?? Do You Have a Herniated Disk: 3 Quick Tests You Can Try. 

I bet these guys are great fathers and uncles 👍

I was dealing with sciatica for 4 months, wasn’t sure what was causing it but conservative approaches like physical therapy did absolutely nothing. One day the pain became absolutely unbearable and I was bedridden for almost a month, could not work, could not shower for a whole week, and lost 10 pounds because I could not get out of bed to feed myself. Had an MRI and it showed a severely herniated L5-S1. I was numb and the pain was so bad I’d cry every day. I was at risk of cauda equina. I had surgery less than a week after my MRI and it was absolutely life changing, no pain anymore. Sometimes conservative options are best, but in my case surgery was the only option. If all conservative approaches fail, I highly recommend a microdiscectomy. Saved my life.

Brad's acting skills are top knotch. 😀 Thanks for your assistance guys.

I was in unbearable back pain and either unable to walk or walking crooked for a week and I ended up going to an urgent care place. The doctor didn’t even do any of the stuff in this video. Sadly, I think a detailed physical exam is becoming a lost art in medicine. Lots of doctors just want to order expensive tests instead. What helped me more than anything was a stretch you guys showed in another video. I had significantly reduced pain within 24 hours and in 48 hours i was almost normal again. Thank you so very much!!!!!

I am writing this because hopefully it helps someone with a similar situation. For the last 6 months my lower back felt "out of place". I felt a pop while playing basketball and never felt the same. The first 6 weeks were excruciating. Since then, it hurts to walk around, sit too long, and needs to be relieved every few hours with stretching. Every doc prescribed me drugs or PT. I hate drugs as I am 25 and the pT did nothing for me. They said it was most likely a herniated disk... well they were wrong. Turns out, my SI Joint was locked in a position. A Chiropractor saved my life. After 15 minutes of examining me, he was able to identify the problem and all it took was one easy pop to put it back in place. Literally never thought I was going to be able to surf or play hoops again. Couldn't believe it. If you feel this way, please, go check out a chiropractor, it could seriously change your life with one pop like it did for me.

2 wonderful physiotherapists...🙂...i have followed many of their videos and they have helped a lot.

Great video guys! Thanks for the upload

Spot on, gentleman! I've had all these for 37 years, herniated disk L5-S1 caused by a stupid RTC with a motorbike and fell flat on my buttocks, I was slim at the time, 130 pounds. Even so the damage was done.

I’m in pain just watching this!! Great video!! Thank you

Thank you so much for the self tests to perform and the detailed symptoms. Too each question asked I was saying yes. Gives me some idea what's going on with my back. Thanks

I've been off work for almost three months with a herniated disk now. I happen to have mine affecting both sides of my buttocks and legs. 75% of the pain is down the left and 25% on the right. CT scan confirmed that it is affecting both sides. Since I've found your channel, you guys have helped regain my mobility and flexibility (slowly and steadily). I'm hoping to go back to work soon! Hope you're well Brad and continue to be the positive and resilient version of yourself Bob!

Thank you lads! Everything turned out fine for me.

Thank you guys for a very good video.

I wish I was a liquid metal terminator. Humans are so fragile.

different tests for me. i layed down on my back and had to lift my feet up just a few inches off the bed. it was very difficult and painful. so i did one leg at a time. still the same. 2 years on , its slightly easier. but i get pain in lower back. shoots down right light leg to the knee. the heel at times. both sides of groin and inside thighs tingle when ive been walking a while. I cant bend or lift things. my consultant was usless. after tell me i had a protuding disc a ddd, he sent me to a physio that said walking is the best exercise. but im glad i found your videos .

My pain is isolated to the middle. Right on the sacrum. Greatest pain is when I stand in one position too long. I'm starting to feel jolts every now and then that practically bring me to my knees !

Yeah, I need to go and get this fixed. I've had it for a while and it's driving me nuts. Though only 21, I spend the majority of my day sitting and writing, so my inactive lifestyle probably caused this.

You guys do the best videos without trying to be too knowledgeable to get business. I'd see you guys in a heartbeat.

Thanks guys, you're awesome!

Thank you for posting for everyone who doesn't go to the doctor. LOL and those waiting for an MRI scheduled in 2 WEEKS. ......

