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One of many terms used to describe the degree or extent of a herniated disc of the spine is called a bulging disc. The intervertebral disc acts as a soft cushion between your vertebrae. As we age, you can strain your disc through improper posture and injury, which can weaken the disc’ integrity, causing it to lose its shape and bulge into the spinal canal. This bulging disc can work it way out and apply pressure to the spinal cord and spinal nerves, leading to painful symptoms including weakness, numbness, burning, and tingling– or you may not have any symptoms at all.
A bulging or herniated disc can lead to causing many other diagnosed conditions of the spine such as, foraminal or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), and sciatica or radiculopathy. These conditions are a result of the spinal canal becoming narrow due to spinal arthritis, bone spurs or disc herniated thus putting pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
ConditionCausesSymptomsDiagnosis Treatment & Recovery
When a spinal disc becomes traumatized via an injury to your back or neck the disc can begin a degenerative cascade where the outer part of the disc, called the annulus fibrosis, begins to crack and weaken. The physical force from working, standing, and physical activity we apply on our disc, can cause the inner part of your disc, called the nucleus pulposus to bulge or herniate through the weakened annulus. A bulging disc in many cases never becomes symptomatic and many people live with them daily. However, if the annulus continues to degenerate and crack, the bulging disc can herniate, protrude, extrude or even in worst cases migrate.
As we age, degenerative changes can occur to our spine. Many people with degenerative disc disease, age with no spinal pain or problems. However, many people suffer daily with pain due to degenerative changes in the disc and spinal column. A bulging disc in an elderly person has chemical alterations to the integrity and cushioning of the disc and it losses moisture and begins to weaken the tough outer annulus fibrosis much like a dry fragile sponge. As a result, disc may herniate or bulge and the disc can lose height effecting the vertebrae and facets causing other spinal issues. The ligaments supporting the spinal column can weaken as well, increasing the likelihood of a bulging disc.
Jobs that require repetitive movement, heavy labor lifting, coupled with poor back or lifting posture can lead to unwanted weakening and strain of the spinal disc and spinal column. The daily accumulative results on the spine in poor work conditions can result in a degenerative effect on the spine and expose the worker to the possible herniated or bulging disc.
Traumatic injuries to the spine often happen from a car accident, heavy lifting strain, and contact from physical sports or exercise. The repetitive motion and insult to the injury can start a degenerative disc cascade that can lead to a bulging or herniated disc. These types of injuries can cause symptomatic trauma to you back or neck.
Poor neck and back posture and lack of routine maintenance and exercise to strengthen your abdominal and back muscles, can also contribute to a bulging disc. Not protecting against poor lifting and posture habits while at work, home or play, can expose yourself to unwanted strains that can directly weaken you back and neck. A good example of poor posture is lifting mainly with your low back instead of keeping your back straight and using your legs to lift safely.
Degenerative disc disease, for some people, can be attributed to family genetics. The inherited risks for degenerative disc disease makes a person a high risk for a bulging or herniated disc as well as multiple level disc disease.
A bulging disc can be non-symptomatic for many people. Those who do suffer from symptoms often learn to live and adjust their lifestyle to cope with them. When bulging disc symptoms becomes severe and unbearable, the quality of life for those suffering becomes debilitating. A bulging disc can cause significant loss of days at work, leisure, daily activities, and sports.
When a disc begins to bulge, it can extend outward and compress the spinal cord or one of the spinal nerve roots. This compression of the spinal cord and nerves can cause symptoms, depending on the region of the bulging disc, into your shoulders, arms, hands or hips, low back, legs and feet.
The most common areas for bulging disc symptoms occur in the cervical and lumbar region. Thoracic bulging disc are not as common because the rib cage helps in spinal mobility. These symptoms range from pain, muscle weakness, numbness, burning or tingling sensation. Being able to describe these symptoms to your doctor, are very helpful in diagnosing your problem.
A pinched nerve or bulging disc in the neck or cervical spine can produce an array of symptoms in your neck, shoulders, arms, and into your hands and fingers.
Depending on location of the bulging disc, the symptoms can affect one side or both sides of your upper torso. Certain movements of your neck and arms such as rotating your neck or bending your neck backward, forward or sideways can send sharp pain or tingling sensation down one or both arms into the fingers. Some people with bulging disc that compress a spinal nerve can experience tightness, spasms and severe pain in the neck and shoulders with activity.
When a bulging disc in the lumbar region compresses your spinal nerves, symptoms can be felt in the low back, buttocks, legs and feet. The spinal cord ends around the beginning of the lumbar region and becomes a bundle of nerves called the cauda equina protected by a outer sheath called the dura. Bulging disc compressing the exiting nerve can also affect the sciatic nerve, a nerve running from your hip down both sides of your legs.
Depending on what level the bulging disc is and where it is located, symptoms can be felt bilaterally and affect both legs but often just one side. Sciatica symptoms are typically affect one side of your body, but can develop in both legs in some people who have severe spinal or foraminal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal).
Often patients who suffer from bulging disc, do well with conservative therapy and never need to pursue interventional or surgical procedures. In fact, some patients with bulging disc often have their symptoms diminish within 4- 6 months. When symptoms are severe and last more than 3 months with no relief of conservative treatment, patients may benefit from further diagnostic injections, and least invasive or surgical procedures.
A comprehensive diagnostic workup is essential to properly diagnose a bulging disc. The following workup provides an accurate and thorough diagnosis and treatment option.
If pain still persists after conservative treatment and interventional spine injectioms, and and there is evidence by CT Scan, MRI or X-ray or neurological deficit, then surgical intervention is usually recommended.
The following least invasive procedures can treat bulging disc with 90% success:
Our Least Invasive Procedure patients’ can begin getting out of bed one hour after surgery and go home shortly afterwards. There will probably be some pain after the procedure and is usually localized to the incision site. Activity is gradually increased and patients can return to non-physical work as early as two weeks. Keep in mind just because there is less or no pain, always consult your physician before beginning any physical work.
Our Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery patients’ post-operative recovery is much longer and may involve overnight stay in the hospital. Once your pain in under control you can go home. Dr. Rodriguez will give you medication to control your pain while you recover at home.
At home, you will need to continue to rest. You will be instructed on how to gradually increase your activity. You may still need to take the pain medications for a while. However, pain and discomfort should begin to reduce within a couple of weeks after surgery. The doctor will discuss with you other techniques for reducing pain and increasing flexibility before you leave for home. MIS patients can return to non-physical work as early as four to six weeks. Spine fusion patients can return to non-physical work as early as two to three months.
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Dr. Marco Rodriguez is a board-certified and fellowship trained orthopedic spine surgeon who specializes in compassionate care for spine patients utilizing least invasive and minimally invasive spine surgery techniques.
Kenner LA Office 3705 Florida Ave.Kenner, LA 70065
Baton Rouge Office 606 Colonial Dr Ste A Baton Rouge, LA, 70806
Spinal Injections
Endoscopic Rhizotomy
Artificial Disc Replacement
(504) 620-5520