Objective To observe changes in bone mass and symptom duration in patients with lumbar disc herniation(LDH) and explore the relationship between osteoporosis and clinical features of LDH. Methods 83 LDH patients undergoing surgery were enrolled in the study from November 2008 to September 2009. Before surgery, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to detect bone mineral density of lumbar spine and hip, and calculate T score. The patients were divided into three groups according to the T score: group A (normal bone mass group, n=27), group B (osteopenia group, n=31) and group C (osteoporosis group, n=25). The differences in the duration of symptoms and pathological types were compared between the groups. The relationship between BMI and lumbar spine T-score was explored. Results There were no significant differences in the pathological types among the three groups. The symptom duration in group C was significantly shorter than in group A (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between BMI and lumbar spine T-score (r=0.20, P=0.070). There was positive correlation between BMI and Hip T-score (r=0.263, P=0.016). Conclusion Osteoporosis may affect the symptom duration of LDH patients. We should attach great importance to patients with osteoporosis and LDH.