Symptoms include:

• Local pain at the area of injury
• Incontinence
• Muscle spasm in neck
• Muscle weakness
• Numbness, weakness, and/or tingling in leg
• Shooting pain (down one or both arms)
• Shooting pain (often on one side of the body)
• Shooting pain (down the buttock into the back of leg)
• Stiff neck

Diagnostic tests include:

• Abnormal sensation in the foot or leg
• Blood tests
• CAT scan
• Electromyogram (EMG)
• MRI
• Neurologic examination
• Physical examination
• Positive straight leg raising test
• X-rays

Common forms of herniated discs include:

• Disc protrusion
• Disc extrusion
• Disc sequestration

Causes & contributing factors may include:

• Bending of the spine
• Degeneration of the spine
• Heavy lifting
• Overweight
• Traumatic event (fall or blow to the back)
• Twisting and turning while lifting

• A herniated disc is also known as a pinched nerve, prolapsed disc, slipped disc, herniated disc of the spine, or ruptured disc.
• Vertebral discs are often compared to a jelly doughnut with a soft middle.
• Vertebral discs act as cushions between vertebrae minimizing impact on the spinal column.
• The most common location on a spinal column for a herniated disc is between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae.