Common Symptoms of a Herniated Disc
Not everyone suffers from symptoms–in fact, you can have a herniated disc without even knowing about it. While herniated discs can occur anywhere along the spine, the most common herniated discs occur in the lower back (lumbar spine). They can also occur in the neck (cervical spine) and, more rarely, in the upper back (thoracic spine).
The most common signs and symptoms of a herniated disc include:
- Arm or leg pain. The location of the herniated disc will determine the location of pain. A lower back herniated disc will cause pain in the buttocks, thigh and calf. A herniated disc in the neck will typically cause pain throughout the shoulder and arm.
- Numbness or tingling. A herniated disc often results in numbness or tingling in the areas where the nerves are irritated.
- Weakness. Weakness may occur in the muscles served by the affected nerves. You may experience stumbling, or inability to lift or hold items.
If you experience these symptoms longer than a week, or, if your pain becomes increasingly worse, call your doctor. Some symptoms require emergency medical attention. These include pain that inhibits you from performing daily activities, bladder or bowel dysfunction, and saddle anesthesia–the loss of sensation in areas of the body that would touch a saddle (inner thighs, back of legs and rectum).
Diagnosing a Herniated Disc
A medical, or “clinical” diagnosis focuses on determining the underlying cause of a patient’s back or neck pain. In order to reach a diagnosis, your doctor will go through a four-step process that includes a physical examination, a review of symptoms, a review of your medical history, and diagnostic tests.
1. Physical Examination
There are three main tests within a physical examination. The patient’s symptoms typically determine which one(s) will be performed.
- Nerve function in the legs and arms. This test involves tapping certain parts of the legs or arms with a reflex hammer to detect any abnormalities in the central or peripheral nervous system.
- Muscle strength. A neurological exam will be conducted to assess muscle strength. The doctor may also view the patient’s muscles to determine twitching or any other abnormal movements.
- Pain with palpation or motion. Palpating (touching) or moving certain areas can give the doctor some idea of where the pain is generating from.
2. Review of Specific Symptoms
Your doctor will review all of your symptoms. This includes where the pain is located, how searing or dull it is, and whether the pain feels better or worse based on certain activities, positions, or treatments.
3. Review of Medical History
A look into your medical background will help determine if there are any other possible contributors to your pain. Medical history includes information such as recurring health problems, family history of illness, previous diagnoses, past surgeries and treatments, and any other health concerns you may have.
4. Diagnostic Tests
If the doctor believes there is a disc problem, a diagnostic test may be ordered for confirmation and/or to gain additional information that may be helpful (i.e., location of herniated disc).
Diagnostic tests may include:
- CT Scan with Myelogram. A CT scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional, and very detailed images of structures inside your body. A myelogram consists of injecting a dye that can be seen on an x-ray into the sac around the nerve roots, which in turn lights up the nerve roots. Combining the CT and myelogram technologies provides the doctor with much better visibility of the nerves, including the nerve roots, during an exam for back pain.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). An MRI is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body.
If you are in the North Houston, Conroe, The Woodlands, Spring area and believe you need to see a spine specialist or have been recommended for minimally invasive surgery for herniated discs, call our office at 281-880-0700 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Fayaz.