Spinal discs are soft, compressible discs that separate the interlocking bones (vertebrae) that make up the spine. A bulging or herniated disc is a disc that extrudes into the spinal canal. It is also referred to as a ruptured disc or slipped disc. As a disc degenerates, it can herniate (the inner core extrudes) back into the spinal canal. In the lumbar area (lower back), this can cause pain to radiate all the way down the leg into the foot. In the area of the cervical spine (neck), the pain would radiate from the neck down the arm, to the fingers.