How to Treat Bulging Disc in Neck
- Home Treatments. Cut back on intestinal activity. It is highly important to slow down when you suffer from neck pain.
- Consider Physical Therapy. Seeing a physical therapist is another treatment for bulging disc in neck. ...
- Medication Options. Sometimes medications are necessary to help deal with pain and decrease inflammation. ...
How long does it take for a bulging disc to heal?
To prevent future injuries it is important to lose weight develop your abdominal muscles. Also, work on proper lifting techniques and good posture. While most bulging cervical discs heal in 4 to 6 weeks, those that are treated with surgery can take from 3 months to 2 years to heal.
Can a chiropractic help a bulging disc in neck?
Yes! In fact, chiropractic care provides an all-natural and effective solution to pain relief and treating a bulging disc in your spine. Chiropractors use safe and gentle chiropractic adjustments to resolve misalignments in the spine and restore your vertebrae and spinal discs to their proper position.
Do bulging discs heal on their own?
Can a bulging disc heal on its own? In brief: Yes! Most lumbar disc herniations tend to heal on their own. Anti-inflammatory medication and traction type of therapy often helps to relieve the pain. The herniated disc often takes up to 3 months to heal. How to heal a herniated disc naturally?
What is a good treatment for a bulging disc problem?
What to know about a bulging disc in the neck
- Causes. A weak spinal disc can cause a bulge in the neck. ...
- Symptoms. It is possible for a bulging disc to occur without any symptoms. ...
- Exercises. Gentle stretches may help treat a bulging disc in the neck. ...
- Other treatments. It might be best to include other forms of treatment with physical therapy and exercises. ...
- Summary. ...
Is a bulging disc in neck serious?
One of the most serious conditions involving your neck bones is a bulging disc.
How long does a bulging disc in the neck take to heal?
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.
Can you fix a bulging disc in neck without surgery?
When the centre or nucleus of a disc pushes out and even passes through the wall of the disc, this is what we refer to as a herniated disc. The good news is that the vast majority of herniated discs can be treated without surgery using manual therapy and exercise or with IDD Therapy disc treatment.
Will 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.
How should I sleep with a bulging disc in my neck?
Cervical Herniated Disc (Neck) With this injury, the key to a good night's sleep is in the thickness of your pillow. Side Sleepers – Choose a slightly thicker pillow to keep your spine straight as you lay on your side. Your head should be kept level with the rest of your spine for the best relief.
How serious is a bulging disc?
A bulging disk can push against the spinal cord and nerve roots, leading to severe pain and problems with mobility. Treatment may include a combination of medication, physical therapy, and self-care. In severe cases, a person may need surgery.
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.
Can a bulging disc get worse?
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.
What is the best exercise for bulging disc?
Sit in a chair with one foot on the floor and the other extended out straight, with the heel on the floor. Straighten the back and lean forward over the extended leg until there is a stretch along the back of the upper thigh. Hold this position for 15–30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat several times.
What should I avoid with a bulging disc?
What should I avoid if I have a bulging disc?sitting in soft chairs that put pressure on the low back.any periods of long standing or sitting.slouching or poor posture.activities involving bending such as gardening housework or strenuous exercise.
Why is my bulging disc not healing?
Sometimes, the nerves are actually damaged by the pressure from the disc herniation and may not recover completely. You may also develop scar tissue around the nerves weeks after the operation that causes pain similar to what you had before the operation.
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 long does it take for a bulging disc to heal without surgery?
Most people recover from a slipped disc within six weeks without treatment.
How long does it take to fix a bulging disc?
The average amount of time it takes for a herniated disk to heal is four to six weeks, but it can get better within a few days depending on how severe the herniation was and where it occurred. The biggest factor in healing a herniated disk is time, because most often it will resolve on its own.
Why is my bulging disc not healing?
Sometimes, the nerves are actually damaged by the pressure from the disc herniation and may not recover completely. You may also develop scar tissue around the nerves weeks after the operation that causes pain similar to what you had before the operation.
What not to do with bulging cervical discs?
If a disc is pressing on the nerve in your neck and producing symptoms of neck pain with arm pain, numbness, tingling and weakness then the most important thing to do is avoid all high impact and high velocity activities involving the neck, such as jogging, basketball, football, jumping, high-impact aerobics.
What is the best treatment for a bulging cervical disk?
It includes rest and medications and is frequently enough to recover a bulging cervical disk. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are the first-line prescription medications for a bulging disk.
How many people with bulging disks need surgery?
Various surgical procedures treat cervical herniation. Nevertheless, only about 10 percent of individuals with bulging disks eventually need surgery. Depending of severity of your bulging disk specialists recommend different types of treatment for your back and neck.
Why do my spine disks bulge?
Spinal disks take in a lot of wear and tear. With time, they begin to deteriorate and deteriorate. Degenerative disk disease is the most common reason for bulging disks, frequently leading to back osteoarthritis. Other factors that can cause or contribute to bulging disks include:
What is the procedure for a herniated disk?
