

Information from Your Family Doctor

When You Have a Herniated Disc


Am Fam Physician. 1999 Feb 1;59(3):587-588.

See related article on herniated lumbar disc.

What is a herniated disc?

When the soft part between bones in the spine presses on the nerves around the backbone, it's called a herniated disc. The word “herniate” (say: her-nee-ate) means to bulge or to stick out. Sometimes this is called a ruptured disc.

Herniated discs are most common in the lumbar spine—the part of your backbone between the bottom of your ribs and your hips. Discs are soft “cushions” between the bones of the spine. The drawing to the left shows the spine. The spine holds up your body. It also protects your spinal cord and nerves. The discs in the spine let you move your backbone.

Why does a disc get herniated?

As you grow older, your discs become flatter—less cushiony. If a disc becomes too weak, the outer part may tear. The inside part of the disc pushes through the tear and presses on the nerves beside it. The drawing below shows how a disc looks when it gets pushed through the tear and presses on a nerve. Herniated discs are most common in people in their 30s and 40s.

What are the signs of a herniated disc?

When part of a disc presses on a nerve, it can cause pain in both the back and the legs. The location of the pain depends on which disc is weak. How bad the pain is depends on how much of the disc is pressing on the nerve. In most people with a herniated disc, the pain spreads over the buttocks and goes down the back of one thigh and into the calf. Some people have pain in both legs. Some people's legs or feet feel numb or tingly.

The pain from a herniated disc is usually worse when you're active and gets better when you're resting. Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving and bending forward may make the pain worse. The pain gets worse when you do these things because they all put more pressure on the nerve.

People with a painful herniated disc often try to change their position to reduce the pain. You may have found that holding yourself up with your hands while you are sitting helps the pain. Shifting your weight to one side may also help.

How does my doctor know I have a herniated disc?


What can be done for the pain of a herniated disc?

Your doctor may suggest medicine for the pain. You can probably be more active after you take the pain medicine for two days. Becoming active will help you get better faster. If your pain is very bad, your doctor may suggest that you rest in bed for one or two days.


Sometimes stretching of the spine, by your doctor or a chiropractor, can help the pain.

Will exercises help the pain?


What about my posture?

Good posture (standing up straight, sitting straight, lifting things with your back straight) can help your back. Bend your knees and hips when you lift something and keep your back straight. Hold an object close to your body when you carry it. If you stand for a long time, put one foot on a small stool or box for a while. If you sit for a long time, put your feet on a small stool so your knees are higher than your hips. Don't wear high-heeled shoes. Don't sleep on your stomach. These things can put more pressure on your discs. The pictures on this page show good posture in standing and lifting.

What are my chances of getting better?


If you have trouble going to the bathroom, or have weight loss, pain at night or more pain or weakness than usual in your backbone, tell your doctor right away. These might be the signs of a more serious problem.




Copyright © 1999 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

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