Symptoms

Symptoms of Herniated Disc

The symptoms of a true herniated disc may not include back pain at all. The symptoms come from pressure on, and irritation of, the nerves. But many people do have back pain because they have other problems in their back when the disc ruptures. The symptoms of a herniated disc usually include

pain that travels into one or both legs
numbness or tingling in areas of one or both legs
muscle weakness in certain muscles of one or both legs
loss of the reflexes in one or both legs

Where these symptoms occur depends on which nerve(s) has been affected in the lumbar spine. Therefore, the location of the symptoms helps determine your diagnosis. Knowing where the pain is perceived gives your doctor a better idea of which disc has probably ruptured.