If you have been experiencing unexplained pain, numbness, weakness, spasms, or tingling in the neck, back, or extremities, see your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis. There is a good chance your pain may be a result of a bulging disc, but there is also a chance that something else could be causing your troubles. Your doctor will be able to tell you if it is, indeed, a bulging disc causing your symptoms, but keep in mind that diagnosing a bulging disc can be a slightly longer process than determining if an arm is broken or why sinus cavities are congested. The important thing to remember is to stay patient and positive, and make sure to report to your doctor all of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing in as much detail as possible, noting their severity, location, and duration.

What to Expect at Your Doctor’s Office

Your doctor typically will start by asking about your personal medical history, which may include inquiries about any past surgeries or injuries you have had, and your family medical history. Your doctor will also take other factors into consideration when reviewing your condition, including your age, profession, and lifestyle. You may then undergo a physical exam and a neurological exam during which your doctor will test for flexibility, reflexes, sensation, and range of motion. After these steps have been completed, your doctor should be able to determine if you have a bulging disc. If your doctor is still unsure about the diagnosis or the exact location of the bulging disc, he or she may want to conduct an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to gain a better picture of your spine. These advanced images of your spine will help your doctor tremendously in the process, and should confirm your bulging disc diagnosis.

What to Do When Diagnosed with a Bulging Disc

Upon finding out you’ve been diagnosed with a bulging disc, your doctor will be right there to tell you about the ways to treat the problem. Your doctor will probably suggest a variety of conservative treatments, like muscle relaxants, physical therapy, and pain and anti-inflammatory medications, gentle stretching, low-impact exercise, hot/cold compresses, and cortisone injections. Be patient, because a certain degree of trial and error will likely be necessary before you find a combination of treatments that delivers results. Some patients even choose to supplement their treatment regimen with alternative therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure, massage, or chiropractic manipulation. If you try conservative treatments for several weeks or months and see no improvement in your symptoms, you may want to ask your doctor about surgery. The truth about spine surgery is that it is generally used as an elected, last-resort treatment method if nonsurgical treatment fails to help with the pain, numbness, or tingling after several months. Less than 10 percent of people with bulging discs are candidates for spine surgery, but those who elect to have surgery should research the surgical approaches that are available for their condition and get several medical opinions before making a final decision.

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 the treatment of bulging discs and several other spinal conditions.

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 other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/bulging_disc/

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 the treatment of bulging discs and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: bulging disc