Great video thank you so much

Doctor just told me that I have herniated disc. Man, it hurts like hell when you sit down, stand up, walk etc.

I have sciatica and dr said i don't have any disc issues and its just a post covid, yet i tried this and found out i really dont have one! Im still doing the mckenzie from you guys and it helps me alot with the muscle spams that replicate sciatica

If you have one, you probably already know it lol. I was able to do the first two tests without much problem. Dr. never had me do the third one. I wonder if it was because it was already degenerating, but my disc was certainly hitting my spinal cord. Bodies are weird like that.Thankfully, I was able to wait it out until it disintegrated (mostly). Hopefully it won't happen with my other degenerative discs. Great video guys! The floor reminds me of the early 80's :)

Try a neck traction device, this changed my life!! Seriously I was in so much pain, and after using one, I had most of the pain leave. I use it everyday at home, just put it on the door, and correctly put it on my chin and it pulls my spine apart correctly.

What do you do in the first several days after a disk slip. Pain control, swelling ..etc?

Great video thank you unfortunately I have a lot of pain in my lower back

Very helpful!

Good video. Doctors are expensive and my job doesn't offer benefits. I'm going to the doctor, but like when I go to the mechanic, I like to have an idea of what's going on before I walk in. These test were a big help. Thanks. I'm thinking a normal doctor can handle this, so I won't pick up a bill from a more expensive sports specialist. I think - and hope - my situation isn't too serious. I probably have a disc issue based on these test, that nerves is definitely getting some pressure, but I can still deadlift 315lbs down from my max of 455, so it can't be that bad.... It even went away on its own after two months out of the gym. It just came back because I immediately screwed up again after going back.

Thank you for the exercises. It really helps with my back pain.

I have 2 herniated discs in L4 and L5 but never any shooting pains or nerve issues... I do yoga and I can lift my leg straight up and only feel it deep in the back.

I failed all 3 tests and now the pain goes all the way down to my foot.😒love your channel.

Thank you for that info

These guys RULE

Thank you for the info ..my question to you is how accurate is SLR to diagnose slipped disc & what is SLR,seated leg raises,bend forward & backward , dorsiflexion tests are negative?

Thank you.

Love you guys 💙

Thank you

These tests will likely be positive for pirifomis too because the nerve is been stretched.

I will certainly try them. the mri showed l4,l5, s1. just can't take this pain much longer.

I can pass the tests walking on my heels and on my toes. I have herniated discs at L4-L5, L5-S1, and I've had two previous surgeries at L5-S1. Unfortunately not everyone has the common symptoms.

Love bob and brad

Thank you doctors ❤. i have a question plz, my back hurts, i can't stand by myself anymore, and my arms and feet are verry weak now. my doctor told me i have desical hernia. my question is: is the MRI scan necessary for surgery?

That first test literally brought me to tears. Raising my leg had pain shooting through my hip area like fireworks and then like a spasm. Holy smokes. I definitely can't sneeze or brush my teeth or hair like I normally do because the pain is too severe if I try to bend over even a millimetre. Thank goodness I have a Dr's appointment on Monday. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. So very painful, especially if it shows down for sec because of meds or simply how your body is positioned but then one wrong move and bam, the pain is back tenfold.

Hi guys! I have back problems ! How can I touch with these two wonderful physical therapysist?? I want to ask some good exercises for me. I'm afraid of doing wrong exercises . :)

Thank u so much . i was confused that iam having slip disc . but none these test created pain in my leg or lower back . so iam happy that o don't have a herniated disc

Do you recommend on going to a chiropractor? Hope you do reply.

Is it true that strengthening the muscles around the spine can help with disc problems?

Hi dr. thanks for the very helpful videos indeed. I am suffering from L5S1 disc bulgue. Which set of exercises should I follow? And I would be more than happy if to have your contact email. thanks!

