Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?
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Dr. Theodore A Belanger
Charlotte, NCMost patients with disc injuries complain of a combination of leg and back pain. The leg pain can be sharp and stabbing, or dull and aching. It is typically located in the buttock and down the back of the leg, with some associated numbness or electric shock sensations. Weakness in the leg also may be experienced.
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Dr. Thomas Kleeman
Bedford, NHThe symptoms of a herniated disc are a result of the compression and irritation of the nerve roots. The affected nerve roots develop into larger nerves that affect sensation and muscle function in the leg. As such, the symptoms of a herniated disc are leg symptoms more than back symptoms. These include pain, numbness, and weakness in a specific pattern based on the particular nerve involved.
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Dr. Robert S Pashman
Los Angeles, CAThe classic symptoms of a herniated disc include back pain, hip pain and any combination of burning, numbness, tingling or a feeling of “pins and needles” in the legs.
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Dr. Thomas Zdeblick
Madison, WIIn general herniated discs cause both back pain and leg pain. The typical leg pain is described as sciatica. This is pain that begins in the buttock and radiates into the back of the thigh, down into the calf and often into the foot. Tingling, numbness and weakness may also be associated with a herniated disc.
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Dr. Sean Salehi
Chicago, ILThe symptoms of a herniated disc include back pain or shooting pain down one or both legs.
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Dr. Dennis G Crandall
Mesa, AZA disk herniation large enough to compress a spinal nerve root typically causes radiating leg pain through the buttock, thigh, leg, and often into the foot. Numbness, tingling, and leg weakness are common. Many people with disk herniations do not have symptoms, or they had some back or leg pain but it went away.
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Dr. Sylvain Palmer
Mission Viejo, CAA symptomatic herniated disc causes symptoms by compression of nerves, chemical irritation of surrounding tissue, or poor mechanical function. The symptoms can include back and/or leg pain, weakness, numbness, and/or bowel and bladder symptoms.
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Dr. Randy Davis
Glen Burnie, MDA patient with a herniated disc frequently presents back pain as well as pain radiating down the leg usually to below the knee where an exiting nerve root is inflamed or irritated from the disc which is bulging and/or herniated. The good news is that 80% of people with a herniated disc will get better within six to eight weeks and not require surgery. It is only if patients have increasing pain and/or loss of motor power in their legs that surgery is absolutely required.
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Dr. George Frey
Englewood, COThe herniated disc is defined by a disc where the outer lining has been torn, and the inner soft disc material has expressed out of the tear and compressed the adjacent nerve roots. This pressure on the nerve roots tends to cause not only low back pain but leg pain, as well. This can be accompanied by numbness and weakness, which can be progressive in nature in its more severe form. When disk herniations are very severe, they can even affect the function of the control of the bowel and bladder. This is called cauda equina syndrome and tends to be a very unusual complication of disc herniations.
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Dr. Ezriel E Kornel
White Plains, NYIn the lumbar spine you often have pain in the back with pain radiating into either leg or sometimes both depending on which side the disc is herniated towards. There is often numbness and tingling in the affected extremity as well and additionally there may be weakness in one of the muscle groups.
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Dr. W. Christopher Urban
Glen Burnie, MDA herniated disc is sometimes followed by intermittent low back pain. When a disc herniation occurs, it often produces sciatica, which is pain that begins in the hip or buttock and extends down the leg. The pain may be associated with weakness, numbness or burning in the leg and foot. Sitting, coughing or sneezing often aggravates these symptoms. In rare circumstances, a large disc herniation may cause difficulty with bowel or bladder control.
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Dr. Rick Sasso
Indianapolis, INSome common symptoms of a herniated disc are pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the back, buttock, hip and leg.
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Dr. Sebastian Lattuga
Rockville Centre, NYSymptoms of a herniated disc generally include neck or back pain associated with pain that radiates into the arm or leg. The exact location is dependent on specifically which nerve is being affected. Other symptoms include numbness (Loss of sensation), weakness (loss of muscle strength), and altered reflexes in the area controlled by that nerve.
