How Do I Know If I Herniated a Disc?

Are you coping with mobility-limiting lower back pain, radiating leg pain (sciatica), or persistent neck pain? You may have a herniated spinal disc.

At Interventional Sports and Pain Management Associates in Humble and Baytown, Texas, board-certified pain management expert Dr. Okezie N. Okezie helps Houston-area patients attain long-lasting relief from herniated disc pain and related symptoms. 

Here, we’re taking a closer look at how this frequent disc injury happens, along with five common signs and symptoms that should prompt you to seek expert evaluation and care.  

Spinal disc anatomy basics 

Intervertebral discs are flexible and resilient “cartilaginous joints” between your spine's bones (vertebrae). These donut-like cushions help maintain proper spacing between vertebrae, enable fluid spinal movement, and absorb the shock force of motion. 

To perform these essential functions, spinal discs have:

• A tough, rubbery exterior (annulus fibrosus) 
• A soft, gel-like interior (nucleus pulposus)
• Hyaline cartilage “end plates” on each flat side

Essentially, spinal discs simultaneously foster spinal flexibility as they prevent bone-on-bone contact. Unfortunately, discs are prone to herniation, or tearing injuries, both through sudden acute trauma and gradual age-related degeneration.

How disc herniation happens 

Aging, being overweight, inactivity, a physically demanding job, poor posture, improper biomechanics, being overweight, and smoking are all factors that can significantly increase the likelihood of sustaining a herniated disc injury. The injury may be:

Sudden and acute 

Acute disc herniation is the result of sudden trauma that tears the disc’s fibrous exterior and allows the gel-like interior to spill out. Heavy lifting, fall accidents, and contact sports trauma are common causes of acute disc injury. 

Gradual and degenerative

Most herniated disc injuries are a result of age-related degeneration. An aging disc is drier, thinner, and more likely to collapse slightly inward. This places increased pressure on the outer shell, causing it to gradually develop small tears and fissures that eventually allow the disc’s inner gel-like material to ooze, or herniate, out.

Herniated disc warning signs 

Nearly all herniated discs occur in the lower back (lumbar spine) or neck (cervical spine). The affected disc typically shows some degree of degeneration when the injury occurs, even if the injury is due to acute trauma. 

Herniated disc symptoms appear when oozing material from the injured disc:

• Bothers the sensitive nerves in the disc’s outer shell 
• Places pressure on nearby nerve roots in the spine
• Releases chemical irritants that inflame spinal nerves  

Herniated disc warning signs include:

Localized discomfort 

Whether it’s in your neck or lower back, a herniated disc often causes localized pain and stiffness just over the injured area. Depending on your activity levels, this achy discomfort may persist around the clock or come and go intermittently. 

Pain triggered by movement

Herniated disc pain tends to worsen with certain movements. A herniated cervical disc might cause more intense neck pain when you turn your head, while a herniated lumbar disc might cause a sharp flare of pain any time you bend, twist, or reposition your body.   

Radiating nerve pain 

When a herniated disc’s leaking inner material inflames a nearby spinal root, it can trigger pain sensations that radiate down the length of that nerve. In the neck, this “radicular pain” typically shoots down through one shoulder and into the arm.  

Radiating nerve pain in the lower back causes sciatica, or moderate to severe pain through the hip and buttocks and down the back of one of your legs. 

Numbness and/or tingling 

In addition to (or apart from) pain, an irritated or inflamed spinal nerve root can also cause other neurological sensations, including radiating numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations in one of your legs or arms. 

Muscle weakness

Muscle weakness is another common effect of disc herniation, especially if the injury goes untreated for a long time. A herniated cervical disc can leave your shoulder and arm feeling deficient, while a herniated lumbar disc can weaken your leg and foot muscles. 

Think you have a disc injury?

Luckily, most herniated disc injuries respond well to conservative care measures, including minimally invasive pain relief procedures, physical therapy, and lifestyle interventions such as weight loss and activity adjustment. 

The first step? Finding out if a herniated disc is the cause of your concerning symptoms, or if it’s something else — and our Interventional Sports and Pain Management Associates team is here to help. Contact your nearest office in Humble or Baytown, Texas, today.