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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffYou can have a herniated disk without knowing it — herniated or bulging disks sometimes show up on spinal images of people who have no symptoms of a disk problem. But some herniated disks can be painful. The most common signs and symptoms of a herniated disk are:
- Sciatica — a radiating, aching pain, sometimes with tingling and numbness, that starts in your buttock and extends down the back or side of one leg
- Pain, numbness or weakness in your lower back and one leg, or in your neck, shoulder, chest or arm
- Low back pain or leg pain that worsens when you sit, cough or sneeze
When to see a doctor
If you experience back pain that is disabling for more than a week, call your doctor to be evaluated. Back pain often interferes with your normal activities for a week to three weeks. Usually the pain and disability improves significantly in four to six weeks. If you're able to engage in limited activity but see no improvement in three weeks, then call your doctor for an appointment. If the pain increases when you're sitting, coughing or sneezing, a herniated disk might be the cause.
Seek prompt medical attention if:
- You lose control of your bladder or bowels
- Your pain increases rather than staying about the same or decreasing over time
- You develop numbness or weakness in one or both legs
A disk herniation or a spinal tumor may be compressing several nerve roots in your spine. This compression, known as cauda equina syndrome, is rare but potentially disabling. It may require emergency surgery.
- 1. Herniated Disc. NeurosurgeryToday.org. http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/herniated.asp. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008.
- 2. Chou R. Patient Information: Low back pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 2, 2008.
- 3. Wheeler SG, et al. Approach to the diagnosis and evaluation of low back pain in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 2, 2008.
- 4. What is back pain? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Back_Pain/back_pain_ff.pdf. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008
- 5. Hu SS, et al. Disorders, diseases and injuries of the spine. In: Skinner HD. Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Orthopedicas. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2319599. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008.
- 6. Herniated disk. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00334&return_link=0. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008.
- 7. Chou R. Subacute and chronic low back pain: Pharmacologic and noninterventional treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 2, 2008.
- 8. Knight CL, et al. Treatment of low acute back pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 2, 2008.
- 9. Health care guideline: Adult low back pain. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. http://www.icsi.org/low_back_pain/adult_low_back_pain__8.html. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- 10. Shelerud RA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 12, 2008.
- 11. Heliovaara M. Body height, obesity, and risk of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc. Spine. 1987;12(5):469-472.
