Pain, numbness and tingling occur in both legs especially while walking or standing.
Standing and walking narrows the spinal canal, and sitting will open the canal again.
Generally, patients are quite comfortable either sitting or leaning forward (for example,
they can walk better leaning over a shopping cart). In severe cases, nerves to the bladder
or bowel may be affected. A loss of bladder or bowel control warrants immediate
medical attention.
An MRI, CT scan, or special x-ray may be required for a diagnosis.
Degenerative disc disorders
Disc herniation
Intervertebral discs begin to degenerate by the third decade of life. When the disc bulges
or herniates, and presses on the spinal cord and/ or nerve roots it is known as a
"slipped" disc. Discs don’t actually slip out of place - they are firmly attached to the
vertebrae. Other terms are “Disc tear” and “Disc prolapse.”
Symptoms
In a typical case of lumbar disc herniation, the clinical picture is clearly defined. A few
days after jarring or straining the back, the subject is seized with agonizing pain in the