Things You Should Know About a Bulging Disc

Intervertebral discs are situated in between the vertebrae within the spinal column from the neck down to the lower back. Any of the discs in the spinal column can bulge, but discs in the lower back are most prone to bulging because the lower back acts as a focal point for supporting the weight, as well as many of the movements, of the upper body.

The Truth About the Danger of Bulging Discs

The truth is that bulging discs don't always cause pain. When a disc bulges, but does not cause any pain, the disc is essentially bulging out of its normal boundaries but not irritating surrounding tissues. A person with an asymptomatic bulging disc may not even know about it unless the bulging disc shows up on a medical imaging test. If a disc is bulging, but not causing symptoms, there is really no need to seek treatment. In the future, however, the disc may later bulge further and impinge on a spinal nerve root or the spinal cord, and that's when treatment becomes necessary.

However, the reality is that the majority of bulging discs never cause symptoms except in rare cases where one bulges into a nerve tissue. If this occurs, pain may be felt at the point where the disc is compressing a nerve in the neck or back, and the compression also may cause pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling to travel along the path of the nerve, sending the symptoms into the shoulders, arms, and hands, or lower body, legs, and feet.

How Do You Detect a Bulging Disc?

A bulging disc is not something you can diagnose on your own. If you are experiencing pain, numbness, muscle weakness, or tingling in your neck, back, or extremities, see your doctor and explain your symptoms to him or her. Your doctor will probably want to conduct a full physical and neurological exam, and he or she may order an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to obtain a better picture of your spine. From there, your doctor should be able to give you a diagnosis and explain the treatment options available to you, such as pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxants, physical therapy, hot and cold compresses, and other nonsurgical treatments.