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If you\u2019ve been searching online for your back or leg pain, you\u2019ve probably run into all three of these terms \u2014 and they often get used interchangeably, even though they\u2019re not the same thing. Knowing which one actually describes what you\u2019re feeling matters, because the right treatment depends on getting this right.<\/p>\n
\nBetween each of the bones (vertebrae) in your spine sits a disc that acts like a cushion \u2014 a tough outer layer wrapped around a soft, gel-like center. A herniated disc (also called a slipped or ruptured disc) happens when that outer layer tears and the inner gel pushes through, sometimes pressing on a nearby nerve. This is most common in the lower back and neck, and can happen suddenly (after lifting or twisting) or develop gradually with age.\n<\/p>\n
\nNot every herniated disc causes pain \u2014 some show up on imaging with no symptoms at all. Pain typically starts once the disc material presses on a nerve root.\n<\/p>\n
\nSciatica isn\u2019t a diagnosis on its own \u2014 it\u2019s a symptom. It describes pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your hip and down the back of each leg. Sciatica is usually one-sided and can include burning pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels from your lower back or buttock down into your leg or foot.\n<\/p>\n
\nA herniated disc is one of the most common causes of sciatica, but it isn\u2019t the only one \u2014 spinal stenosis, a bulging disc, or even a tight piriformis muscle can also compress the sciatic nerve and produce the same symptoms.\n<\/p>\n
\n Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and surrounding nerves. Unlike a herniated disc, which often shows up suddenly, spinal stenosis usually develops slowly, most often as part of age-related wear and tear (arthritis, thickened ligaments, bone spurs).\n<\/p>\n
\nSpinal stenosis symptoms often affect both legs rather than one, and tend to follow a distinct pattern: pain, heaviness, or numbness that gets worse when standing or walking, and improves when sitting or leaning forward.\n<\/p>\n
| Feature<\/b><\/td>\n | Herniated Disc<\/b><\/td>\n | Sciatica<\/b><\/td>\n | Spinal Stenosis<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n| Onset<\/b><\/td>\n | Often sudden<\/span><\/td>\n | Depends on cause<\/span><\/td>\n | Gradual, over years<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Location<\/b><\/td>\n | Usually one-sided<\/span><\/td>\n | Usually one leg<\/span><\/td>\n | Often both legs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Worse with<\/b><\/td>\n | Sitting, bending, lifting<\/span><\/td>\n | Varies by cause<\/span><\/td>\n | Standing, walking<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Better with<\/b><\/td>\n | Varies<\/span><\/td>\n | Varies<\/span><\/td>\n | Sitting, leaning forward<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | \nMild back or leg pain often improves with rest, gentle movement, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories within a few weeks. It\u2019s time to see a specialist if you notice:\n<\/p>\n
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