A herniated disc can feel different depending on where it occurs in the spine, but common sensations and symptoms include:
- Pain : This can be sharp, burning, or shooting and usually occurs in the area of the herniated disc. For a lower back herniation, pain often spreads to the buttocks, thighs, calves, and feet. For a neck herniation, pain may radiate into the shoulder, arm, and hands. The pain can worsen with activity, coughing, sneezing, or sitting, and usually improves when resting.
- Numbness and Tingling : These sensations often occur near the pain area and can radiate down the limbs. This is due to the herniated disc pressing on nearby nerves.
- Muscle Weakness : Muscle groups served by the affected nerves may weaken, which may cause difficulty in lifting or holding objects, walking, or maintaining balance.
- Additional sensations : Some people describe the pain as an electrical or "shocking" feeling. There can also be dull, persistent aching, or throbbing pain, sometimes severe enough to disturb sleep.
- Location-specific effects :
- Lumbar herniated discs may cause sciatica—pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates down the leg.
- Cervical herniated discs can cause pain and numbness that radiates down the arm and into the hands and fingers.
- Other symptoms : In severe cases, there can be problems with coordination or controlling bladder and bowel functions, which requires emergency medical attention.
In summary, a herniated disc often feels like a sharp, burning, or electrical pain with accompanying numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness, localized to the area of the herniation and radiating along the nerve pathways affected. The pain typically worsens with movement and pressure on the spine and can affect sensation and strength in the limbs.
