Physical therapy also provides natural remedies for bulging discs through therapeutic stretches and exercises. A physical therapist will work with you to manage your pain and other symptoms while also alleviating pressure, stress, and strain on the spine.
Full Answer
What to do if you have a bulging disc?
Bulging Disc Treatment. A patient should change body positioning and behaviors (sleeping, sitting and posture positions) first to help reduce any bulging disc symptoms or pain caused by the affected disc. Addressing causal factors may help to slow the worsening of the condition.
What are the symptoms of bulging discs?
Lumbar bulging discs most often cause pain in the buttocks, legs, feet and abdomen. Cervical bulging discs most often cause pain in the head, neck, shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands and fingers. ( 10) Thoracic bulging discs cause pain in the hands, chest, back and abdomen.
Is a bulging disk serious?
Is it serious? Bulging disks increase the likelihood of a herniated disk, which can be painful, affect mobility, and limit a person’s daily functioning and quality of life. Bulging disks can also lead to weakness or numbness in the legs and poor bladder control.
What happens when you have multiple bulging discs?
It can cause pain in the buttocks, legs, or back. It can also affect your ability to walk. Bulging discs usually affect multiple discs. This condition develops over time and can cause other disc degeneration-related issues, like lumbar stenosis (narrowing of spinal canal).
How do you treat multiple bulging discs?
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.
How do you fix 3 bulging discs?
2:088:51How to Fix a Bulging Disc (NO SURGERY!) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first thing if you're going to fix this disc is you're gonna want to extend. And not flex. ButMoreThe first thing if you're going to fix this disc is you're gonna want to extend. And not flex. But before you do that you've got to fix a couple things you want to decompress your spine.
How do you stop a bulging disc from hurting?
For mild herniated disc pain, relieve the inflammation to decrease pain. For instance, applying a heating pad or ice pack to the affected area may be a good way to temporarily relieve your pain and reduce inflammation. Take 10-15 minutes twice a day to lie on your stomach with one to two pillows under your hips.
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.
Do you need surgery for bulging disc?
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 bulging discs be fixed?
There's more than one way to fix a disk problem. The specifics of your surgery have to do with what's actually wrong with your disks. Herniated/bulging/slipped disk: The procedure is called microdiscectomy. The surgeon removes the part of the disk that's pushing on a nerve.
What is the fastest way to heal a bulging disc?
How to heal a herniated disc quicklyAlternate applying heat and cold.Stay as active as you can. Take walks to avoid becoming too stiff from resting too often.Try alternative treatments like acupuncture, massage, or chiropractic.
What is the treatment for L4 L5 disc bulge?
Typically, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually tried first. For more severe pain, opioids, tramadol, and/or corticosteroids may be used. Physical therapy. Exercise and physical therapy can be modified to specifically target pain stemming from L4-L5 and the lower back.
How do you fix a bulging disc in your back?
Nonsurgical treatment may include:Rest. One to 2 days of bed rest will usually help relieve back and leg pain. ... Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help relieve pain.Physical therapy. ... Epidural steroid injection.
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.
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.
How to heal a bulging disc?
The most important thing is to give the bulging disc the opportunity to heal by: Changing the movements and habits that put unhealthy loads through the disc. Building strength in the appropriate muscles to give the disc the support it needs. Written by Dr. Jeremy James.
How to tell if a disc is bulging?
A bulging disc can be diagnosed by a thorough evaluation by a health care professional and also by imaging such as an MRI. Symptom patterns common to bulging discs include pain with forward bending, pain with coughing, sneezing or bowel movements, and pain with prolonged sitting. The pain can occur in the back, ...
How long does it take for a bulging disc to heal?
With proper exercise and healthy spine habits, a bulging disc rarely requires surgery. In fact, it can typically be treated at home and can usually heal on its own within 6 to 12 months. The most important thing is to give the bulging disc the opportunity to heal by: 1 Changing the movements and habits that put unhealthy loads through the disc. 2 Building strength in the appropriate muscles to give the disc the support it needs.
What causes a disc to be uneven?
