The donut has a liquid center surrounded by a thicker shell. If you press down on the donut, the sides bulge out as the jelly inside presses against them — this is a bulging disc or disc protrusion.
If you press down on the donut hard enough that the jelly comes out, it becomes a herniated disc, ruptured disc, or torn disc. The term has become popular in non-medical articles and social media posts, but disc slippage is rarely, if ever, involved.
More often than not this phrase actually refers to a herniated or bulging disc pushing into nerve endings nearby. When a disc herniates, the material leaking out from the disc rather than the disc itself causes the pain. The material inside the disc can pinch or irritate a nearby nerve causing what is called radicular pain or nerve root pain that may radiate to other parts of the body. Leg pain from a pinched nerve is referred to as sciatica.
A degenerated disc can cause pain within the disc space itself. Some of the confusion over a bulging disc vs. Both can be caused by poor posture, repetitive spinal strain, a spinal injury or the normal wear and tear of age.
In fact, some herniated discs were originally bulging discs that worsened due to some combination of the factors above. For this reason, prevention is important. Even if only to keep an existing condition from worsening, your doctor can provide you steps to take to improve the health of your spine. Such irritation and compression are the primary causes for the pain and discomfort reported by patients with disc pathology.
However, the differences between a bulging and herniated disc cause differences in the frequency and severity of symptoms. Both conditions can result in back and leg pain, tingling, numbness and a loss of range of motion, but such symptoms are much more common with herniated discs.
Because the disc material is better contained in a bulging disc compared to a herniated disc, there is a lower likelihood of nerve irritation and compression. The only way to confirm whether a disc has bulged or herniated is with an MRI. Nonetheless, even if a herniated disc is confirmed via MRI, it may not be the cause of your pain. If it bulges enough to press on spinal nerves or narrow the spinal canal, then it can lead to symptoms including pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
A bulging disc can sometimes be a precursor to a herniated disc. To determine the cause of your back pain, your neurosurgeon will conduct a physical exam and order imaging tests, such as x-ray and MRI. Initially, these common disc conditions are typically treated with nonsurgical methods including pain-relieving medications, muscle relaxers, corticosteroid injections, or physical therapy. If conservative treatment methods do not work, your neurosurgeon may recommend lumbar microdiscectomy , one of the most common surgeries to alleviate back pain from herniated or bulging disks.
It involves removing the herniated part of the disc and any fragments that are putting pressure on the spinal nerve. After surgery, patients will start physical therapy and learn exercises to strengthen their core. With a herniated disc, you have a hole in the annulus and it will never be as strong as it was originally. Central : When the disc extrudes into in the spinal cord. Subarticular Lateral Recess or Paracentral : When the disc extrudes between the spinal cord and the foramen the space through which the nerves exit the spinal canal.
Foraminal Lateral : Disc extrusion into the foramen. Extraforaminal Far Lateral : Disc extrusion beyond the foramen. Herniation Zones. Bulging Discs Classification. Circumferential Disc Bulge Circumferential disc bulge Diffuse disc bulge : The bulge extends beyond the entire disc circumference. Herniated Disc Symptoms Overall, symptoms of a herniated disc include: pain throughout an arm or leg, burning or tingling sensations in the affected area, muscle weakness, pain that worsens after pronlonged sitting or standing, pain or numbness that radiates down one side of the body, pain that becomes more severe during the night or Imparied ankle or knee reflexes.
Symptoms by Region of the Spine Herniated Cervical Disc neck : Pain shooting down the arm to the fingertips, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the shoulder, arm or hand, difficulty walking or maintaining balance or problems gripping or handling things.
Causes of a Herniated Disc The most common cause of disc herniation is age-related wear and tear. Causes of a Bulging Disc Like a herniated disc, the most common cause of a bulging disc is degenerative disc disease. Wear and tear caused by degenerative disc disease Strain due to heavy lifting and repetitive movements Poor posture while standing or sitting A hereditary condition Herniated and Bulging Disc Risk Factors Risk factors for these conditions include: Men aged between 30 and 50 years are more likely than women to suffer a herniated disc.
People who have physically demanding jobs, such as those which involves repetitive motion or heavy lifting. Men and women who are obese or overweight are at risk because of the excess weight on their spine.
They are also more likely to have the same disc herniate again. Smoking tobacco increases the risk of a herniated disc because nicotine reduces the flow of blood to the vertebral discs. Not only does this increase disc degeneration, but it also slows down the healing process.
Your risk of a herniated or bulging disc is increased if one or both of your parents suffer from these conditions. Schedule a Consultation. What exercises help herniated disc? Tai Chi Because tai chi involves very slow and gentle movements, it can provide temporary pain relief when recovering from a herniated or bulging disc.
Can a bulging disc become a herniated disc? How can I sleep with a herniated disc? Can a herniated disc heal? Can a bulging disc heal?
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