Bulging discs, or disc protrusions, occur when the soft inner core of a spinal disc pushes against a weakened outer shell, causing it to bulge outward. This common condition can result from aging, wear and tear, or injury.
Because a bulging disc does not always trigger obvious symptoms, many people have a bulging disc without realizing it. As long as the bulging portion of the disc does not press against a nearby nerve, no symptoms occur. When the bulging disc does cause a pinched nerve, however, you may begin to experience symptoms. Some of the most common bulging disc symptoms include:
Bulging disc symptoms may vary according to the location of the injured disc in the spine. A high percentage of bulging discs occur in the lower back, or the lumbar area, of the spine. The most common lumbar bulging disc is seen between lumbar vertebrae L4 and L5, and between vertebrae L5 and S1, causing pain in the L5 nerve or S1 spinal nerve, respectively. The sciatic nerve receives neurons from spinal nerves L3 through S3. If the bulging disc impinges upon one or more of these six spinal nerves, then sciatic nerve pain could result.
The discs between the neck area, or cervical vertebrae, may also bulge. If nerve root compression occurs in the cervical, or upper, region of the spine, bulging disc symptoms will manifest in the neck with radiation to the scapular area, shoulder, arm, forearm, and hand.
Understanding the causes of bulging discs can help you avoid activities that may worsen your symptoms. A bulging disc occurs when the disc’s tough outer shell weakens, prompting its soft core to press against the shell and bulge outward. As we grow older, the spine’s discs and other components begin to lose water content and become increasingly brittle. While the natural aging process can’t be avoided, some activities and behaviors accelerate the spinal degeneration process and increase the risk of disc protrusion at a younger age.
Bulging discs usually result from years of spinal wear and tear, but certain risk factors can speed up or worsen disc degeneration, such as:
While there is no exact science to determining which of these factors may lead to disc degeneration, understanding the possible causes and risk factors will help those diagnosed with bulging discs correct habits that may accelerate degeneration.
Additionally, be sure to protect your back when lifting, engage in regular low-impact exercise to strengthen core muscles, and adopt a routine of gentle stretching. These behaviors can help keep your spine healthy and help you avoid bulging discs as you age. Despite taking measures to maintain good spine health, bulging discs may sometimes occur in otherwise healthy individuals. There are several techniques that may be used to confirm the presence of a bulging disc including X-ray imaging, a CT (computed tomography) scan, or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
Your ideal course of bulging disc treatment will vary according to your diagnosis. For example, your symptoms and the specific location of the bulging disc in your spine will influence your treatment plan. However, generally speaking, a physician may first recommend a course of conservative approaches such as:
The long-term effectiveness of these methods varies for each patient’s condition, although some patients report positive results.
Many patients are able to find relief from bulging disc symptoms through a combination of conservative treatments and lifestyle modifications. Still, spinal surgery to relieve pressure on a compressed nerve or repair the bulging disc may sometimes be clinically appropriate if several weeks or months of conservative treatment does not relieve severe symptoms.
While traditional open spine surgery involves long incisions, expensive hospitalization, significant surgical risk, and an extended, uncomfortable recovery period, minimally invasive alternatives address the underlying cause of pain through one or a few small incisions.
