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EDISCSCULPTBulging discs are a very common spine condition; many people have bulging discs without even knowing it. A bulging disc occurs when a disc becomes flatter than it should be; it has to make up for the loss of height by taking up more room width-wise, which can cause it to press against the nerve roots or spinal cord.
There are three sections of the spine: the cervical spine, which is the neck; the thoracic spine, which is the upper back; and the lumbar spine, which is the lower back. The spinal cord ends before the lumbar spine, becoming the cauda equina instead. A bulging disc causes symptoms associated with the part of the spine it's located in; for example, the lumbar spine innervates the legs and pelvic area, so symptoms can occur in the back, one or both legs, or the bladder. Like most spine conditions, bulging discs are most common in the lumbar spine. Bulging discs in the cervical spine, though rarer, may be more serious.
Treatment
Before treatment can begin, your physician will perform diagnostic testing to determine the source of your symptoms. The symptoms of a bulging disc - pain in the back and limbs, numbness, and muscle weakness - can mirror those of other forms of spinal stenosis, and other common spine conditions. Only medical imaging can determine the exact condition.
After the disc is diagnosed, treatment can begin. Usually, the first line of treatment is physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. If these don't work, epidural steroid injections may be used to try to reduce the inflammation in the back.
If conservative treatments fail, or if symptoms are severe or progressive, surgery may be used. Laser spine surgery can be used to treat most bulging discs without the long recovery time and risk of certain side effects associated with traditional spine surgery.
To learn more about treatment for your bulging disc, please click below or call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at (646) 374-1799.
There are three sections of the spine: the cervical spine, which is the neck; the thoracic spine, which is the upper back; and the lumbar spine, which is the lower back. The spinal cord ends before the lumbar spine, becoming the cauda equina instead. A bulging disc causes symptoms associated with the part of the spine it's located in; for example, the lumbar spine innervates the legs and pelvic area, so symptoms can occur in the back, one or both legs, or the bladder. Like most spine conditions, bulging discs are most common in the lumbar spine. Bulging discs in the cervical spine, though rarer, may be more serious.
Treatment
Before treatment can begin, your physician will perform diagnostic testing to determine the source of your symptoms. The symptoms of a bulging disc - pain in the back and limbs, numbness, and muscle weakness - can mirror those of other forms of spinal stenosis, and other common spine conditions. Only medical imaging can determine the exact condition.
After the disc is diagnosed, treatment can begin. Usually, the first line of treatment is physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. If these don't work, epidural steroid injections may be used to try to reduce the inflammation in the back.
If conservative treatments fail, or if symptoms are severe or progressive, surgery may be used. Laser spine surgery can be used to treat most bulging discs without the long recovery time and risk of certain side effects associated with traditional spine surgery.
To learn more about treatment for your bulging disc, please click below or call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at (646) 374-1799.
info@dattaendoscopic.com