When should I be worried about a bulging disc?

Protruding discs that have worsened to the point of herniation or rupture may cause severe symptoms that require immediate medical care. Contact a medical provider if you experience pain or numbness that affects your ability to function or walk, or changes in your bowel and bladder function.

When should you go to the hospital for a bulging disc?

Seek immediately medical attention if you notice signs of nerve damage such as numbness, tingling, and weakness in your legs, feet, or buttocks. Rarely, the disk may pinch the nerves that control bowel and bladder function, causing incontinence.

When is a bulging disc serious?

Bladder incontinence can occur because of a bulging disc compressing the nerves that control the bladder. In this case, seek emergency medical help immediately. Upper back pain radiating to the stomach or chest may be a symptom of a mid-spine bulging disc. Muscle spasms may also occur with any bulging disc.

Does a bulging disk hurt all the time?

This condition can be very painful, but for most people, the symptoms don't last too long. Nearly 90% of people who experience painful lumbar disc herniation report within 6 weeks that they no longer feel the pain, even if they received no medical treatment for it.

Does a bulging disc get worse before it gets better?

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.

Bulging Disk? Herniated Disk? The BIG LIE you need to know.

What should you not do with a bulging disc?

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.

Why does my bulging disc pain come and go?

Herniated disk pain can sometimes be intermittent. People can have minor pain that's always there or stronger pain that comes and goes depending on the activity they're doing. Varying pain typically has to do with movement and the position of the body.

How long will I be off work with a bulging disc?

Treatment with rest, pain medication, spinal injections, and physical therapy is the first step to recovery. Most people improve in 6 weeks and return to normal activity. If symptoms continue, surgery may be recommended.

When should I be worried about back pain?

You've Been in Pain for Over a Week

Most back pain will subside after a few days, but if you've been experiencing pain for over a week, then it's time to call a doctor. Your doctor will perform any examinations or tests required to help get to the bottom of your pain before it could become a bigger problem.

Is L4 L5 disc bulge serious?

Most importantly, an L4-L5 disc bulge can lead to prolonged pain and other, more serious conditions like spondylolisthesis if you delay treatment. Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a vertebra shifts or slips, and can cause significant pain that may require surgery to fix.

Can a bulging disc rupture?

Located between each of the vertebra in the spinal column, discs act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. A herniated disc (also called bulged, slipped or ruptured) is a fragment of the disc nucleus that is pushed out of the annulus, into the spinal canal through a tear or rupture in the annulus.

How do they fix bulging discs?

Treatment often includes physical therapy, which will focus on exercises to strengthen your back. In some cases, spinal injections of steroids may be recommended to relieve pain. This may be followed by physical therapy that aims to strengthen her core muscles. In other cases, a bulging disc may require surgery.

How do you know if a disc has ruptured?

Severe low back pain on its own may be a symptom of a ruptured disc, but it can also be caused by strains or sprains of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. However, low back pain combined with shooting pain down the back of one or both legs (sciatica) usually points to a herniated or ruptured disc.

Should I work with a bulging disc?

During recovery, a person with a disc herniation should avoid heavy lifting, unexpected back strain, or repetitive rigorous activity. All exercises that produce discomfort or feel like they are making the pain worse should be avoided.

Can I walk with a bulging 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.

Is a herniated disc an emergency?

The severe case of a herniated disk is a medical emergency because of intolerable pain and discomfort. Some of its symptoms include lower back pain, sharp leg or arm pain, loss of bladder or bowel control and numbness, weakness or tingling sensation in the foot and/or leg.

What is the fastest way to heal a bulging disc?

How does a bulging disc feel?

Pain is often described as sharp or burning. Numbness or tingling. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.

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

How long can it take for my herniated disc to heal without surgery? Herniated discs are more likely to occur in your neck or lower back, and most of them heal without surgery in six to eight weeks.

Can a bulging disc heal after 2 years?

After 2 years: 76 people out of 100 who had surgery had no symptoms or almost no symptoms. This means that 24 still had some symptoms. 69 people out of 100 who had non-surgical treatment had no symptoms or almost no symptoms.

Which is worse bulging or herniated disk?

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.

What do neurosurgeons do for bulging discs?

An incision is placed in the lower back over the area where the disc is herniated. Some bone from the back of the spine may be removed to gain access to the area where the disc is located. Typically, the herniated part of the disc and any extra loose pieces of disc are removed from the disc space.

Do muscle relaxers help bulging disc?

Muscle relaxants – Your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant medication if you're experiencing muscle spasms with your bulging disc. Heat and cold packs– Applying heat and/or cold packs to the affected area can help reduce pain and inflammation.

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.