Differences to a slipped disc

The discomfort caused by a trapped nerve can partly resemble the symptoms caused by a herniated disc. Both clinical pictures can cause back pain and discomfort as well as pain radiating into a leg or arm. However, the herniated disc can also lead to failure symptoms such as weakness of the foot lifter or foot-lowering muscles.In addition, pain radiating to below the knee is more likely to indicate a herniated disc than a trapped nerve.

However, a differentiation based on the symptoms often cannot be made with certainty, so that in case of doubt it is better to consult a doctor. This doctor can determine the most likely cause through a physical examination and decide whether further diagnostics can be useful. If paralysis in the arms or legs or even an unintentional defecation or urine leakage occurs, a doctor must be consulted immediately, as this may be a sign of spinal cord damage as part of a herniated disc.

Symptoms of a pinched sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body and runs from the lower back under the gluteal muscles to the leg, splitting up in the lower leg and extending with its last fibers to the tips of the toes. On the one hand, it conducts signals such as touch or pain from the entire back of the leg via the spinal cord to the brain, and on the other hand, it transmits stimuli from the brain to the muscles, which are necessary for the movement of the legs, for example. If the nerve is irritated by an incarceration, pain typically occurs in the lower back which can radiate to the thigh.

In addition, numbness and tingling in the buttocks or thighs may occur. The possible symptoms are varied and depend on the area and degree of nerve entrapment. In the case of pronounced tingling sensations that extend beyond the knee as well as muscular failure symptoms, a slipped disc is the more likely cause. In case of doubt, the symptoms should be clarified by a doctor.