Percutaneous discectomy is the most minimally intrusive strategy possible utilized to treat disk bulges, protrusions surgically, and small consisted of herniated disks. There is no blood loss throughout the procedure and can be performed in an outpatient environment with many patients returning to work within a week.
What is the most common condition in the neck?
Knowing this, it makes sense that your neck may have issues from time to time. One of the most major conditions including your neck bones is a bulging disk.
How much does a cervical vertebrae weigh?
Besides supporting your head, which weighs around 9 to 12 pounds, they also allow you to swivel your head a full 180 degrees. This can take quite a toll on your cervical vertebrae, the seven most delicate bones in your spine and neck.
What bones connect to the spine?
If you’ve ever looked carefully at the neck bones of a turkey or chicken, you’ve no doubt seen how all these small vertebral bones connect to make the spine. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons link each vertebrae to the next.
How to treat a bulging disc in neck?
Stretching exercises. Once you have been cleared by your doctor, you want to do a few light stretches to help reduce pain and improve the flexibility in your neck. Some stretching exercises to use as a treatment for bulging disc in neck include: 1 Turn your head slowly to the left, use your left hand to apply a pressure to the chin to turn it just a little more. Hold the position for 20 seconds, repeat this process to the right side. 2 Try touching your left ear to your shoulder by tilting your head to the left. Use your left hand to apply a light pressure at the temple to tilt the head more. Hold this position for 20 seconds, repeat on the other side. 3 Try to touch your chin to your chest. Keep the shoulders relaxed as you bend your head forward and hold the position for 20 seconds. 4 Lay down on your back using a pillow to support your head and neck. Keep your knees bent and nod your head forward, and hold for 10 seconds. Relax your head and repeat this 10 times.
What is the best medicine for bulging discs?
Ibuprofen and Naproxen such as Motrin, Advil, and Aleve, help reduce the inflammation caused by bulging discs as well as reducing the pain from it. These medications are also commonly found over the counter but, like Acetaminophen, should be taken as directed.
What is the best medicine for neck pain?
Steroids, pain reliever and anti-inflammatory medication are the most common prescribe drugs to help with neck pain and include: Tylenol or Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is one of the first medications people think to take to help with pain and is one of the most common over the counter medications taken.
How does a chiropractor help with neck pain?
With a chiropractor, subtle adjustments can be made to help relieve pain and restore your neck to its proper function. By manipulation the joints, you will feel a relief in joint stiffness which can increase range of mobility and an improvement to the overall mobility of the neck.
How to get rid of neck pain from exercise?
Your neck pain can intensify when you have bad posture. You want to try to keep your head and neck straight when sitting, standing or when lifting objects.
How to keep your neck in neutral position?
Try supporting your neck with a rolled towel or pillow to keep your neck in neutral position. You do not want to stay completely immobile while you are resting, because getting no physical activity can do more harm than good. You want to slow down but not stop your daily activity.
Why is cervical discectomy so difficult?
This surgery can be more difficult to perform because of the veins located in the area can cause excess bleeding which impairs the visualization during the surgery. With this surgery, there is more manipulation done to the spine. Cervical artificial disc replacement surgery.
What is the best medicine for a bulging disc?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are the first-line prescription medications for a bulging disc. For more severe pain, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxer or narcotic pain reliever. Physical therapy (PT) may relieve pressure on the nerve.
What is bulging disc?
Bulging Discs: About That Pain in Your Neck. You probably take your neck bones (called cervical vertebrae) for granted, but they have a significant role. Besides supporting your head, which weighs around 9 to 12 pounds, they also allow you to swivel your head a full 180 degrees. This can take quite a toll on your cervical vertebrae, ...
How many vertebrae are there in the neck?
Vertebrae are ring-shaped, giving your spine a hollow canal that encases and protects the millions of nerve fibers that form your spinal cord. You have 24 total vertebrae, and the uppermost seven are in your neck. The top part of your spine is the cervical spine.
What is the top part of the spine?
The top part of your spine is the cervical spine. Below it is the thoracic spine, and below the thoracic spine is the lumbar spine. These three sections of your spine, along with the sacrum and coccyx (tailbone) below the lumbar region, form your spinal column.
What causes discs to bulge?
Other factors that can cause or contribute to bulging discs include: strain or injury. obesity. smoking.
What kind of test is needed for a bulging disc?
If you have pain that could be from a bulging or herniated disc, your doctor will give you a physical exam. You’re also likely to have one or more imaging tests. These include spinal X-rays, computed tomography scans (CAT scan or CT scan), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
What is the most serious condition in the neck?
Knowing this, it makes sense that your neck may have problems from time to time. One of the most serious conditions involving your neck bones is a bulging disc.
What are the symptoms of a bulging disc in the neck?
