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What Are the Symptoms of a Slipped Disc?

A “slipped disc” is an everyday term for a herniated disc or a bulging disc, which are spinal conditions that can arise as part of the aging process or as a result of traumatic injury. An intervertebral disc is made up of a gel-like nucleus and a fibrous outer wall. Over the years, the nucleus can lose water content and the wall can become brittle. If the outer wall extends beyond its normal boundary, the condition is considered a bulging disc. If nucleus material leaks through a tear in the outer wall, the condition is considered a herniated disc. Both fall under the colloquialism, “slipped disc,” and both can be caused by traumatic injury as well as the aging process.

How a Slipped Disc Causes Symptoms

More often than not, a herniated disc or bulging disc remains asymptomatic. Symptoms will only arise when a portion of the frayed disc or the extruded nucleus material comes into contact with an adjacent nerve root or the spinal cord itself. Although a slipped disc can occur at any level of the spine, it is most common in the flexible areas of the neck (cervical spine) and lower back (lumbar spine). Nerve compression in the cervical spine can produce symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness in the:

• Clavicle
• Top of the shoulder
• Lateral portion of the arm from the shoulder to the hand
• Thumb or index finger
• Interior aspects of the hand

Nerve compression in the lower back can produce:

• Muscular weakness in the quadriceps and tibialis anterior
• Reduction of reflexivity in the knee
• Tingling or numbness in the medial knee and shin
• Shooting or stabbing pain in the thigh, down the lower leg, and into the feet

Slipped Disc Treatment

These symptoms usually respond well to pain medication, exercise, stretching, or other conservative treatment. If chronic pain persists, contact Laser Spine Institute for information about the benefits of minimally invasive, outpatient procedures performed using revolutionary endoscopic technology.

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