Herniated or slipped discs in the lower back, known as the lumbar spine area, are quite common, particularly in middle-aged individuals. Surprisingly, these conditions tend to affect the buttocks, legs, and feet more than the back itself. As explained by HSS spine surgeon James E. Dowdell III, MD, if the herniated disc is lower in your back, it may irritate the sciatic nerve. This irritation can lead to pain that radiates through the buttock and down the leg. Fortunately, about 90% of the time, pain from a herniated disc resolves on its own within six months.
A herniated lumbar disc involves a tear in the tough, outer fibrocartilaginous layer of the disc, known as the annulus fibrosus. This tear allows parts of the disc’s gelatinous inner layer, the nucleus pulposus, to leak out. A herniated disc, also referred to as a disc herniation or sometimes a ‘slipped disc,’ happens when a part of the spinal disc bulges or ruptures and slips out of place, potentially compressing a spinal nerve. Symptoms can include leg pain, weakness, numbness, cauda equina syndrome, and/or low back pain.
Most herniated discs occur in the lower back, although they can also happen in the neck (cervical spine). Common symptoms include arm or leg pain, depending on the disc’s location, and numbness or tingling in the affected nerve area.
For those experiencing significant discomfort, microdiscectomy is a surgical option. This procedure aims to alleviate pain and other symptoms caused by a herniated disc pressing on an adjacent nerve root. During surgery, the surgeon removes small fragments of disc, bone, and ligament to free the nerve.
For more information on slipped discs and their treatments, you can refer to the detailed articles from HSS, Harvard Health, UConn Health, and AAOS. These sources provide comprehensive insights into the nature of herniated discs, their symptoms, and the effectiveness of various treatment approaches.
HSS Article on Slipped Discs
Harvard Health on Herniated Disc Recovery
HSS FAQs on Lumbar Spine Disc Herniations
HSS Condition List for Herniated Disc
UConn Health on Lumbar Disc Herniation
HSS on Microdiscectomy Surgery for Herniated Disc
