Prolapsed disc - Symptoms of a slipped disc

Most people with a slipped disc experience pain on one side of the body that starts slowly and gets worse over time.

The pain you experience when a disc presses on a nerve is often worse when you put pressure on the nerve. This can happen when you cough, sneeze or sit down.

However, some people with a slipped disc do not have any obvious symptoms. This is usually because the part of the disc that bulges out is small or does not press on the nerves or spinal cord.

The symptoms can also vary depending on whether the slipped disc is in the neck or lower back.

Slipped disc in the neck

A slipped disc in the neck can cause:

neck pain during movement
numbness or a tingling sensation in the neck, shoulder, arm or hand
weakness in certain muscles, which limits your range of movement

Slipped disc in the lower back

A slipped disc in the lower back can cause:

back pain during movement
numbness or a tingling sensation in the back, buttocks, genitals, legs or feet

Sciatica

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 down the legs to the feet.

If a slipped disc is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can lead to pain in the leg, hip or buttocks. This is known as sciatica.

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
muscle spasms – where your muscles contract suddenly and painfully

Muscle spasms and paralysis tend to occur in your arms, legs and buttocks.

Cauda equina syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome is a serious condition where the nerves at the very bottom of the spinal cord become compressed. Symptoms include:

lower back pain
numbness in your groin
paralysis of one or both legs
rectal pain
loss of bowel control (bowel incontinence)
loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence)
pain in the inside of your thighs

You should seek medical assistance immediately if you develop these symptoms. Visit your GP or 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.