Pain: “thunder but not rain” The most common symptom in patients with lumbar disc herniation is pain. Pain is an inflammatory response of the nerve roots, and although the pain is sometimes very intense, it is actually in a relatively mild state in terms of pathological damage. Pain reduction ≠ improvement Conversely, if the herniated disc continues to compress the nerve root, it may lead to dysfunction of the nerve root, at which time the pain may be reduced, but accompanied by numbness, wood, or even weakness of the lower limbs. At this time, the patient’s subjective symptoms of pain are reduced, and some patients think that their condition has improved, but they do not know that numbness and weakness of the limbs are signs of nerve damage – a sign of disease progression. Doctor’s tip: As painful as it is, beware even more of pain relief. If a huge herniated disc occupies the spinal canal and compresses the cauda equina nerve, it can lead to numbness in the perineal region, effortful urination and fecal incontinence, and weakness in the lower limbs. This is the most serious case of lumbar disc herniation and often requires emergency treatment.