What is a herniated disc?
What causes a herniated disc?
There are a few things that cause a herniated disc, such as sports injury, trauma from a car accident, or repetitive motion over time. They can also be the results of degenerative disc disease, where your spinal discs naturally degenerate with age. Osteoarthritis and lumbar spondylosis often happen simultaneously with a herniated disc, so be sure to get your spine fully checked out for any other conditions that may be bothering you.
Herniated Disc Symptoms – Lower Left Back Pain & Lower Right Back Pain
The major pain areas are going to be in your lower back, arms, feet or legs. The pain can feel like pins and needles, or tingling and burning in your back. You also may experience a stiff neck when you get a slipped disc.
Sometimes the herniated disc can affect only your lower right back, or lower left back, since the bulging disc only protrudes to one side.
The effected area of the spine can be anywhere, but it’s usually in the lower back or neck. The pain can persist for up to 6 weeks without any kind of medical assistance, and sitting or bending forward may make the herniated disc worse because this puts pressure on the pinched nerve. You will probably want to sleep on your side to relieve the pressure on your nerves. Moderate exercise such as walking, biking, or swimming can help relieve the pain as well. You should always discuss with your doctor what strategy is best suited for your personal lifestyle and condition.
What does a herniated disc feel like?
When you have a herniated disc it is a radiating pain from your low back, down to one leg or both legs, and possibly into your feet. It can feel like an electric shock if you’re standing, walking or sitting. These can cause extreme pain depending on the person or situation. Some describe it as a sharp or burning pain, or numbness / tingling.
