A bulging disc hardly ever produces symptoms. In fact, many people have the condition and never even realize it. How can that be? Because symptoms usually occur only if the misshapen outer wall of a disc comes into contact with the spinal cord or an adjacent nerve root. That is not to say that a bulging disc is never a problem. Quite the contrary. Back or neck pain and other symptoms caused by disc-related nerve compression can be debilitating enough to leave sufferers bedridden for days – even months. The good news is, there are plenty of options available for managing symptoms associated with a bulging disc, and only rarely will those options include surgery.

Recognizing Bulging Disc Symptoms

A bulging disc occurs when the disc’s outer wall (annulus fibrosus) is forced out of its normal boundary, often because of common, age-related deterioration of the spinal column. Repeated stress on the neck and back (as experienced in a job that requires a lot of heavy lifting, for example) or sudden injury (due to a car accident or fall, for example) might also cause a bulging disc. A disc bulge can arise at any level of the spine but is most common in the lumbar (lower back) region. As mentioned above, the misalignment of a disc’s outer wall is not, in itself, necessarily a problem. When that misshapen portion of the wall makes contact with the spinal cord or an adjacent nerve root, however, it can produce symptoms that include:

– Localized pain
– Referred, or traveling, pain
– Tingling
– Numbness
– Muscle weakness

The area of the body affected by the above symptoms will vary, depending on the location of the nerve compression. For example, nerve compression in the cervical (neck) region is likely to produce symptoms in the neck, shoulders, arms, or hands. In the lumbar region, where the sciatic nerve originates, nerve compression may produce the assortment of symptoms known as sciatica – shooting pain or loss of sensation in the lower back, buttocks, legs, feet, or toes. Receiving a proper bulging disc diagnosis from a doctor is vital, because many of the nerve compression symptoms associated with a bulging disc also can be caused by other degenerative spine conditions, such as facet disease, a herniated disc, or osteophytes (bone spurs).

Managing Bulging Disc Symptoms

Patients with chronic spinal nerve compression symptoms typically find they can manage those symptoms using a regimen of doctor-recommended conservative treatment methods. The methods employed often include over-the-counter or prescription medicine, low-impact exercise, stretching, corticosteroid injections, and more. Because no two patients are alike, there is no “one size fits all” course of conservative treatment. Each patient will likely need to try a combination of conservative treatments, which might also include alternative methods, such as chiropractic adjustments or acupuncture.

Communication with the doctor is crucial when formulating a treatment plan for nerve compression symptoms. In order for the doctor to make an honest and thorough assessment, he or she will need to know as much as possible about the symptoms. Patients should be prepared to answer questions about their medical history, the severity of the symptoms, the activities that seem to make symptoms better or worse, and other integral information.

When does surgery become an option? Generally, only when any and all conservative methods have been exhausted and the patient has not found significant relief from pain. It takes time to determine the efficacy of a treatment regimen, so a patient should expect to spend several weeks or even months trying to find the right combination of treatments before considering surgical alternatives.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for bulging discs and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Bulging disc