My chronic herniated lumbar disc flared up again recently, causing numbness in my right leg after sitting for too long. I couldn’t take it anymore. My GP gave me a referral for physical therapy, or Fisioterapia. I ended up experiencing both the public and private systems, and I think there’s a lot of useful information to share, especially regarding the topic everyone cares about most: the cost.
Public Hospital vs. Private Clinic
First of all, if you have public health insurance, which can also cover other procedures like wisdom tooth extraction in Spain, getting a referral from your GP to the public hospital’s rehabilitation department for physiotherapy is completely free. The pro is that it costs nothing, but the con is also very obvious: the wait
! I was told I’d have to wait at least 3-4 months. For someone like me in acute pain, that was simply not an option. So, I had to look for a private physiotherapy clinic at the same time.
Private clinics are much more flexible; you can basically book an appointment anytime. I found a well-reviewed clinic near my home. Physiotherapists in Spain are all professionally licensed, which is reassuring. They start with a detailed assessment, about half an hour long, where they ask about your medical history, symptoms, and have you perform some movements to diagnose the problem. Then, they create a treatment plan based on your condition.
My treatment mainly included manual therapy, joint mobilization, and assistance from some equipment. Finally, they also taught me some rehabilitation exercises to do at home. The whole process was very professional. The therapist explains each step while performing it, so you understand the purpose of every action, much like you’d want to understand the procedure before getting an injection in Spain
. Unlike some massages that are purely for relaxation, the therapy here is highly targeted to resolve your specific pain.
Specific Price Reference
Here comes the important part: the price! Private physiotherapy prices vary between cities and clinics, but the general range is similar. I’ve compiled the information I gathered, including details similar to these on blood test prices in Spain, into a table to give you a clear reference.
| Service | Single Session Price | Package Price | Notes |
|---|
| First Assessment + Treatment | €50 - €70 | - | The first visit is usually longer and more expensive |
| Single Regular Session | €40 - €55 | 5-session package approx. €180 - €220 | Packages are much cheaper, suitable for multiple treatments |
| Sports Rehab / Pilates | €15 - €25 | Monthly or quarterly passes | Some larger clinics offer associated rehab classes |
If it’s just occasional muscle soreness, a single session might be enough. But for a chronic issue like mine, the therapist recommended a course of at least 5-10 sessions for a stable result. I bought a 5-session package for €200. Although it was a bit pricey, the results were immediate. After a few treatments, the numbness in my leg was basically gone. So, if you’re in real discomfort and can’t wait for the public system, I highly recommend trying professional physical therapy. It’s money well spent.