The weight that is usually distributed evenly through the disc by daily activities (walking, sitting, and bending over) is now distributed in an uneven pattern, putting unhealthy pressure on the affected disc and the surrounding discs, joints, and ligaments. Eventually this pressure causes problems which can result in pain.
What happens when the pressure gets too great in one part of the disc?
When the pressure gets too great in one part of the disc, the inner liquid can push into the outer layer causing a “bulge” to form— this is referred to as a bulging disc. When pressure and the bulge become extreme, the outer layer tears and the inner liquid spills out, resulting in a disc herniation —a herniated disc is a potentially much more ...
Why does my disc hurt?
Pain and/or dysfunction can be caused in four general ways: If the other structures around the disc become overloaded because the damaged disc in unable to absorb shocks, they wear down and become inflamed, resulting in arthritis .
Why do discs help with pain?
One purpose of the discs is to distribute pressures evenly as we go through activities of daily living so that the surrounding joints and other structures are not damaged. When this process malfunctions, problems and pain can occur.
What can a physical therapist do for a bulging disc?
If pain from a bulging disc makes it hard to move around or work normally, a physical therapist can assign specific exercises and stretches to improve your range of motion, strength and flexibility.
What are the symptoms of a bulging disc?
The type of pain caused by a bulging disc is a clue to where the abnormal disc is located: 1 Lumbar bulging discs most often cause pain in the buttocks, legs, feet and abdomen. 2 Cervical bulging discs most often cause pain in the head, neck, shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands and fingers. ( 10) 3 Thoracic bulging discs cause pain in the hands, chest, back and abdomen.
What causes a bulging disc in the spine?
A bulging disc is a very common occurrence that results in a spinal disc compressing against an adjacent nerve root. The disc essentially pushes out of its normal place and starts impinging on nearby nerves of the spine, sometimes causing pain.
Why does my disc feel tingly?
Eventually the bulging disc protrudes into the spinal canal, which is what triggers the sharp pain or tingling sensation that’s associated with disc problems.
How long does it take for a bulging disc to heal?
( 2 ) Luckily for many people, disc problems heal within several months (sometimes as little as within one month) and pain will subside, especially if you take steps to lower swelling and inflammation.
Where do bulging discs occur?
Although bulging discs are most likely to develop in the back (estimates show that about 90 percent of bulging discs occur in the lower back, or lumbar area), they can also affect other parts of the body when the abnormal disc comes into contact with nerves that connect to the hips, buttocks, legs, neck and feet.
What is the best treatment for back pain?
Heating packs, acupuncture treatments and massages are all beneficial for back, neck and limb pain. Acupuncture is a type of Traditional Chinese Medicine that uses tiny needles to help unleash the body’s natural flow of energy.
Is there a non surgical treatment for a bulging disc?
Non-Surgical Treatment Options. Alternative Treatments for a Bulging Disc. Although no single treatment plan is right for every patient, there are some bulging disc treatment guidelines that are often effective in relieving symptoms. While a bulging disc is not necessarily painful, nerve compression can result if displaced disc material causes ...
Can a bulging disc cause neck pain?
Upon diagnosing a bulging disc as the source of neck pain, back pain or radiating pain in the extremities, doctors will usually begin with a course of conservative treatments. Since a bulging disc can improve with time, initial treatment is generally aimed at pain management while the progress of the condition is monitored.
Can a bulging disc be treated?
For many patients, these options are enough to help control bulging disc symptoms. Most doctors view surgery to treat a bulging disc as a last resort because it is such an invasive process, requiring a large muscle-tearing incision, overnight hospitalization and a long recovery period.
How to heal a bulging disc?
Ultrasound and massage can help to restore blood flow and reduce muscle tension. A specific exercise program designed to progressively stabilise the spine and increase flexibility, such as the Total Back Pain Solution, is often the only way to achieve long-term healing for most sufferers of a bulging spinal disc.
Why is my disc bulging?
You will notice that one of the discs is darker in colour, and is bulging to the right, into the spinal canal where the spinal nerves are. This is a disc bulge. The darker colour of the disc is generally indicative of dehydration of the disc, a result of Degenerative Disc Disease.
Why does my disc swell?
