A herniated disc is not always painful. A large part of the population lives with bulging or herniated discs between the vertebrae without being affected (and even without knowing it!). When symptoms occur, they vary from person to person. You may feel pain or numbness in your back, in one leg, or both. These symptoms may vary throughout the day and increase when sitting, bending forward, or performing any other movement that strains the back muscles. They can also increase when you cough or sneeze.
Very often, lumbar disc herniation is not the result of one particular event, but rather an accumulation of postures or movements that strain the back (sitting for long periods of time, lifting heavy loads with improper technique, torsion, etc.). An accident, an awkward movement or a fall is what triggers the pain the first time.
A herniated disc occurs when the disc located between each vertebra of the spine (which serves to absorb shocks and vibrations) partially “pops out” of its location. Symptoms most often occur when it irritates or compresses surrounding nerve roots.