Understanding the Bulging Disc Diagnosis Process
If you are experiencing unexplained pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, or general discomfort in the neck, back, and/or extremities, it is recommended that you see your doctor. Your symptoms may be the result of a bulging disc. Your doctor should be able to give you a proper diagnosis and tell you if you, in fact, have a bulging disc. When you meet with your doctor, he or she will ask you questions about your medical history, after which you will explain your symptoms, and then your doctor likely will give you a physical examination and a neurological examination.
The Physical Examination
In the bulging disc diagnosis process, your doctor will check and examine your breathing, pulse, blood pressure, stability, and basic reflexes among other things. This allows your doctor to determine the state of your physical health, while also checking for other medical conditions. This examination also prompts more specific things for your doctor to look for when conducting the neurological examination.
Why a Neurological Examination?
A neurological examination is completed to help determine if your symptoms are rooted in your spinal column or somewhere else in your nervous system. Your doctor will ask you to perform different tasks with your body and take note of your muscle responsiveness and any symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, spasms, and discomfort felt during the exam.
Will Your Doctor Do Anything Else?
It is possible that your doctor may not have reached a sound bulging disc diagnosis, or a diagnosis of another condition, from the questions asked and examinations performed. When this is the case, your doctor will probably request that you have an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan taken of your spine to take a closer look. These medical imaging results are not necessarily required to arrive at a bulging disc diagnosis, but a doctor might request them to determine the exact location of the bulging disc, or to rule out other conditions. |
