When the soft inner core of a spinal disc protrudes and presses against a spinal nerve root, it disrupts the normal transmission of electrical signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Because these spinal nerves contain both motor and sensory fibers, physical compression can severely impair the neural pathways responsible for muscle control and sensory perception.
As a result, patients may experience an exaggerated or diminished reflex response when tested by a physician. Furthermore, the disruption in sensory pathways can lead to an altered perception of touch, making specific regions of the arms or legs noticeably less sensitive to heat, cold, or external pressure.
