Diagnostic testing will reveal more in depth understandings of the pain that you are dealing with.  More so, your ability to function is defined here.  There are several key factors that are looked for by doctors for pain that is determined to be from discs in the spinal column.

A Pinched Nerve: A situation in which the disc space (between two discs) is not causing the pain.  Here, the sack of fluid here is bulging which is causing a nerve in the spine to be pinched.  The fluid sack itself is not where the pain is.  This is also called radicular pain.  Here, you would have nerve root pain which is also known as sciatica when you have a lumbar herniated disc.  When you have pain in your arm, this is caused by a cervical herniated disc.

Disc Pain: Here, you have the opposite effect.  Now, the actual space between the discs, or the fluid sack there, is where the pain is originating from.  This is one of the main causes of lower back pain.  This is known as axial pain as there are no nerves being pinched.

Treatment options vary, one option is natural pain relief supplements.