Leg pain and a herniated disc turn up together often enough that readers in Little Falls ask how one leads to the other. OrthoInfo describes the link in two lines, and a clinician fills in the rest.
So does a disc cause leg pain?
OrthoInfo (AAOS) states that disk herniation is a common cause of lower back pain and leg pain, also called sciatica. So a disc problem is named as a cause, and leg pain as one of its results.
Where the pain travels matters
OrthoInfo (AAOS) also says that if you feel pain in your leg that travels below the knee, it is a strong sign that you have a herniated disk. Treat that as a reason to get examined, not as a diagnosis. Pain that stays above the knee is a separate question for the clinician who examines you.
What to do with this
Write down where the pain starts, where it ends, and what makes it worse. Then compare your notes with general references such as the WebMD pain management center and the MedlinePlus sciatica page. Bring the notes to a clinician who can examine you. Before you agree to any plan, ask what it involves and what it commits you to over time.
Questions to settle before you agree to a plan
Cost and how long a treatment holds up are questions to put to the clinician before you agree to a plan. Our comparisons stop short of medical advice. A clinician decides what your leg pain means.