If the ruptured disc is not pressing on a nerve there may be no symptoms at all, or there may be some minimal pain. If the disc is pressing on a nerve, symptoms may include pain in the back or neck, leg or arm pain, weakness, numbness or tingling.
Symptoms of a lumbar (lower back) herniated disc include:
Symptoms of a cervical (neck) herniated disc:
The symptoms of a slipped disc vary from person to person, depending on the size and location of the herniation, how overweight or fit a person is, and other factors.
Sometimes a herniated disc can lead to another condition called spinal cord compression. This happens when pressure is placed on the spinal cord. There may be edema (swelling) of the cord, as well. Symptoms may come on either suddenly or gradually and may include:
Minimally invasive surgery can reduce the swelling and stop the progression of symptoms of spinal cord compression (see Diagnosing and Treating a Herniated Disc).
Reviewed by: Eric Elowitz, MD
Last reviewed/last updated: September 2020