Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

A herniated disc can be a very painful and debilitating condition

. If you think you might be experiencing the symptoms of a herniated disc, you should consult your physician immediately as there are various treatments that are available to relieve the pain.

Symptoms of a herniated disc tend to get worse the more physically active you are, but subside again once you rest. Coughing, sneezing, bending over and driving can all exacerbate the symptoms of a herniated disc. The symptoms vary a great deal depending on which disc is affected and how severely it has herniated.

If the herniated disc is not pressing on a nerve, you may simply experience a vague ache in the lower back, or even no symptoms at all. Unfortunately, this is rare and most people affected do suffer a great deal more discomfort.

When the affected disc presses on a nerve in the lower back, sciatica is very common. This causes a sharp pain to travel down the nerve pathway from the buttocks, all the way through to the ankle or foot. The pain is very often accompanied by aching in the lower back.

When the herniated disc is further up the spine, the pain is more often felt at the front of the thighs. If the herniated disc is up near the neck, pain and numbness can often be felt around the arms, shoulders, or chest area.

When leg pain is experienced with a herniated disc, it is very often only felt in one leg and may be constant or intermittent. Lots of things can set the pain off, from prolonged sitting, to bending or twisting movements. Lying down can often relieve the pain as it relaxes the spine, and walking can sometime help for the same reason. Many people try and adjust their sitting position to relieve the pain, which may help initially. Sitting with the weight to one side sometimes relieves the pain, but mostly it is a case of trial and error.

When a nerve is affected by the herniated disc, numbness is fairly common. The patient will feel pins and needles in one leg. This very often begins in one buttock and then spreads down the thigh towards the ankle. Other nerve related symptoms include pain at the front of the thigh and weakness in some leg muscles. Nerve pain can feel like electric shocks traveling down your limbs, but while they are often excruciating, they are not normally too serious.

One exception to this rule is a far more serious complication of nerve compression known as Cauda Equina Syndrome. This causes weakness in both legs as well as the loss of bladder and/or bowel function. It is a very rare condition, but it is serious and a physician should be consulted immediately if you have problems urinating, having bowel movements, or are suffering extreme numbness.

Treatment is usually dependent on many factors, including the symptoms of a herniated disc experienced by the patient, as well as their age and normal activity levels. If the symptoms fail to respond to initial treatment plans, more aggressive treatment may need to be implemented.

Our site contains a world of information on herniated discs, their causes and their cures. If you want to stay up to date and informed on this serious medical subject, please feel free to visit.

http://www.herniateddiscbacksurgery.com

Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

By: Robert N. Perry

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