What are the signs of a herniated disc?
A patient will usually report lifting something heavy, or making a sudden twisting maneuver and feel a “pop” in the back with shooting pain down the leg. The patient should go immediately to their primary care physician who will perform a history and physical exam, and may get an MRI or CAT scan of the low back, which helps to visualize the discs radiographically. Another helpful test is electromyography; which can show if there is an electro-conduction problem down a nerve.
