Even the seemingly simplest task can be excruciatingly uncomfortable and painful when you have a herniated disc. This is a condition wherein the spinal disc ruptures and part of it is pushed outside of its normal boundary. Such a disc bulges out from the vertebral alignment and causes the spinal nerves and the spinal cord to become pinched. While extra space is normally available around the spinal cord and nerves, a herniated disc that is pushed way off the vertebrae could compress the structures. There are various causes that lead to developing this spinal condition. This condition could be developed through an accident that impacts the spine or it could develop over time when the spine is strained repeatedly through exercise or any other activity. This condition could also develop as other spinal problems progress.

Pain and numbness in the affected area could be indicative of this spinal condition. If the disc is not dislocated far enough to press on a nerve, you may not feel any symptoms at all. A disc that is herniated on the lower back could cause pain and numbness in the lower half of the body from the buttocks and down towards the leg. This pain and numbness is often referred to sciatica. Herniation that occurs in the disc on the upper lumbar spine would result in pain in your thighs while herniation that occurs in cervical spine would result in pain and numbness in the area of the shoulders, arms, and chest.

Pain and numbness in the leg area could also indicate herniation in the spinal area. Such pain is differentiated from those caused by other ailments in that they usually occur only in one leg. Pain could start gradually or it could occur suddenly. Sometimes, a shooting pain could result from sneezing, coughing, or difficult bowel movments. Pain from disc herniation could also be felt during long periods of either standing or sitting or when bending or twisting. Such symptoms could often be relieved by simply easing the pressure on the spine and the disc herniation. Walking, lying down, or assuming a more relaxed position would often give relief from such pain and numbness caused by a herniated disc.

As disc herniation involves the compression of the nerve, nerve messages could be affected by such herniation and could cause nerve-related symptoms. Some of the symptoms that could be felt with disc herniation include pins-and-needles feeling that starts in the buttocks or behind the knees and travels down to the thighs, the ankles, or even the foot. Muscular weakness in one or both legs could also be observed when there is disc herniation. Be warned, though, that such weakness in both legs when accompanied by loss of bowel or bladder control could indicate another more severe type of nerve compression referred to as cauda equina syndrome.

There are plenty of indications for a herniated disc. If you feel any one of these symptoms, it is better to consult with a medical professional right away in order to start the right treatment at the soonest possible time and to avoid any progression in the condition. It would also not be advisable to take any medication or to turn to other therapies before you get a diagnosis on your condition as doing so could aggravate the condition even more.