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What Are the Symptoms of a Disc Protrusion?

A disc protrusion can be a very painful condition, depending on its location in the spine. The condition occurs when one or more of the cartilaginous discs that cushion the vertebrae (bones of the spine) weaken due to age or other causes, resulting in the squeezing and bulging of the disc into the spinal canal. Symptoms may develop if the bulge impinges upon, or pinches, the spinal cord or nerve root, but in many cases, a disc protrusion can heal on its own and symptoms will generally subside after a few weeks or months. If a disc protrusion does not compress the spinal cord or a nerve root, the occurrence may go unnoticed.

Lumbar Region Symptoms

The lower back (lumbar region) consists of five (or sometimes six) vertebrae. A disc protrusion will most often occur between the L4 and L5 vertebrae, or the L5 and S1, also known as the lumbosacral joint. The sacrum is a triangular bone of five fused vertebrae (S1-5) that sits below the lumbar region, hinged between the pelvic bones. This area supports the entire weight of the spine, and is therefore prone to developing painful conditions.

Symptoms occurring in the lumbar region may include pain at the immediate location of the nerve impingement, and/or radiating pain, muscle spasms, burning, weakness, numbness, and tingling down through the buttocks, legs, and into the feet on one or both sides. These symptoms are especially likely if the sciatic nerve is impinged, which is a condition commonly called sciatica. The sciatic is the largest nerve in the body and emanates off the bottom of the spinal cord, through the buttocks, and down the legs.

Cervical Region Symptoms

The neck, or cervical region, of the spine has seven vertebrae. A disc protrusion is more likely to occur between the C5 and C6, or C6 and C7 vertebrae. Impingement of the spinal cord or nerve roots linked to these susceptible vertebrae can cause pain in the shoulders, weakness in the biceps and triceps, and produce feelings of numbness and tingling that radiate down the arms, hands, and fingers.

Thoracic Region Symptoms

Disc protrusions are rare occurrences in the mid-back (thoracic region). The thoracic discs are typically more stable than those in the cervical or lumbar regions, and the twelve vertebrae that make up the thoracic region benefit from the added stability of being attached to the rib cage. If a disc protrusion occurs in the thoracic region, symptoms are commonly felt in the torso and inner arms.

Assess Your Quality of Life

Are you living with cervical, thoracic, or lumbar pain that is disrupting your lifestyle? Do you think you have a disc protrusion or another spinal condition? Contact the orthopedic specialists at Laser Spine Institute to learn more about our minimally invasive procedures. Our state-of-the-art endoscopic techniques can help you rediscover your life without back or neck pain.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.