And this number increases with age. A bulging disc occurs when the discs inner material, the nucleus pulposus, starts to squeeze out into the outer ring of the disc (annulus fibrosis). This can cause the disc to swell and bulge. It is thought to be a natural part of the ageing process, like Degenerative Disc Disease.
How to treat degenerative disc disease?
As per the treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease, there are several other, more conservative options. Medications such as pain killers and anti-inflammatories can relieve the pain, but do not fix the underlying problem. Chiropractic manipulation can increase spinal range of motion, relieve nerve pressure, restore blood flow ...
Can disc bulges cause back pain?
As mentioned above, 52% of people with no back pain at all have a disc bulge. Some people may only experience occasional back ache in the mid-line. However, if the bulge is large enough to irritate a spinal nerve you can experience severe back pain on one side that may even extend into your buttocks or down your leg.
Can a bulging disc cause back pain?
Bulging Discs And Lower Back Pain. Although it sounds like a serious problem, bulging disc lower back pains are usually not severe, and bulging disc treatment options are often very effective at resolving any back pain that you might be suffering with. Like all disc problems though, it can be very hard to determine exactly what is causing back ...
How do you know if you have a bulging disk?
The symptoms of a bulging disk depend on its severity and location in the spine. Some people may experience no initial symptoms. However, with further disk degeneration and herniation, a person may have the following symptoms: back pain that worsens with movement, such as sneezes. spasms in the back muscles.
Why does my spine bulge?
Bulging disks result from a reduction of gel in the disk center. Less gel causes the disk to become compressed and start to bulge. The gel in a spinal disk naturally wears away over time. A bulging disk is usually the result of aging, but it can also be due to spinal injury, such as the result of a car accident.
Why do my vertebrae bulge?
Bulging disks occur when the spongy disks between the vertebrae become compressed and bulge out. A common cause of bulging disks is aging. If this degradation continues, it can lead to a herniated disk. Herniated disks can cause pain, numbness, and mobility issues.
What is the term for the spongy disks that make up the spine?
A bulging disk occurs when the spongy disks between the bones in the spine become compressed and bulge out. A series of interlocking bones, called vertebrae, make up the spine. These vertebrae provide support for the spine and enable the back to bend and move. Between each vertebra is soft tissue, known as a spinal disk, ...
What is a herniated disk?
Sometimes, the outer layer of the disk breaks down and causes a herniated disk. A herniated disk, also known as a ruptured or slipped disk, is when the gel-like center leaks out through a tear in the disk’s exterior wall.
What is the pain in the back?
back pain that worsens with movement, such as sneezes . spasms in the back muscles. weakness and numbness in the legs and feet. reduced mobility in the legs, knees, and ankles . decreased bladder and bowel control. difficulty walking.
Can bulging disks cause numbness?
Bulging disks can also lead to weakness or numbness in the legs and poor bladder control.
1.What is a bulging disc?
Intervertebral disc bulging is the term used interchangeably with disc protrusion or disc herniation. Intervertebral discs are located in our spines between each vertebra, which is a bony bit that forms our spine. There are few types of disc bulges: due to disc degeneration or due to an injury or trauma.
2.What causes the bulging disc?
Discs usually start bulging due to natural age related changes, however, it can also be caused by an excessive repetitive strain placed on your back for long periods of time. This can speed up the degeneration process, hence, disc bulging can occur earlier in life.
3.What are the symptoms of the bulging disc?
This depends on where the disc is bulging. If the disc bulge occurs at the neck area, then you can experience:
4.Is a bulging disc serious?
This very much depends on the severity of the disc bulge. There are many nerves coming out of the spine and a structure called the spinal canal where our spinal cord is located. Spinal cord is an extension from our brain and is the pathway of communication between our body and brain.
5.Can bulging disc be treated without operation?
In most cases, conservative, non-invasive treatment modalities such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, massage and dry needling are often recommended first. Although, it is unlikely that degenerative disc bulge will be reversed, traumatic disc bulge can heal by itself.
7.What to avoid while having a disc bulge?
Avoid any aggravating activity that is causing more pain or is exacerbating the symptoms. Avoid loading onto your back and heavy lifting because it can increase the disc bulge. Try to reduce or avoid any activities of high impact such as running, jumping or rapid twisting and turning.