Bulging disc symptoms
The symptoms of a bulging disc vary depending upon its location. If the herniation is in the lumbar spine, patients may experience pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and weakness in the lower back, buttocks, legs, and even feet. Bulging discs in the cervical spine, on the other hand, will typically cause these same symptoms — but in the neck, arms, hands, or head.
Those in the thoracic spine are the least common type, and can cause upper back pain that radiates through the stomach or chest. Patients sometimes confuse this pain for a cardiovascular problem.
Severe bulging discs can make it difficult for the patient to walk and will sometimes produce feelings of heaviness in the legs and back.
The most common symptoms of a bulging disc include:
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in the back
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in the legs or arms
- Difficulty walking
Source:
North American Spine