A herniated, slipped, or ruptured disc can cause varying symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling. The location of the disc can affect the symptoms, and they can worsen after certain activities. It’s important to see a doctor if symptoms change or worsen.
Symptoms of a herniated, slipped, or ruptured disc can vary from person to person. Some people may complain of a slight tingling sensation or a dull ache. Other people may have so much pain that they can’t move. Typically, pain, tingling, or numbness will only affect one side of the person’s body.
To understand the symptoms of ruptured disk, it helps to understand the underlying condition. The vertebrae of the spine are padded or separated by discs which have a hard outer shell that surrounds a soft, gel-like substance inside the disc. The discs work to absorb shock and keep the spine supple. They can swell, tear or rupture and put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves along the back. The numbness or pain is the result of pressure being placed on the nerves.
If the disc ruptures in the lower back, many people will experience severe pain in the leg, buttock or hip. They may have numbness in a different area, but the pain will only be on one side of the body. Also, the affected side of the body may feel weaker.
If the disc is ruptured near the neck, the ruptured disc symptoms will likely be different. For example, the person may experience pain when moving their neck. There may also be sharp pains near a shoulder blade. With a ruptured cervical disc, pain can radiate down the arm and into the fingers.
One of the main symptoms of a ruptured disc is that the pain typically starts slowly. After certain activities, such as sitting, standing, sneezing, laughing, coughing and bending over, it can get progressively worse. Sometimes a person with a ruptured disc can go weeks without feeling pain. Other times, pain is an everyday occurrence.
There are other ruptured disc symptoms with varying degrees of numbness and pain. For example, some people experience tingling around the genital area or anus. Other people complain of sciatica, or pain that radiates through the buttocks, down the leg, to the knee. Occasionally, people will have trouble controlling their bladders or bowel movements as well.
Because ruptured disc symptoms vary widely, it’s important to see a doctor if changes occur, even after the condition has been diagnosed. Some symptoms can be startling, and only a doctor can tell if there’s a secondary condition causing pain, numbness, or tingling. If the ruptured disc isn’t pressing against a nerve, there may be little or no pain. Once it starts pressing on a nerve, pain should be expected.
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