Some people who have a slipped disc experience no obvious symptoms. This is usually because the part of the disc that bulges out is only small or may not be pressing on the nerves or spinal cord.
However, most people who have a slipped disc will experience pain. The pain often begins in the lower back before sometimes spreading to other parts of the body.
Sciatica
With most slipped discs, pain is caused when part of the disc begins to press on one of the nerves that run along the spine. The sciatic nerve is the most commonly affected nerve.
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body and is made up of several smaller nerves. It runs from the back of the pelvis, through the buttocks and all the way down both legs, ending at the feet.
If you have pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause:
- a lasting, aching pain
- numbness
- a tingling sensation in one or both of your legs
These symptoms often start in the lower back and travel down the buttocks, into either of the legs.
See the Health A-Z topic about Sciatica for more information about pain that is caused by compression on the sciatic nerve.
Other nerves
If the slipped disc presses on any of the other nerves that run down your spinal cord, your symptoms may include:
- muscle paralysis (weakness)
- muscle spasms, when your muscles contract tightly and painfully
- loss of bladder control
Muscle spasms and paralysis tend to occur in your arms, legs and buttocks. The pain that you experience when a disc presses on a nerve is often worse when you put pressure on the nerve. This can happen when you:
Cauda equina syndrome
Cauda equina syndrome is a serious condition where the nerves at the very bottom of the spinal cord become compressed. Symptoms of the syndrome include:
- lower back pain
- numbness in your groin
- paralysis of one or both legs
- rectum pain (pain in the lower bowel and anus)
- bowel disturbance
- being unable to pass urine
- pain in the inside of your thighs
If you develop any of these symptoms, contact your GP immediately or visit the accident and emergency (A&E) department of your nearest hospital.
If cauda equina syndrome is not promptly treated, the nerves to your bladder and bowel can become permanently damaged.
Numbness
Numbness refers to a lack of sensation in a part of the body.
Rectum
The storage area at the end of the colon that holds the stools until they are passed out of the anus.
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a column of nervous tissue located in the spinal column. It sends messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
Spine
The spine supports the skeleton, and surrounds and protects the delicate spinal cord and nerves. It is made up of 33 bones called the vertebrae.
