Nerve Compression From A Herniated Disc

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Your spinal column protects your spinal cord, while large nerves branch out and leave your spinal column between each vertebra. Your spinal vertebrae are separated by spinal discs which are filled with a soft, gelatinous substance, cushioning the spinal column and allow it to move freely and flexibly.

Strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting may cause these discs to slip or move out of place. However, in most cases there were underlying issues already, and the act of heavy lifting was just "the straw that broke the camels back". This is known as a herniated disc and can lead to spinal nerve compression, giving rise to sharp pain or a general feeling of numbness and/or weakness. Usually only one side is affected. The pain, numbness, or weakness often improves over weeks to months.

Pain and other symptoms caused by nerve compression from a herniated disc can vary widely between patients - they may experience either local pain or radiating pain.

Sharp, shooting pain starting in the buttocks that travels down the back of one leg

Numbness and tingling, also known as pins