What Is a Herniated Disc? Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

A herniated disc happens when the soft center of one of the discs in your spine pushes through a tear in its exterior. This common injury can fuel potentially excruciating symptoms. 

Without treatment, a herniated disc can lead to serious complications. Knowing what signs to look out for can make all the difference in getting the care you need.

Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill provide advanced and minimally invasive treatments for disc herniation.  

Here’s a look at herniated disc signs to take seriously.

Neck or back pain

Back pain is a hallmark sign of disc herniation. If the disc is located in your lower back, you’ll feel the pain there. You can also experience sciatic nerve pain, also known as sciatica. When that happens, sharp pain may radiate from your back down one side of your body, into your buttocks, leg, and foot.

An upper spine herniated disc commonly causes neck pain. The pain usually affects the back and sides of the neck and may extend between your shoulder blades. In some cases, the pain moves down your arm and into your hands.

Tingling or numbness

Nerve damage brought on by a herniated disc can lead to tingling or numbness in the region. These sensations, or lack of sensation, may run down one of your arms or legs, making it difficult to walk or exercise with ease.

Muscle weakness

Herniated disc-related nerve issues can also affect your muscles. When they compress or irritate nerves that affect muscle movement, those messengers aren’t able to send signals normally to your brain. 

In other words, your brain doesn’t get the prompt to activate your muscles when needed. As a result, your muscles may feel weak while you feel generally uncoordinated.

Bladder or bowel dysfunction

In severe cases, a herniated disc can interfere with bladder or bowel control. Caused by nerve damage or irritation in the lower spine, this compression can lead to a very serious condition known as cauda equina syndrome. 

If you experience signs of severe urinary or fecal incontinence, such as involuntarily emptying your bladder or bowel, seek immediate medical care. Less severe symptoms may include difficulty urinating or constipation.

Saddle Anesthesia

Saddle anesthesia is another severe complication of disc herniation. Damaged nerves cause the gradual loss of sensation in your lower pelvis, upper, inner thighs, and rectal area — the areas that would touch a saddle. Any sensation loss should be met by prompt medical care.

Herniated disc treatment

Herniated disc treatment varies, depending on the type and severity of your symptoms and your overall health. In most cases, our team starts with conservative options, such as physical therapy, epidural steroid injections, or anti-inflammatory medication.

If your symptoms carry on after conservative treatment or we’re concerned about nerve damage, we may recommend spine surgery. Our minimally invasive herniated disc procedures require only a very small incision and take less than 30 minutes. 

To learn more about herniated disc symptoms or get started with personalized, expert care, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.