What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?

Basically, there are quite a few people who have herniated disk who do not know it, because research has shown that there are a fair number of people who have herniated disks that do not have symptoms.  Those who do may have a variety of types of symptoms.  Sciatica is one such symptom that a patient can complain of which basically consists of a radiating, aching, throbbing pain usually down the back of the leg, sometimes there can be numbness. It tends to extend from the buttocks to the knee or the side of one leg. You can have pain, numbness, or paresthesias along with this and a lot of times it can be relieved by positioning the leg and/or back in a certain position. You can certainly have low back pain and low back pain can be affiliated and certainly seen quite frequently with people who suffer from herniated disk disease, coughing, producing of Valsalva activity which is usually brought on by increasing intraabdominal pressure with a bowel movement, coughing, sneezing can certainly cause a patient who is suffering from a herniated disk to experience increased discomfort. Again, the herniated disk as well as spinal stenosis should be addressed with haste if a patient loses control of his or her bowel and bladder, the pain increases over time, and there is an increase in numbness and weakness, you can develop foot drop or lower extremity weakness to the point where walking becomes very, very difficult, and certainly making it dangerous to try to do so. In those cases, we suggest that you seek out your doctor as soon as possible for if those symptoms should develop.

If the herniated disc isn't pressing on a nerve, you may have an ache in the low back or no symptoms at all.

Only a few people who have herniated discs have severe or troublesome symptoms.

When the disc does press on a nerve, symptoms may include:

• Pain that travels through the buttock and down a leg to the ankle or foot because of pressure on the sciatic nerve. Low back pain may accompany the leg pain.
• Tingling ("pins-and-needles" sensation) or numbness in one leg that can begin in the buttock or behind the knee and extend to the thigh, ankle or foot.
• Weakness in certain muscles in one or both legs.
• Pain in the front of the thigh.
• Severe deep muscle pain and muscle spasms.

Cauda equina syndrome

Weakness in both legs and the loss of bladder and/or bowel control are symptoms of a specific and severe type of nerve root compression called cauda equina syndrome. This is a rare but serious problem. A person with these symptoms should see a doctor right away.