The lumbar spine has the greatest range of motion in our daily work and life. It bears all the gravity from the upper limbs and trunk. For people who sit for long periods of time and do heavy physical work, they are prone to strain and injuries. The intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine are also vulnerable parts. As the injuries accumulate over time, lumbar disc herniation will eventually come to you.

The symptoms of patients with lumbar disc herniation vary in severity, which is related to many factors such as the patient’s age, gender, duration of illness, size of the herniated nucleus pulposus, and duration of the disease. According to clinical data, there are four typical symptoms of lumbar disc herniation. If more than three symptoms are met, it means the condition is serious and the lumbar spine needs to be checked in time:

1. Lumbar pain

Low back pain is the most typical and earliest symptom of lumbar disc herniation. Most patients present with tingling, long-lasting numbness, and soreness. As for the degree of low back pain, there are obvious differences between patients. Patients with mild pain symptoms can continue to work, but they cannot engage in heavy physical activities. For those with severe symptoms, the pain in the waist is so severe that they cannot even stand up or walk, and require painkillers to relieve it.

2. Radiating pain in the lower limbs

In clinical practice, about 80% of patients experience radiating pain in the lower limbs, of which more than 95% are in the latter type. This is caused by the compression of the spinal nerve roots by the diseased lumbar intervertebral disc. In addition, reflex sciatica may occur through the sinus vertebrae nerve in the affected area, which is also called pseudosciatica clinically;

Mild patients mainly present with radiating pain or numbness from the waist to the thigh and the back of the calf, which is usually bearable. Severe cases may experience electric shock-like pain from the waist to the feet, and may even be unable to walk normally and require bed rest.

3. Numbness and coldness of the limbs

Numbness of the limbs is usually mainly in the lower limbs. The number of patients with simple numbness and no pain symptoms is about 5, and most of the patients are numb. At the same time, there is abnormal pain in the lower limbs. This is mainly caused by the stimulation of the proprioceptive and tactile fibers in the spinal nerve roots, which accumulates in the surrounding nerve roots. Clinically, about 5 to 10 patients also experience symptoms such as chills and chills in the lower limbs.

4. Intermittent claudication

The so-called intermittent claudication means that the patient suddenly feels a strange cutting and dull pain in the foot after walking or doing manual labor for a period of time, which makes people feel uncomfortable. Unable to walk normally, the symptoms are relieved after resting. When physical work is resumed, the pain will reappear. The mechanism of its generation is also caused by the protrusion and compression of the nucleus pulposus.

The above four symptoms are typical manifestations of "lumbar disc herniation". When such symptoms occur and affect one's own activities, the lumbar spine should be checked in time to observe the degree of lumbar disc herniation. And cooperate with the doctor to actively carry out treatment to avoid further development of the disease.