Herniated Disc
What's a Herniated Disc, Pinched Nerve, Bulging Disc...?
There are many different terms used to describe spinal disc pathology and associated pain,
such as "herniated disc", "pinched nerve", and "bulging disc", and all are used differently by
doctors.
Unfortunately, healthcare professionals to not agree on a precise definition of any of these
terms, and patients may be frustrated when they hear their diagnosis referred to in different
terms. A variety of interchangeable terms (ruptured disc, torn disc, slipped disc, collapsed disc,
disc protrusion, disc disease, black disc) can add to the confusion.
Rather than caring about which term is used, it is more useful for patients to gain a clear
understanding of the precise medical diagnosis.
The medical diagnosis identifies the actual cause of the patient’s symptoms - low back pain,
leg pain, neck pain, and more.
The medical professional determines the cause of the patient’s pain through a combination of a
review of the patient’s medical history through a combination of:
- Review of the patient's medical history
- A complete physical exam
- One or more diagnostic tests (if needed)
Two Causes of Pain: Pinched Nerve vs. Disc Pain
In identifying the cause of the patient’s pain, there are two
general types of spinal disc problems used by physicians:
Pinched nerve
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Herniated Disc
When a patient has a symptomatic herniated disc, the disc itself is not painful, but rather the
leaking disc is pinching a nerve. This produces pain called radicular pain (e.g., nerve root pain)
leading to pain that may be referred to other parts of the body, such as from the low back down
the leg or from the neck down the arm. Leg pain from a pinched nerve is usually described as sciatica
Disc pain
When a patient has a symptomatic degenerated disc (one that causes low back pain and/or leg
pain), it is the disc space itself that is painful and the source of pain. This type of pain is typically
called axial pain.
Either of the above two conditions can occur in the neck, upper back or lower back. They tend
to be most common in the lower back because the lower back bears the most torque and force
on a day to day basis.
It should be kept in mind that all the terms – herniated disc, pinched nerve, bulging disc, slipped
disc, ruptured disc, etc. – refer to radiographic findings seen on a CT scan or MRI scan. These
test results are important in determining the cause of the pain in addition to the patient's specific
symptoms and the doctor's physical exam results.
Related Topics:
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Herniated Disc
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Lower Back Pain
Upper Back Pain
Degenerative Disc Disease
Sciatica
Leg Pain and Numbness
Back Exercises
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