{"id":1484,"date":"2025-07-01T12:09:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T12:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/?p=1484"},"modified":"2026-02-10T13:12:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T13:12:49","slug":"lumbar-or-cervical-disc-herniation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/hernia-discal-lombar-ou-cervical\/","title":{"rendered":"Lumbar or Cervical Disc Herniation: What It Is, What Can Cause Pain and What Tests Don't Always Explain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Receiving a diagnosis of lumbar or cervical disc herniation <\/strong>is, for many people, a cause for immediate concern. The word scares, the tests impress and doubts quickly arise about limitations, treatments or even surgery.
However, in clinical practice, the reality is often quieter than it seems at first glance.<\/p>\n

Having a herniated disc doesn't automatically mean having pain<\/strong>, nor does it require invasive intervention. To better understand this condition, it's essential to understand what a herniated disc is, how it manifests itself and what the real role of examinations is.<\/p>\n

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What is a herniated disc?<\/h2>\n

The vertebral column is made up of vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs<\/strong>, The discs are structures that act as shock absorbers and allow mobility between the segments of the spine. Each disc has a tougher outer ring and a softer, gelatinous inner core.<\/p>\n

We talk about disc herniation<\/strong><\/a> when part of this inner nucleus goes beyond the outer ring and can come into contact with neighbouring structures such as nerve roots or, in rarer situations, the spinal cord.<\/p>\n

It's important to emphasise one essential point straight away:
the presence of a herniated disc on examination does not in itself equate to an active clinical problem<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Lumbar disc herniation and cervical disc herniation: what changes?<\/h2>\n

The main difference between a lumbar hernia and a cervical hernia is the affected area of the spine<\/strong> and, consequently, the type of symptoms that can appear.<\/p>\n

When the hernia is located in the lumbar region, it is common for the pain to appear in the lower back and, in some cases, radiate to the buttocks or leg. There may also be tingling, numbness or a feeling of weakness in the lower limb. In cervical hernias, the symptoms tend to be in the neck and can extend to the shoulder, arm or hand, whether or not accompanied by changes in sensitivity.<\/p>\n

Despite these patterns, the body's response is highly individual. Two people with similar tests can have completely different experiences.<\/p>\n

Protrusion, hernia and degenerative changes: why they're not all the same<\/h2>\n

When reading exams, terms such as disc protrusion<\/em>, hernia<\/em> or wear<\/em>. Although related, they don't mean exactly the same thing.<\/p>\n

In simple terms, protrusion is a change in the shape of the disc without rupturing its outer ring. A herniation implies that the inner nucleus has come out. Degenerative changes, on the other hand, are part of the natural ageing process of the spine.<\/p>\n

In clinical practice, these alterations are extremely common in people without any pain, which emphasises the importance of not interpreting a test in isolation. The pain alone often cannot be explained by the diagnosis<\/a> herniated disc.<\/p>\n

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The role of tests: they help, but they don't tell the whole story<\/h2>\n

Magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable tool, but it has clear limits. The scans show anatomical images<\/strong>, They do not show pain, nor do they explain the functional impact of each alteration. There isn't always a direct correlation between tests and symptoms<\/a>s and is often observed:<\/p>\n