Your back is composed of several different circle-shaped bones called vertebrae. The purpose of your vertebrae is to give you your shape and protect your spinal cord from injury. In between each vertebra are small, jelly-filled type cushions called discs. These discs prevent your back bones (vertebrae) from rubbing together and causing friction, and they provide shock absorption for when you run, jump, fall etc. to protect your spinal cord. 
Sometimes, it is possible for these discs to become weak and break, causing the jelly-like insides of them to spill out. There are many people who have herniated discs in their spine and don't even know it because there are no nerves in the actual discs themselves so there is no way to feel any type of pain when they break. However, some of us have herniated discs, and the insides of them spill onto our spinal cord or other nerves, causing anywhere from mild to excruciating pain. The severity of the pain caused depends on how bad the herniation is in the disc, where in the spine the disc is located, how much pressure the disc is putting onto the nerves, and how sensitive that particular part of the nerve is. 
Mild herniated disc pain in the lower back may feel like a muscle cramp, and may cause a sensation of muscle tightness in the buttocks or legs. Activities like lifting heavy objects, running, jumping, standing for long periods of time, or bending at the waist may cause the pain to increase, and could cause further injuy by expanding the hernia in the disc.
Moderate pain may feel like burning or stabbing starting in the upper buttocks and traveling the length of the nerve down into the leg. People with moderate disc pain are generally prescribed narcotic pain medicines, muscle relaxers, and NSAIDS (Naproxen, Motrin,) and may have trouble sleeping and performing everyday activities such as tying shoe laces and cleaning.
Severe herniated disc pain is something you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Those that have experienced this type of pain all tend to describe it slightly different, but the common denominators are extreme burning sensations down the leg and into the toes, accompanied by an "electric" type sensation. Stabbing sharp pain that will not subside; moving any way will not ease the sensation. For me it felt like I had been stabbed in the lower back by a large, molten-hot knife, and the knife was slid down the length of my leg into my toes. It really, honestly felt like that. The person may have complete inability to twist, turn, move legs or neck. Doctors usually prescribe very powerful narcotic pain killers to tame the agony, and many people who suffer from this pain may resort to a quick decision to undergo surgery out of desperation.
If you know someone with a herniated disc, please understand that the pain they feel, regardless of its severity, is a very uncomfortable type of sensation that is similar to getting shocked, burned or stabbed. After all, there is direct pressure being put on the nerves themselves, and they don't know the difference.
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