I am sure there's something pushing my nerve but I am not sure what is it, I tell you why. For the exercises: I am very flexible but if you someone tries to raise my leg up somewhere around 45° I feel tension in my upper bottom, but as soon as it goes forward to my chest(I'm flexible) there is no pain, just at that degree a tension. I can walk on toes and knees without a problem, funny enough I don't feel any pain when plum and raise my leg but when my spine is straight and raising. Sometimes I cannot raise my leg straight when I am standing but after some warm up I can with a little bit pain. Laughing, coughing, sneezing do not cause any pain. THIS GOES FOR MORE THAN 7 MONTHS NOW. In the begging my movement range was very low I couldn't even sit sometimes it got better over time now what I've written in the begging stayed and doesn't go away, I don't know why but I started feeling numbness under my knee, especially my foot AFTER 6 months, well just sometimes not always when I was walking, now I woke up 3 three days ago and the numbness magically disappeared. I am a dancer I don't feel pain when I move my hips, I can move it in a very wide range, just when I'm streching. The most easier way where I can make me feel the pain is when I bend over, NO PAIN YET, and flex my "inner" butt muscles. Also sitting doesn't bother me, sometimes helps. The X-ray didn't show anything, will go to MRI. Also if I do some exercise like for 1 hour, it gets better warmed up, but as soon as I cool down about 30 or 60 minutes later it hurts like never before if I want to raise my leg but it wears off after a night. Any idea?

I was diagnosed with a herniated disk as the bottom left side of my back hurt and flexibility is poor. But I have never had the leg or buttock pain mentioned. Instead I developed a trapped nerve in my neck and got a numbness in my fingers on my left hand. Despite the nerve feeling like it was on the left. After exercises I think it is untrapped yet I still have some numbness in one finger. I wish there were details on the net for a herniated disc that isn't always related to the leg and such. I still have that feeling that the disc isn't healed.....Sorry to sort of go on but I guess I am venting some frustration at my situation.

Weird Penn and Teller segment but I enjoyed it

Those three quick tests they are the very interesting. If you have mild symptoms like periodic numbness in one foot and some lower back pain but no positive sign on these tests in the video is this possibly just nerve root irritation of the spine ? a strain? How long should one wait if you have a few or mild symptoms? Also, I have read that some people with a herniated disc may have no symptoms is this true?

I have horrible lower back pain every morning along with my legs being weak (like you feel when you have the flu) stepping over a shoe on the ground is a scary thing some mornings it can last any where from around 2-6 hrs on a normal day but it can take a week or two to get straitened out it loosens up wish there was something I could do. I failed the slump test with both legs.one travels up to my shoulder blade the other to my middle to lower back. Also if i stoop over to do something like working on a car im limited to 3 min and then have to take 10-15 min break. it has 100% changed my life and It affects me everyday in almost everything I do. I have to plan every detail out thoroughly so I dont Piss it off otherwise it has put me down for a week before. used to be very active and still an just not like i used to be. Really takes the wind out of your sail some days!

i was hoping you guys could help...and yes I just subscribed I think your channel is great !! heres my situation Went to the gym the other day and ran, did some sit ups then biceps. Came home feeling fine and then wham! out of no where my back started really killing me. Ive had back problems before but nothing to severe. Anyway i dealt with it for a day then decided to to some stretching. McKenzie stretch and some others that I have seen around and stuff from your channel. After stretching I was really in a rough way. My back hurt worse than before and now I had this pain running down my thigh in the front. Not in back like normal Siatica . I went to bed that night and got up and my back pain was gone. Yep back pain was gone. But my thigh pain still remains ....its is really bothering me and I feel like maybe a disc is an issue. My doctor ran me through the same tests you described and I do not have a problem performing any of them. What the hell is wrong with me? Please help!

everytime i contract my spine my lower back crack and it hurts .....what is wrong there??

How can I tell if I have a herniated disc in my cervical spine? I have neck pain, numbness and tingling that radiates from my neck, through my shoulder and down my arm. It occasionally also goes to my pinky and ring finger on left hand.

I went to a chiropractor for a sciatica, the first time improve a little bit, but the second adjustment got me at the same point of pain, I couldn't sleep at all, the pain on my calf was terrible, I was fixed two days in a row , I don't know if that was ok. Pd: I really like your channel you guys are awesome!!!

I have bulging of intervertebral disc L3/L4 and L4/L5 neuroframines are free, also light protrusion of L5/S1 broad based neuroframines are free according to medical report of my MRI. I have back pain and light sciatica pain for a month, the first 2 weeks I've had urinary retention but I don't anymore how serious is my case?

