Herniated Lumbar Disk Excessive weight, bad postures, undue movements, improper weight lifting and other kind of traumas may weaken the inter vertebral disks. If this bulged, or herniated disk, presses one of the nerves, it will produce pain going down the leg, in the distribution of the nerve, and maybe in the lower back.
Sciatic pain occurs when the disk presses one of the nerves that form the sciatic nerve.
Other symptoms could be weakness, tingling or numbness on the areas corresponding to the affected nerve. Sometimes bladder compromise is also present, which is made evident for urine retention and this needs to be taken care as an emergency. The first steps to deal with a herniated or prolapsed lumbar disk are conservative. These include rest, analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication and in some cases physical therapy. At this point it is convenient to have some plain X-rays done, in search of some indirect evidence of the disk problem, as well as of degenerative changes on the spine.