A bad disc in the lower back often feels like sharp, shooting pain (sciatica) radiating from the buttock down the leg, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg/foot, made worse by movement, sitting, coughing, or sneezing, though sometimes the back pain itself is mild and the nerve pain is dominant, requiring immediate care if it affects bladder/bowel control.
A herniated disc in the lower back sometimes causes pain at the site of the actual rupture. But more commonly it causes pain, weakness and numbness in the buttocks, legs or feet. That's because it's pressing on the nerve that connects to those areas.
Unfortunately, some conditions have similar symptoms and can be hard to tell apart. For example, pinched nerves and herniated discs can be found in the same locations and can feel the same. Both are pain conditions and can take several weeks – if not months – to heal.
In nearly all cases, surgeons can remove just the protruding portion of the disk. Rarely, the entire disk must be removed. In these cases, the vertebrae might need to be fused with a bone graft. To allow the process of bone fusion, which takes months, metal hardware is placed in the spine to provide spinal stability.
Yes, a herniated disc, especially in the cervical (neck) or thoracic (mid-back) spine, can cause nausea and vomiting by irritating nerves connected to the digestive system or central nervous system, leading to disrupted signals that trigger these symptoms. This can sometimes mimic stomach or heart problems, making diagnosis tricky.
Seek emergency medical attention if you have: Worsening symptoms. Pain, numbness or weakness can increase to the point that they hamper your daily activities. Bladder or bowel dysfunction.
Seeking Medical Care for Herniated Discs
Emergency departments are equipped to handle acute symptoms and can facilitate urgent imaging and consultation with a spine specialist. For non-emergency symptoms, scheduling an appointment with a spine specialist can provide the necessary evaluation and treatment plan.
For symptoms that have lasted at least 6 weeks and that make it hard to do your normal activities, surgery is an option when other treatments haven't helped. Over the long term, surgery and nonsurgical treatments work about the same to reduce pain and other symptoms.
Sometimes the pain is accompanied by numbness and tingling in your leg or foot. You may experience cramping or muscle spasms in your back or leg. In addition to pain, you may have leg muscle weakness, or knee or ankle reflex loss.
The examiner gently raises the patient's leg by flexing the hip with the knee in extension, and the test is considered positive when the patient experiences pain along the lower limb in the same distribution of the lower radicular nerve roots (usually L5 or S1).
Your GP will usually be able to tell if you have a slipped disc from your symptoms. You may also have a physical examination. Your GP might ask you to raise your arms or do simple leg exercises to find out where the slipped disc is.
Herniated Disc:
When the soft inner core of an intervertebral disc protrudes through the tough outer layer, it can press against the spinal nerves in the lumbar region, causing irritation and pain that often radiates to the buttocks.
Several conditions can mimic the pain of a bulging disc, muscle strain, joint inflammation, hip misalignment, or even a pinched nerve from tight muscles. That's why a thorough exam is so important before assuming it's a disc issue.
The "Big 3" for lower back pain, developed by spine biomechanics expert Dr. Stuart McGill, are core-stabilizing exercises: the Curl-Up, Side Plank (Side Bridge), and Bird-Dog, designed to build core strength and endurance without excessive spinal stress, helping reduce pain and improve function. They focus on creating a stable "spine bridge" by engaging abdominals, obliques, and back muscles to protect the spine during movement.
You might notice it on one side of your body, or in a specific area like your calf, foot or toes. “You might notice tingling in one side of your body, or an area that just feels oddly numb,” says Dr. Conaway. “Those sensory changes are one of the biggest red flags we look for.”
This could be a sign that you have sciatica, a form of pain that affects the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back and through the buttocks before branching down each leg. This condition usually results from a herniated disk. A doctor will be able to offer a variety of ways that you can relieve this pain.
In fact, about half of the people with a bulging disc never experience any symptoms or pain. Some patients only learn they have a bulging disc after imaging tests for another medical issue. However, most people immediately feel pain if a bulging disc presses on a nerve.
Sharp pain in one part of the leg, hip, or buttocks and numbness in other parts. You may also feel pain or numbness on the back of the calf or sole of the foot. The same leg may also feel weak. These are usually indications of a slipped disc in the lower part of the spine.
You might feel pain in other areas of your back, depending on where in your spine the vertebra slips out of place. The pain might spread (radiate) into your butt (buttocks) or thighs.
Summary: Chiropractors can often diagnose and treat herniated discs through spinal manipulation, targeted exercises, and non-invasive therapies.
A spine surgeon performs herniated disc surgery under general anesthesia. Administration of anesthesia ensures that the patient reduces pain or discomfort during surgery.
One way to determine if you have a herniated disc is by doing a simple test. Lie down on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place one hand behind your head and gently tilt your head to the opposite side. If you feel pain in your neck when you do this, it may be indicative of a herniated disc.
In the presence of a herniated/prolapse/ruptured/slipped disc, URGENT surgery (within 24-36 hours) is recommended for CAUDA EQUINA symptoms. These symptomsinclude but not limited to: Loss of bladder and bowelsensation or control (incontinence) Numbness in the perianal/perineal (saddle) region (private parts)
When the lumbar disc herniation is in an acute or semi-acute phase, the inflammation of the sciatic nerve is likely to become so disabling that the person cannot walk, and even standing becomes quite painful. If this sounds like your situation, we recommend rest until the inflammation subsides.
Can a herniated disc be diagnosed without an MRI? In most cases, your doctor will order an MRI to look at your spine. However, they might also get the information they need from a CT scan. Even if your doctor is confident that you have a herniated disc, they still need to run these tests to confirm their diagnosis.