Slipped Disk Symptoms

The nerves of the body exit the spine at each spinal level in the low back, mid back, and neck. A herniated disk can produce symptoms anywhere along the course of that nerve, though the injury and irritation of the nerve are at the spine itself. (This is known as referred pain, as the pain is "referred" from the source of the problem in the spine to the area supplied by the particular nerve affected.) A slipped disk can produce varying degrees of pain in the back or neck along with numbness or weakness in the corresponding organs, arms, or legs as follows:

• For slipped disks in the neck: Numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in the shoulder, neck, arm, or hand



• For slipped disks in the lower back



• Numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in the buttocks, back, legs, or feet



• Numbness and tingling around the anus or genitals



• Pain down the back of each leg from the buttocks to the knee (this is called sciatica)



• Pain with movement, straining, coughing, or doing leg raises



• Difficulty controlling bowel movements or bladder function