Herniated Disc

What is a herniated disc?

The spinal column is composed of vertebrae and discs. Discs are pads located between each vertebra that allow for movement by absorbing shocks. A herniated disc occurs when part of an intervertebral disc has slipped into the spinal canal, which contains the spinal cord and nerve roots. This pathology occurs most often in the lower lumbar vertebrae, which are located in the lower back, sometimes from exertion or even minor trauma.This may result in compression and inflammation of the lumbar nerves.

How is it manifested?

Signs of a herniated disc include one or more of the following:

• pain in the leg or thigh along the path of the nerve sciatica or femoral nerve pain with or without pain in the lower back (lumbalgia)
• tingling sensations
• loss of sensation in the leg or foot
• leg weakness that sometimes leads to paralysis
• involuntary leakage of urine or stool due to the compression of spinal cord nerves in the lower lumbar roots (horse tail syndrome).

Download the brochure Surgery for a herniated disc (FR)