How concerning is a slip disc and what are the symptoms?

Not Dangerous: Hurts a lot, however if you have weakness or bowel/bladder incontinence than it can be an emergency that may need to be evaluated for surgery. This suggests that the disc is significant compressing nerves in the spinal canal reducing their function. Generally though, a majority of slipped discs or herniations are mostly painful and resolve over time and do not cause long term effects.