If you are suffering from a bulging disc in your neck, you may have a range of symptoms involving pain in the head, neck, shoulders, and back. These pains are often accompanied by numbness and tingling and a reduced range of motion. Muscle spasms and weakness are also common.
Where to do disc surgery?
In rare circumstances, the surgery will be performed from the back of the neck (posterior).
How long does a bulging disc last?
The pain resulting from bulging or herniated discs can come and go in intervals. It can also continue uninterrupted for months. A person may also have stressful flare-ups from time to time when engaging in certain activities or movements. Sometimes symptoms will resolve themselves completely over time, even if the disc itself does not completely ...
Why do my discs bulge?
As we age, discs will deteriorate and begin to “bulge” through the vertebrae. Because we age slowly, the symptoms of bulging discs will onset gradually over time and usually, more than one disc is affected. A herniated disc usually appears abruptly and is commonly caused by a combination of aging and acute injury.
Why does a herniated disc tear?
A herniated disc usually appears abruptly and is commonly caused by a combination of aging and acute injury. Because the discs degenerate as we age, just a minor strain or twist in your neck can lead to a tear or rupture in the disc.
What is the cervical spine?
The cervical spine (the neck) is essentially the 7 upper-most vertebrae in the spinal column. Between these vertebrae lie discs which provide cushion and allow easy mobility. Bulging discs sag and appear to protrude outward affecting the spinal cord. However, if a disc tears or has a rupture, the gel-like substance contained within each disc will ...
How is ACDF surgery performed?
ACDF surgery is performed by moving all muscles, vessels, and nerves to the side while the disc and the surrounding area are repaired . This may require a fusion of the affected vertebrae. Small metal plates and screws will be used to get the best stability.
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 treat a herniated disc in the neck?
As part of treatment for a herniated disc in the neck, the initial neck exercises are easy to do and can provide immediate relief in some cases. When doing neck exercises, it is important not to cause pain or push into the direction of pain. Movements that decrease pain of a herniated disc are good and can be repeated, as in the neck pain exercises.
What is the best treatment for herniated neck?
Cold or ice therapy for neck pain can be used until the inflammation is gone and then heat treatment can help to relax muscles and may aid with traction treatment. With a herniation, the structure is deep, so infrared heat would be the best because it penetrated deep.
What is cervical traction?
Cervical Traction is a popular and often effective treatment for a herniated disc in the neck. For an active disc herniation, traction should be used gently and is usually prescribed and administered by a physical therapist or chiropractor. If the herniations are not active, you should have a comprehensive approach.
How long does it take for a herniated disc to heal?
Healing time can vary depending on any complications, age, extent of the herniation and types of treatment used. 6 to 8 weeks is a general time or target. Often, progress can be monitored with the use of the neck disability index, which can be done online. Cervical Traction is a popular and often effective treatment for a herniated disc in the neck.
What is a Saunders neck traction device?
The Saunders Neck Traction device is a good, high end product and can be used to target specific areas of the neck by the use of angling , often prescribed by a doctor or therapist. These take a little bit longer to get used to as there is more of a learning curve in using them.
How to help muscle spasms?
Another method to help with pain and muscle spasm is the use of electrical stimulation. This is a battery powered electrical device that can be set up for treatment in the specific areas of pain by use of self adhesive electrodes.
Can a herniated disc cause neck pain?
A Herniated disc in the neck can be painful and distressful. They are one of many causes of neck pain. Active herniations can be a real problem until the inflammation subsides and usually anti-inflammatory medications like medrol dose pack are prescribed for treatment, and more recently spinal injections.
Structure
Mechanism of action
- Between each vertebrae is a gel-filled disc that acts as a shock absorber and helps the spine move. A damaged disc, may bulge, pushing backwards into the spinal canal. The disc usually bulges toward one side of the canal (either right or left), which is why people with a bulging disc are likely to have pain and tingling on just one side of the body.
Symptoms
- A bulging disc in your neck may be relatively painless. Or it can cause severe pain in your neck, as well as your shoulders, chest, and arms. It may also cause numbness or weakness in your arms or fingers. Sometimes, this pain and numbness may even cause you to think that youre having a heart attack.
Terminology
- Some people incorrectly use the terms bulging disc and herniated disc interchangeably. A herniated disc is a fully ruptured disc. Bulging discs can eventually become herniated discs.
Causes
- Spinal discs absorb a lot of wear and tear. Over time, they start to degenerate and weaken. Degenerative disc disease is the most common cause of bulging discs, often resulting in spinal osteoarthritis. Other factors that can cause or contribute to bulging discs include:
Diagnosis
- If you have pain that could be from a bulging or herniated disc, your doctor will give you a physical exam. Youre also likely to have one or more imaging tests. These include spinal X-rays, computed tomography scans (CAT scan or CT scan), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Your doctor may recommend an electromyogram (EMG) to check the cond...