we’re trying to achieve in the clinic.
Silvermere Golf Club is a lovely venue overlooking the water and there’ll be drinks available too. So come down, have a drink, learn something useful and meet some of the team.
Make sure you get yourself booked in using this link https://westchiropractic.co.uk/back-pain-talk-september-2026/. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone there at 6pm!
On the home front, after the absolute chaos of last weekend flying solo with all three kids, football, rugby and generally throwing them around from one place to another, things are looking considerably calmer this weekend!
We’re planning to hunker down a little bit, enjoy a quieter weekend and hopefully get some cycling in.
You bend down to pick up a bag, straighten up after tying your shoes or perhaps simply get out of the car after a long drive.
Then ouch.
Your back suddenly feels like it has completely locked up.
For some people, the pain stays around the lower back. For others, it shoots into the buttock and down the leg. You might feel tingling, numbness or even weakness. And if someone mentions the words “disc prolapse,” it is very easy to imagine that something in your spine has dramatically slipped out of place.
Thankfully, the reality is usually far less frightening.
Disc prolapses are common and many people improve without surgery. Some people even have disc changes visible on scans without experiencing any symptoms at all.
So, what actually is a disc prolapse and what can you do if you think you have one?
What Is a Disc Prolapse?
Your spine is made up of individual bones called vertebrae. Between them sit discs that act as cushions and help your spine move and absorb load.
Think of each disc a little like a tough, flexible cushion with a softer centre.
The outer layer is called the annulus, while the softer centre is called the nucleus. A herniated or prolapsed disc occurs when some of that inner material pushes through a damaged area of the outer layer.
You may also hear terms such as:
- Herniated disc
- Slipped disc
- Ruptured disc
- Disc protrusion
- Disc extrusion
These terms aren’t always interchangeable in a technical sense. For example, specialists distinguish between a disc protrusion and extrusion according to the shape and extent of the displaced disc material.
For most patients, however, the important question isn’t the terminology on an MRI report. It is: Is the disc irritating a nerve and how is it affecting you?
What Does a Disc Prolapse Feel Like?
This is where things become interesting because two people with similar looking scans can feel completely different.
A disc prolapse may cause no symptoms whatsoever. When symptoms do occur, they depend on the location of the disc and whether nearby nerves are irritated or compressed.
Common disc prolapse symptoms can include:
- Lower back or neck pain
- Sharp, burning or shooting pain
- Pain travelling into the buttock and leg
- Pins and needles or tingling
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
- Symptoms aggravated by certain movements, coughing or sneezing
When a disc problem in the lower back irritates a nerve contributing to the sciatic nerve, you may develop sciatica pain that commonly travels through the buttock and down one leg.
Patients sometimes describe this as an electric shock running down the leg.
Others tell me, “My back isn’t actually that painful, it’s my leg that’s driving me mad!”
That can happen because the irritated nerve travels well beyond the spine.
Why Does a Disc Prolapse Happen?
People often assume there must have been one disastrous lift that “did the damage.”
Sometimes symptoms do begin while lifting or twisting. But disc changes can also develop gradually.
As we age, spinal discs naturally become less flexible. Factors associated with a higher risk of disc herniation include physically demanding work, repeated lifting or twisting, excess body weight, smoking, prolonged driving and genetics.
So that box you lifted on Saturday morning may have been when you noticed the problem, rather than the entire explanation for why it developed.
This is something I often explain to patients because it can remove a lot of fear and self blame.
Does a Disc Prolapse Mean I Need Surgery?
No-not automatically!
This is probably one of the most reassuring things I can tell someone who has just been given an MRI report mentioning a herniated or prolapsed disc.
Most people with a herniated disc don’t require surgery and symptoms commonly improve over time.
Management depends on your symptoms, examination findings and how the problem is affecting your daily life.
A healthcare professional may recommend conservative care involving education, appropriate movement and exercise or rehabilitation. NICE guidance for low back pain and sciatica encourages people to continue normal activities where possible and considers exercise an important part of management.
In our clinic, depending on the individual assessment, care may include rehabilitation and carefully selected manual approaches. In some cases, we may discuss spinal decompression therapy as part of a broader treatment plan.
