Purpose: To compare the patients operated on for lumbar disc hernia with two different methods in view of pain, disability, physical performance, physical activity and aerobic capacity. Methods: Forty-one patients were included in the study (group I, nucleoplasty – n = 14), (group II, lumbar discectomy – n = 27). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was performed for pain; Oswestry Disability Index for lumbar disability level; total rolling time, lie/sit, sit and stand, 50 foot walking and five-minute walk tests for physical performance measurements; the Compendium of Physical Activities (CPA) scale for activity level measurement, and VO2max measurements for aerobic capacity. Results: In the second month's controls, changes of pain and disability levels were insignificant in both groups, even though pain in nucleoplasty group and disability in discectomy group were found to be better. In performance measurements, group II showed better results in the second postoperative month, whereas group I had better results in the sixth postoperative month. The levels of physical activity in group I, and of aerobic capacity in group II increased significantly. Conclusion: Different physiotherapy approaches are necessary to obtain good results in terms of pain intensity, disability, physical performance, physical activity and aerobic capacity, since these parameters are found to be worse during the sixth month postoperative in patients who had undergone lumbar discectomy.