The vertebrae in the spine serve to protect and support the spinal cord. These vertebrae are themselves cushioned and supported by cartilage-filled discs. Sometimes these discs can break, leading to a herniated or a ruptured disc. The symptoms of a ruptured disc depend in large part on where in the spine the damage has occurred.
Back Pain
As the Cedars Sinai Medical Center notes, in many cases the only symptom of a ruptured disc is pain in the back. This pain will feel like a dull ache and will localize to the part of the spine with the disc injury. The back may also feel stiff in this area as the vertebrae are somewhat limited in their range of motion by the ruptured disc. This pain may range from barely noticeable to severe. The latter is more common if the ruptured disc is pressing on any nerves or has caused inflammation.
Upper Body Pain and Numbness
According to Neurosurgery Today, if the ruptured disc is in the upper portion of the spine (also known as the cervical spine), it can cause compression of nerves that connect to the shoulders and arms. In this case, the ruptured disc can cause a pain (which may be sharp or dull) to occur in the shoulder blades. This pain may radiate down one arm to the fingers or hand. In some cases, the ruptured disc can also cause tingling or numbness in the arms or shoulders.
Lower Body Pain
A ruptured disc in the lower (lumbar) spine can cause pinching of the nerves that supply the lower body. The Mayo Clinic notes that this can lead to a condition known as sciatica, which causes a burning pain that begins in the buttocks and travels down the back or the side of a leg. A ruptured lumbar disc can also lead to tingling or numbness in some parts of the leg, as well as weakness of leg muscles.
Incontinence
Sometimes a ruptured disc can cause affected individuals to lose control of their bowels or bladder, resulting in urinary or fecal incontinence. This is caused by cauda equina syndrome, and is the result of the ruptured disc causing problems with the nerves that come out of the bottom of the spinal cord to connect with the bladder and bowels. Cauda equina is a medical emergency and may require immediate surgery.
