Physical and psychosocial functions in patients suffering from pain due to lumbar disc herniation

Pain caused by lumbar disc herniation has a negative effect on physical and social activities. The purpose of this study was to assess these effects in patients with lumbar disc herniation. The intensity and localization of pain and the effects of pain on occupation, leisure activities and sleep were assessed. Squatting endurance, stair activity and walking speed, functional limitations, disability and psychosocial status, and the correlations between these parameters and pain were evaluated. Pain mostly causes problems in the performance of household duties. Many functions increase pain, reduce squatting endurance, and reduce speed of walking, on the level or, more particularly, on stairs. In addition, the degrees of disability, the difficulty in performing activities of daily living, vocational disability, and functional limitations have a negative effect on the psychosocial status. Our results demonstrate that pain negatively affects physical and psychosocial functions.