The discs of your spine are gelatinous pads positioned between each of the vertebrae, functioning to shock-absorb and create the characteristic curvatures of the spinal column.
Much attention has been given to ‘bulged discs’ in the causation of low back and leg pain, and it is true that if a bulge is significant enough to disrupt a neighbouring spinal nerve, neurologic signs such as tingling, numbness, and even weakness can result. However this sort of frank nerve disruption is rare and can only be definitively diagnosed with advanced imaging such as MRI. A thorough physical assessment when combined with a well-directed history-taking can confidently differentiate a disc problem from other injuries such as ligament sprains or muscle strains.
