What is the difference between a bulging disc and a herniated disc?

Bulging and Herniated Discs Explained

"A bulging disc is like letting air out of a car tire. The disc sags and looks like it is bulging outward. With a herniated disc, the outer covering of the disc has a hole or tear. This causes the nucleus pulposus (jelly-like center of the disc) to leak into the spinal canal."

Which is worse disc bulge or herniation?

Herniated discs are considered more severe than bulging discs because they put significant pressure on nearby nerves, which can cause intense pain, inflammation and difficulties with movement.

Can a bulging disc become a herniated disc?

Bulging disc pain might start gradually and become worse over time or when you perform certain activities. Typically, though, bulging disc symptoms do get better over time. However, a bulging disc may also progress over time into a herniated disc, leading to worsened symptoms.

What can be done for a bulging disc?

Treatments for a bulging disk will depend on its severity and location. Doctors may recommend anti-inflammatory medications to help with pain and reduce inflammation. For people with severe pain, steroid injections may be a suitable short-term solution. If the disk ruptures, bed rest may be necessary.

Can a bulging disc heal on its own?

A herniated disk is also known as a slipped, ruptured or bulging disk. It's one of the most common causes of neck, back and leg pain. Most of the time, herniated disks heal on their own or with simple home-care measures.

What's the Difference Between a Bulging and Herniated Disc? | Ravi R. Patel, M.D.

What is the fastest way to heal a bulging disc?

Is walking good for herniated disc?

Absolutely. Walking is an excellent choice for patients with herniated discs, as it stimulates blood flow and oxygen to the cells. It also helps keep your discs hydrated, which is important for healing. Other low-impact aerobic activities to try are swimming and cycling.

Will a cortisone shot help a bulging disc?

Corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation and can be effective when delivered directly into the painful area. Unfortunately, the injection does not make a herniated disc smaller; it only works on the spinal nerves by flushing away the proteins that cause swelling.

What happens if a bulging disc goes untreated?

A severe case of a bulging disc can cut off nerve impulses, even causing permanent nerve damage. Additionally, you may experience sharp paints, incontinence, bowel movement irregularity, or even partial paralysis as the issue worsens.

What causes a bulging disc to flare up?

In addition to natural wear and tear, other factors that can contribute to a bulging disc include repetitive movements, strenuous lifting, twisting of the body, bone spurs pushing against the disc, and many other degenerative conditions.

Can a bulging disc get worse over time?

Do disc bulges get worse over time? Unfortunately if disc bulges are left untreated, and if the abnormal spinal stresses that caused them continue, they will often worsen over time. For the disc bulge or herniated disc to have any possibility of recovery, the instigating stress must be minimized.

Is a bulging disc permanent?

Disc bulges are not permanent. The disc is a fluid filled structure and therefore has the capacity to heal, resolve and be re-absorbed.

How long can you have a bulging disc?

Most (80-90%) cases involving bulging or herniated discs will heal within 2-4 months. This of course depends on the severity of the injury, as well as your age and overall health. An important difference is that a herniated disc is a permanent injury that usually results in chronic, recurring pain.

How painful is a bulging disc?

A bulging disc may have no pain at all because it has not reached a certain severity level, and this can make it difficult to identify the bulging disc symptoms before the condition becomes more severe. Most commonly, bulging discs create pressure points on nearby nerves which create a variety of sensations.

Does an MRI show a bulging disc?

MRI scan is the best non-invasive test available to find herniated and bulging discs and annular tears. Because the spatial resolution of spinal anatomy can be defined to 0.5mm with an MRI scan, doctors can identify with over 95% accuracy the herniated discs in the spine.

Do bulging discs require surgery?

When bulging discs are compressed so tightly that your normal functions are affected, then surgery may be your best bet for relieving the pain and removing its source. Ideally, you'll see a number of spine specialists on campus at the Southeastern Spine Institute before resorting to surgery.

Can a chiropractor fix herniated disc?

Nine out of ten individuals with a herniated disc can heal their condition through non-invasive procedures. If you want to explore conservative options for recovery, chiropractic care is an excellent place to start. A chiropractor can help you heal naturally and relieve your pain.

How long does it take for a bulging disc to heal without surgery?

Most people recover from a slipped disc within six weeks without treatment.

Can a bulging disc happen suddenly?

Bulging discs can happen from acute, sudden trauma or they can happen over time. The spinal column itself tends to get weaker as a person ages, so simply getting older puts you at a higher risk of bulging disc pain. The spine is complex and made up of many interconnected bones (vertebrae).

What kind of injections do you get for a bulging disc?

Epidural steroid injections are commonly used to treat back pain caused by a herniated disc. The injections are administered into the epidural space – the area around the spinal cord that protects the nerve roots.

How painful is a lumbar epidural steroid injection?

How painful is a lumbar epidural steroid injection? Everyone responds to the procedure differently. In general, a lumbar epidural steroid injection can be a bit uncomfortable, but it shouldn't be painful. You can ask your doctor for a mild sedative to relax you before the procedure.

Can an epidural heal a herniated disc?

Epidural steroid injections have a reasonable success rate for the alleviation of radicular symptoms from lumbar herniated discs for up to twelve to twenty-seven months. Patients treated with injections may be able to avoid surgical treatment up to this period and perhaps even longer.

Is bed rest good for bulging disc?

He explains that it's best to be up about as much as possible; complete bed rest for a herniated disc is not recommended. Many patients with a slipped disc find that sleeping in a recliner chair is most comfortable.

What exercises not to do with bulging discs?

How do you sleep with a bulging disc?

The optimal sleeping position for a herniated disc is on your back. Lying on your back keeps your spine in a neutral position so you have less chance of pinching the nerve. For added comfort, nestle a small pillow or rolled-up towel under your knees and lower back.