How do we know there’s a herniated disc?
Diagnosis of a herniated disc (either neck or low back)
can be made from a detailed physical examination
including a detailed Orthopedic & Neurological
examination. Typical disc patients will present with an
antalgic gait (lean away from the side of the disc lesion),
extremity pain/numbness/tingling (abnormal sensation) in
addition to neck or low back pain. In more chronic cases,
muscle weakness may be present as may areflexia ("loss of
reflex"). X-rays can help identify the level of the disc
herniation but a MRI is the "gold standard" to identify the
exact nature of the lesion. When the disc is herniated in
the lumbar spine (low back), it is often referred to as
Sciatica.
Diagnosis of a herniated disc (either neck or low back)
can be made from a detailed physical examination
including a detailed Orthopedic & Neurological
examination. Typical disc patients will present with an
antalgic gait (lean away from the side of the disc lesion),
extremity pain/numbness/tingling (abnormal sensation) in
addition to neck or low back pain. In more chronic cases,
muscle weakness may be present as may areflexia ("loss of
reflex"). X-rays can help identify the level of the disc
herniation but a MRI is the "gold standard" to identify the
exact nature of the lesion. When the disc is herniated in
the lumbar spine (low back), it is often referred to as
Sciatica.
Disc Herniation
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