Are all bulging discs and all herniated discs painful?
Not all bulging discs or herniated discs are painful. But bulging discs in most cases are not painful and are asymptomatic. Herniated disc have a higher chance of causing symptoms in the form of pain going down either lower extremity or either leg. It may or may not be associated with tingling or numbness. In severe cases, there may be weakness of specific group of muscles in the leg or involvement of bowel or bladder.