Your spinal bones are cushioned by small discs along the vertebrae. A bulging disc occurs when one of the discs is damaged, eventually causing the disc to bulge or break off. A bulging disc is also referred to as a herniated disc in the medical profession. Here are a few other things that you should know about a bulging disc.
Causes
Millions of people experience back pain stemming from a bulging disc. Strenuous movements and lifting heavy objects are potential causes of a bulging disc. Repetitive movements as simple as dumping leaves in a trash bag can cause a bulging disc. In some cases, a bulging disc can occur as a result of age and spinal deterioration.
Signs of a Bulging Disc
If you have a bulging disc, you may experience numbness in the hands and feet. You may feel pain and numbness in your buttocks and legs as well. Sharp lower back pain is another sign that you may be suffering from a bulging disc.
Identification
Doctors identify a bulging disc by asking a patient to identify the source of the pain. This helps a doctor get an idea of whether a patient is suffering from a pinched nerve, which is just soreness around the bones and discs, or a bulging disc. In some cases, a doctor will have to do a MRI or a CT scan to detect a bulging disc. These imaging tests help the doctor to determine if a disc is bulging, ruptured or completely broken.
Treating a Bulging Disc
Time is the best way to treat a bulging disc. It usually only takes a few weeks to experience a full recovery from a bulging disc with proper treatment. Don't overexert yourself, but try to stay active. Inactivity weakens your back and causes the muscles around your bulging disc to become stiff. Use hot packs on the area of soreness for up to 20 minutes every three hours. You may use an ice pack for up to 15 minutes every three hours. Your doctor may prescribe pain medicine to help you cope with your bulging disc.
Surgery
If you are still suffering from bulging disc pain after weeks of treatment, you may need to undergo spinal surgery to repair your disc and its surrounding nerves. In bulging disc surgery, a laser is used to remove the damage to your disc, helping to reshape and restore the damaged disc. The surgery is usually conducted as an outpatient procedure, and requires minimal recovery time.
Tags: bulging disc, bulging disc, from bulging, from bulging disc, suffering from, back pain, bulging disc some