Hello Dr. I have pain on my back and left leg but I can do those tests so easily without pain :/

Well I guess I’ve got a herniated disk 😖 missing the gym like crazy. 9 weeks now 🤦🏻‍♀️ fed up

If you feel weakness in your back before it "goes out", is a brace helpful until it strengthens?

I am a new subscriber, and would like your opinion. 35 years now i have been dealing with back pain i am 40 now. I did injure it a couple times in elemertry school really bad; back then when i did hurt my back my patents never took me in to have it looked at. The last 3 yrs it has gotten really bad. I do have a L1 compression fracture from 8 years ago due to falling. Rite now i am dealing with lower back pain that alternates between my left and rite side where my siatica is; once in a while across my whole lower back I also get a slight pain in my pelvic area when the pain gets worse. When it gets bad enough, sometimes i get slight pain in my butt cheek. The pain is always in the same place and never deviates. Some days the pain is mild and others days it almost puts me into tears. I have been to the Dr's a few times about it, all i get is the same answer, tight muscles. Please give me some sort of insight on what it might be. THANK YOU

I had sciatic pain for three or four days in December. I don't feel pain in my leg anymore, but in my foot, primarily where my two small toes attach to the foot. The outer part of my left foot is numb and I can't get on my toes on the left foot. My PCP thinks it's a herniated disc in the L5-S1. When I do the first test of laying on my back and raising my leg, I feel no pain in my leg or foot. However, if I stand up and lean over at the waist, I feel pain in my foot. If I sit down and lean forward, I feel pain in my foot. I've been doing piriformis muscle stretches, flossing exercises and the traction exercise laying on my stomach and raising my chest from the floor. no changes in foot pain but no sciatic pain, either

Would these tests be accurate for a herniated disc in the thoracic area as well?

I notice physical therapists try to make you think it's all in your head and that it's on you to make yourself feel better. I have a l5 slipped 12mm causing severe foraminal stenosis not being helped that there's a defect in there making it pinched plus a mild disc herniation pushing on it I cant wait for my spinal fusion!

you are the best

I pulled something in my back three days ago and my back is in constant spasm. I have fibromyalgia with pain equal in all four limbs. I have not had any neck or back pain for over 20 years but this is a re-injury. Back in the day I had thoracic and lumbar MRIs and a neurosurgeon said it looked excellent but how can I be in so much pain and why don’t the spasms stop? Do I need medication in order to break that cycle? I’m able to lay down and raise my legs very high the pain is unchanged when I do that what do you suggest besides a 57 magnum or a Glock?

Could these symptoms also just be for a strained back or pulled back

I'm a fitness enthusiastic 20 year old & I just got this :( It's not below my knee though as you guys mentioned. Mabye I better get an X-Ray right away?

What if I can go on my toes or heel, but my back and leg do hurt with those other tests, but it’s super mild like a dull discomfort . But at night time it becomes sharp and more extreme. Bending and sitting is uncomfortable, but the pain varies throughout the day. Sometimes it’s dull abs hardly noticeable.

Thank I had doubt if I have a herniated disk now am okay by the grace of God

Hey guys I have an L4 herniated disc and have heard many many times from PTs and other fitness people on RU-vid that certain extension exercises and stretches of the lumbar spine will bring relief but when I do ANY sort of extension stretches or exercises, it just flares up my nerve like crazy for days, which is very unusual. Do y'all know why this is? Ive tried so many things and the only thing that's helped me so far is certain stretches and strengthening of the surrounding muscles (i.e. glutes, erector spinae, rectus abdominis)

I get severe back pain, and shooting pains up and down my legs. I can walk on my heels. But not on my toes. 🙁 I can't lay on my back either, that gets too painful. Can you help?

All day I was laying on the bed for not triggering my sciatica pain. But while watching this video I had raised my right leg to identify if I have herniated disc. You what happened then - I started feeling the pain which I have been trying to avoid from the morning.

Mine wasnt effected by any of those tests but the pain wont stop. It goes across my back at hip level n through my stomach n hips. Not down my leg. Cant get to see a doctor due to backlog of cancelled appointments from lockdown in UK. Cant get to see a doctor face to face, only a phone consultation. I'm taking antinflamitorie n pain relief tablets daily so I can keep working or I get no money.

now this pain you are talking about you feel in your leg is that constant pain after the injury or pain just when the injury had occurred?

