The body is incredibly made, your spine specifically. It has 24 movable bones called vertebrae. The lower back area of your spine bears most of the weight of your body. With 5 lumbar vertebrae, they are separated by cushiony pillows called discs. These discs act as shock absorbers to help prevent the vertebrae from rubbing together. The outer portion of the ring is called the annulus. The annulus has fibrous bands that attach between the bodies each individual vertebra. Your spinal cord and the nerves act as a telephone, which allowing it to transmit impulses to travel back and forth between your brain and the body to relay sensations and control movement throughout. A herniated disc happens when the gel-like center of a disc ruptures through a weak area in the tough outer wall. Your back or leg can have a lot of pain from mild to severe, numbness or tingling may also result when the disc material touches or pushes a spinal nerve. The pain you may experience from a herniated disc is a result of spinal nerve inflammation and swelling caused by the pressure of the herniated disc.