Symptoms of lumbar herniated disc

When it comes to symptoms of lumbar herniated disc, they vary widely from one patient to another. From moderate pain in the buttock and back to widespread weakness as well as numbness, symptoms vary and most of them need immediate medical attention and care. In most cases, patients experience relief within six weeks. However, despite short duration, the pain can be extremely excruciating and severe making it difficult to even fulfil day to day activities and responsibilities. For some patients, this pain can become debilitating or chronic. 

Listed below are some of the most common symptoms or lumbar ruptured/herniated disc.

Herniated disc inflames or presses against a nearby nerve, triggering pain to radiate along the nerve’s length. This kind of disc is one of the most common causes of leg pain, sciatica as well as the sciatic nerve down the leg’s back.  Read on to learn about symptoms of herniated disc.

Leg pain

It is usually worse than pain in the lower back. In case pain radiates along the path of the large sciatic nerve in the leg’s back, it is known as radiculopathy or sciatica.

Neurological symptoms

Numbness accompanied by pins and needles feelings, tingling or weakness  might be experienced in the toes, foot or legs.

Nerve pain

Nerve pain in the leg with pain being described as radiating, sharp, piercing, searing or electric are the most noticeable symptoms.

Foot drop

Neurological symptoms caused by disc herniation might also include difficulty in lifting the foot at the time of standing or walking on the foot’s ball. This condition is called foot drop. 

Variable location of symptoms

On the basis of variables like the degree of herniation and where the disc herniates, symptoms might be experienced in the buttock, the calf, lower back, toes or foot, and/ or back or front of the thigh.

These are just a few of many symptoms associated with a lumbar herniated disc. In some cases, spine surgeons like Dr. Erik Bendiks recommend Atlanta spine surgery, which can help in improving the condition of the patient.