A disc herniation happens when part of an intervertebral disc bulges or pushes out and may irritate nearby nerves.
Common symptoms include neck or back pain, pain shooting into an arm or leg, tingling, numbness, and sometimes weakness in the affected limb.
Imaging helps when symptoms are severe, lasting, associated with nerve signs, or not improving as expected, especially if doctors need to confirm which disc is pressing on a nerve.
MRI is usually the best imaging test to show the disc, the nerves, and whether the spinal canal is narrowed.
Many cases improve with time, pain treatment, and physiotherapy, though some severe cases need injections or surgery.
This entry explains the finding. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