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Dr. Jorge E Isaza
Baton Rouge, LAThe symptoms of a herniated disc depend on the location of the herniation. A posterolateral disc herniation, which is the most common type of herniation, produces ipsilateral leg pain or sciatica. This is very common in the lower lumbar levels. A herniation of the upper lumbar levels produces pain in the anterior aspect of the thigh. This is also associated with weakness and numbness of the extremity in the territory of the affected nerve root. Central disc herniations produce low back pain without sciatica or leg pain.
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Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein
New York, NYA symptomatic herniated disc causes pain by compression of nerves, chemical irritation of surrounding tissue, or poor mechanical function. The symptoms can include back and/or leg pain, weakness, numbness, and/or bowel and bladder symptoms.
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Dr. Andrew Glass
Someras Pt., NJHerniated discs can cause back pain, leg pain or a combination of both. The leg pain can affect one leg or both legs. The pain most often radiates, or "shoots" from the back down the leg, but other pain patterns can sometimes be seen. Buttock pain is also a common complaint. Also, changes in sensation can be experienced. This can include a sensation of numbness in the affected leg, or possibly a "pins and needles" sensation, which is referred to as paresthesias. Weakness of the muscles may occur. Placing weight on the involved side may increase pain, resulting in a limp. Infrequently, bowel or bladder problems may develop.
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Dr. Mark Rosenthal
Baltimore, MDTypically there is low back pain that starts to travel down one or both legs. As the leg pain worsens, oftentimes the low back pain diminishes. The pain in the leg is usually associated with numbness and tingling (pins and needles). If there is loss of strength, such as dragging a foot, or loss of control of urination it is important to see a doctor immediately.
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Dr. Eung-Jun Cha
Bedford, INLow back pain with pain radiating down either leg with numbness in legs or toes; weakness in legs.
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Dr. John S Shiau
Staten Island, NYSometimes a herniated disc causes no problems. But if a herniated disc is pushing on a nerve or other neuro structures, then you typically have pain down the legs, usually below the knees. If the herniation is very large, you can have symptoms of incontinence, motor weakness, or sensory changes. So depending on how large the disc is and where it is, there can be different symptoms. But the majority of our patients have pain down the leg.
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Dr. Paul J Slosar
Daly City, CAThe most common symptom is sciatica or leg pain, numbness, or weakness. A bulging disc is a non-specific term, which is often used erroneously. A bulging disc can be a normal variant of an aging disc, which is not painful. Conversely, a bulging disc can be the result of tearing of the support structure or outer annulus wall. This condition can be quite painful with a typical symptom of low back pain.
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Dr. Kenneth A Pettine
Loveland, COTypically, a herniated disc causes radiating leg symptoms. Generally, this is what people refer to as sciatica or radiculopathy.
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Dr. Jeffrey C Wang
Los Angeles, CATypically a herniated disc will protrude back against a nerve root and it will pinch that nerve. The nerve travels down the leg and therefore the patient feels leg pain, which is often termed sciatica. This is a pain that travels down the leg, often into the foot. In addition to pain, patients can often feel numbness and tingling, as well as a shooting, burning-type pain.
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Dr. Kambiz Hannani
Los Angeles, CAHerniated or ruptured discs can cause back and leg pain, numbness, or tingling. Usually, the leg pain is more severe. In young patients, however, the back pain can exceed leg symptoms. The pain is usually worse with sitting. However, the pain can be so severe it can prevent some patients from walking.
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Dr. Reginald Knight
Seattle, WABack pain, buttock pain and leg pain.
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Dr. Donald D Dietze Jr.
Covington, LAGenerally, there is some element of acute back pain that escalates over 48 hours, and then, the onset of radiating leg pain with possible numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs, primarily the foot.
The commentary above recounts the experiences of these physicians. Medtronic invited them to share their stories candidly. Keep in mind that results vary; not every patient's response is the same. Talk with your doctor to learn more about any products that are mentioned above.
It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications and benefits of spinal surgery with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your doctor's judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