Hard to even attempt the 2nd test when you have plantar fasciitis.. your unable to do that.. so am curious what would ya have them do in that case.. and boy i have that 1st test on the nose for the T4 disc and somedays i feel in my cervical from the post whiplash. Egads uncomfortable nothing it is painful.. whew... but thanks once again for this video even for it being a 5 yr vlog ..

Great job guys! I am having bad pain in the center of my lower back (spine) I don't get pain walking but if I lye on my bed I have to get help to get up can u please help me

Tanku sir

Pain down both legs; occasionally, look for UMNL in cervical spine... Bwofford DC, QME

I did the leg lift test on myself. When I raised my left leg, there was no pain. However, when I get my leg at about 45° degree angle from the floor, my leg becomes weak & starts shaking. When I lift my right leg, I feel pain in my left lower back. I've had nerve pain down my left leg, but for the past 24 hours it feels like pressure bulging in my lower left back area. When I lay on the floor, it's extremely painful (in lower back) when I stretch my left leg out so that I'm lying completely flat. Any advice? Thanks!

I adore u two 🥺🥺

I had this last fall. It was so bad I couldn't walk in the end, but it started with just a little pain on the right side of my lower back, then tingling and numbness sensation down my leg and then serious pain the whole right side of my lower body . The pain in my leg was almost like someone twisting my muscles in different directions, burning sensation and I couldn't feel my toes at times. My physiotherapist gave me some easy exercises and it went away, though the numbness stayed for a while. I started getting some pain again, so I've been trying to remember and do the exercises but I can't remember many of them... I should've kept the papers I got with the instructions but I didn't.

I don't get pain for these tests. But my MRI was shown as scientist . I don't have any pain in hip but I have worst pain side of my leg. It's terrible

If I’m dealing with either of these issues should I visit a chiropractor or a PT person ?

Is there a way of testing the pain might be caused by a herniated disk or maybe from a piriformis issue? I can't lift my leg very high in either test 1 or test 3 but i haven't been stretching my hamstrings since I've been getting pain, so that could contribute to that? I can do the walking on heels/tip toes no problem though. Thank you

Just diagnosed with herniated disc, but these tests don't cause any pain. In fact, I've been walking on heels and toes exclusively because they relieve the pain. Lifting the legs in that position have been relieving the pain so I've been doing that a few times a day, which helps a lot. Now I'm confused. Going to PT and treating, but I keep getting worse.

So if just the slouch position is painful but Not lifting the leg, what would that mean

Damn, Looks like this is what I have. Ive had it before and it went away but it takes a long time. When i bend my neck. I get extreme pain in bottom left of my back.

I had some horrible pain for like 2 days, i was lifting something too heavy, but it all went away after 2 days.

Thank you for your reply. yes I was doing regular core exercises during my physio after the majority of the pain eased. my main question is would a herniated disc always show signs on an mri even after its healed? Sorry that question probably got lost in my last question I was just trying to give you a quick back story😊

And ryt now prone lying is also very painful for him...pain strts radiating in B/L lower limbs so i cannot strt off wid McKenzie technique so should i strt with manual therapy and can you upload some videos of the manual therapy whuch will be helpful for his condition. Thank you sir

You guys should have a tv show

On the third test I feel a stretch on the out left side of my left leg that gets worse when I push my head down. On the right leg I barely have that. Does this mean I have that?

Thank you so much

Well it's really hard to tell if where is the original cause of pain, because everything is very similar. Buldged disc - herniated disk - pinched nerve - piraformis muscle. They all very similar, so close together.

I have nerve pain down on my left foot but the doctor said I don't have a herniated disc. It hurts in my buttocks when I'm sitting. What can the cause be? Went to the physical therapist and he recommended 2 stretches, 3 times a day with 20 reps. After 5-6 days the symptoms came back of having sciatica pain.

I believe I herniated a lower disc doing deadlifts. It was in early March. It's end of May. Could it have healed on its own that quickly?

Appreciate you guys but Not for L3 issues