The Day Everything Changed on the Court
When he first walked into the clinic, he looked like someone who had lost more than just a tennis match. This was a guy who loved the sport. Played in a local league, trained in the gym a couple of times a week, and balanced it all with a full-time desk job. Like many, his weekdays were spent sitting for long hours which left him stiff around the hips and lower back. But tennis was his release, the way he kept his body ticking over and his mind sharp.
Three weeks before we met him, something had gone badly wrong. He had been playing a competitive match when he reached for a big shot. As he twisted and lunged, he felt a sharp pop in the bottom left side of his back. That was it. Game over. He could not carry on. By the time evening rolled around, the pain had worsened. He could hardly walk. Bending over to touch his toes was out of the question. What started as back pain quickly turned into something else. It ran down the back of his left leg, into his hamstring, and settled deep into his glute. He did what most people do. He rested, hoping it would settle. But it did not. If anything, it was getting worse.
A Tough Call That Made All the Difference
He gave it a couple of weeks. Still no better. That is when he booked in. From the moment we started the assessment, it was clear he was dealing with a disc bulge. His straight leg raise was significantly limited, and he could barely bend forward without triggering that same pain through his back and down his leg. The sciatic nerve was irritated. He had nerve referral, limited range of motion, and was clearly in a lot of discomfort. It was the classic presentation of a herniated disc and luckily we had caught it early.
The good news was he acted quickly. And that decision more than anything changed his outcome. We got to work right away with soft tissue treatment through the lower back and hip. We used techniques to ease the pressure on the nerve and improve mobility. Even after the first session, he noticed a change. Less pain, more movement. It took five sessions in total to get him pain free. Once his symptoms were gone and his range was fully restored, we worked with him to get back to tennis safely. No setbacks, no lingering stiffness, just a clear plan and steady progress.
Understanding the Injury
Disc bulges are often misunderstood. When a spinal disc becomes injured and bulges out, it can press on nearby nerves, especially the sciatic nerve which runs through the lower back, glute, hamstring and into the lower leg. Depending on where the disc is affected, people might feel pain in the back, glute or leg. Others experience numbness, pins and needles or even weakness. In his case, it was mostly glute and hamstring pain, though his lower back was sore too.
The most common mistake people make is waiting too long. A disc injury might ease up slightly with rest, but that does not mean it is healed. The symptoms may fade a bit, but underneath that, the range of motion might still be limited. The nerve might still be tight. And the area might still be vulnerable. That is when people go back to sport too soon, thinking they are fine, only to break down again weeks later. It becomes a cycle and it is completely avoidable.
What Full Recovery Actually Looks Like
He did not make that mistake. He followed the plan. He did not just wait for the pain to settle. He made sure his flexibility returned, his nerve mobility was back to normal, and his strength had recovered. We reassessed everything before he picked up a tennis racket again. That is what real recovery looks like. Not just less pain, but full function.
It is something we talk about a lot in clinic. Feeling better is not the same as being better. A good rehab plan closes that gap. And in his case, it got him back to doing what he loves without fear of breaking down again.
Do Not Wait Until It Is Too Late
If you have been told you have a disc bulge, or you are getting pain in your back that is spreading into your leg or glute, it is time to act. These things do not always go away on their own. The earlier you get assessed, the sooner we can start treatment and the less likely it is to become a long-term issue.
This patient made one really smart choice. He listened to his body and got help when rest was not enough. That choice gave him the outcome every injured person wants. A full return to sport with no pain, no limitations and no fear.
Joe Sharp
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
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