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?
Again, as the herniated disc stimulates the nerve near your spine, you might feel some different sensations throughout your body. Some people report the feeling of pins and needles, while others just notice that different body parts are numb or tingling. This can be very serious if left untreated.
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.
What will a doctor do 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.
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 causes neck disc bulge?
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: strain or injury. obesity.
Can you push a bulging disc back in?
Non-surgical treatments can include physical therapy or bracing to try and gradually ease the bulging disc back into its rightful place. When these conservative options fail, and there is still a lot of pain, a minimally invasive surgical procedure can be used to correct the bulging disc.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is heat good for bulging disc in neck?
Generally, the recommendation is to use ice for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury to reduce swelling, followed by heat to loosen muscles and improve stiffness.
Will a massage help a bulging disc?
As you might expect, a herniated or bulging disc in the lumbar spine can put pressure on the spinal cord and cause muscle spasms, cramps, numbness and considerable pain in the neck, back or legs. The good news is that remedial massage can be very beneficial in treating bulging or herniated disc symptoms.
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.
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.
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.
Medicines As A Way To Fix Bulging Disc in the Neck
There could be different kinds of medicines prescribed to manage the pain and discomfort associated with bulging disc. The types of medicines include:
Physical Therapies to Fix a Bulging Disc in the Neck
In addition to the medicines and the drugs, the doctors can also prescribe certain supportive therapies that can help to soothe down the pain and improve your mobility. One such form of therapy is the physical therapy that will be administered through professional physical therapists.
Exercises to Fix Bulging Disc in the Neck
Neck exercises are an integral part of the treatment process for bulging discs at the neck. They are often prescribed in a combination along with medicines, and other therapies. These exercises often include some very gentle muscle strengthening and neck stretching workouts.
Surgery to Fix Bulging Disc in the Neck
Even though the number of people suffering from bulging discs of the neck who requires a surgical intervention is really few, the process is quite simple and safe. Surgery for treating bulging discs at the neck is suggested only when all the previous methods of treatments fail to reduce and cure the pain.
Other Measures to Fix a Bulging Disc in the Neck
Apart from the above-mentioned measures, certain other additional measures can help to improve the recovery rate of your discs in the neck. They are:
What is the procedure to remove a herniated disk?
Surgery. Diskectomy is the surgical removal of the damaged portion of a herniated disk in your spine. A herniated disk occurs when some of the softer material inside the disk pushes out through a crack in the tougher exterior. This can irritate or compress nearby nerves and cause pain, numbness or weakness.
What tests are needed for a herniated disk?
In most cases of herniated disk, a physical exam and a medical history are all that's needed for a diagnosis. If your doctor suspects another condition or needs to see which nerves are affected, he or she may order one or more of the following tests.
What test can be used to confirm the location of the herniated disk and to see which nerves are affected
This test can be used to confirm the location of the herniated disk and to see which nerves are affected. Myelogram . A dye is injected into the spinal fluid before X-rays are taken. This test can show pressure on your spinal cord or nerves due to multiple herniated disks or other conditions.
How to treat low back pain?
Spinal manipulation has been found to be moderately effective for low back pain that has lasted for at least a month. Rarely, chiropractic treatment of the neck can cause certain types of strokes. Acupuncture. Although results are usually modest, acupuncture appears to ease chronic back and neck pain. Massage.
How to help a swollen thigh?
Besides taking the pain medications your doctor recommends, try: Applying heat or cold. Initially, cold packs can be used to relieve pain and inflammation. After a few days, you might switch to gentle heat to give relief and comfort.
Can a surgeon remove a disk?
Loss of bladder or bowel control. In nearly all cases, surgeons can remove just the protruding portion of the disk. Rarely, the entire disk must be removed. In these cases, the vertebrae may need to be fused with a bone graft.
Can you take codeine for disk herniation?
Because of the side effects of opioids and the potential for addiction, many doctors hesitate to prescribe them for disk herniation. If other medication doesn't relieve your pain, your doctor might consider short-term use of opioids, such as codeine or an oxycodone-acetaminophen combination (Percocet, Roxicet).
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 condition of affected nerves.