No single treatment is right for every disc problem, which is why I believe the assessment matters more than simply treating whatever words appear on a scan.
5 Practical Tips for Living With a Disc Prolapse
1. Don’t automatically stop moving
When your back hurts, staying completely still can feel like the safest option.
Usually, prolonged bed rest isn’t recommended. Gentle activity such as walking and gradually returning to normal activities as tolerated can be more helpful than becoming completely inactive.
Think movement within tolerance, rather than trying to prove how tough you are.
2. Break up long periods of sitting
If you work at a desk, drive frequently or spend hours on the sofa, change position regularly.
There is no magical “perfect posture” that you must hold all day. Instead, try not to stay fixed in one position for hours.
Stand up. Walk around. Change position. Give your body some variety.
3. Be sensible when lifting
If your back is irritated, this probably isn’t the week to volunteer to move your friend’s wardrobe.
When lifting, keep the load manageable and close to your body, use your legs and avoid unnecessary twisting under a heavy load. As you recover, progressive strengthening can help prepare your body for the demands you actually face in daily life.
4. Build strength gradually
Your spine isn’t something that needs to be wrapped in cotton wool forever.
Appropriate rehabilitation may include exercises for the trunk, hips and legs, alongside gradually returning to the movements you need for work, sport and everyday life.
The right exercises will vary from person to person, particularly when nerve symptoms are involved.
5. Pay attention to your symptoms, not just your scan
An MRI is useful in the right circumstances but an abnormal looking disc doesn’t automatically explain every ache or pain.
In fact, NICE advises against routinely imaging uncomplicated low back pain and sciatica in non-specialist settings, with imaging generally considered when the result is likely to change management.
That is why a proper clinical assessment is so important.
When Should I Be Concerned About a Disc Prolapse?
Most disc problems aren’t medical emergencies but there are symptoms you should never ignore.
Seek urgent professional help if you develop:
- New problems controlling your bladder or bowels
- Difficulty urinating despite feeling that your bladder is full
- Numbness around the genitals, inner thighs or saddle area
- Significant or rapidly worsening weakness
- Severe symptoms that are progressively deteriorating
Rarely, a large disc herniation can compress a bundle of nerves at the bottom of the spinal canal called the cauda equina. This requires urgent assessment.
Disc Prolapse FAQs
Can a disc prolapse heal?
Symptoms associated with a herniated disc often improve over time and most people do not require surgery. Recovery varies depending on the individual, the nerve involved and the severity of symptoms.
Can I exercise with a disc prolapse?
Often, yes, but the type and intensity matter. Exercise and staying active form part of recommended conservative management for many people with low back pain and sciatica. If exercise significantly increases radiating pain, numbness or weakness, seek professional advice.
Is a bulging disc the same as a prolapsed disc?
Not necessarily. “Bulging” describes the contour of a disc and is not considered the same thing as a focal disc herniation in standard spinal disc terminology.
Will I need an MRI?
Not everyone does. Imaging is generally most useful when the findings are likely to influence treatment decisions or when a healthcare professional suspects something requiring further investigation.
Don’t Let the Words “Disc Prolapse” Frighten You
I completely understand why hearing that you have a disc prolapse can sound alarming.
But your scan is not your future.
A disc finding needs to be understood alongside your symptoms, movement, strength, neurological examination and what you’re trying to get back to doing, whether that’s sitting comfortably at work, picking up your children, returning to the gym or getting back onto the golf course.
The aim isn’t simply to chase an MRI finding. It is to understand YOU, reduce the impact the problem is having on your life and build a sensible plan for moving forward.
If you’re experiencing back pain, sciatica or symptoms you think may be related to a disc prolapse, book a discovery visit with us here. We can talk through what’s been happening, assess your symptoms and help you understand the appropriate next steps.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual medical assessment or emergency medical care.
References
- Mayo Clinic. (2026). Herniated disk: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
- Mayo Clinic. (2025). Sciatica: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
- Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Herniated disk: Diagnosis and treatment. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2016, updated 2020). Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: Assessment and management (NG59).
- North American Spine Society, American Society of Spine Radiology, & American Society of Neuroradiology. (2001). Nomenclature and classification of lumbar disc pathology. Spine, 26(5), E93–E113.
