All About Bulging Spinal Discs

Bulging disc is a fairly common condition. A bulging spinal disc is an intervertebral disc extending beyond its normal boundary. It causes pain when it bulges into a nerve tissue of the spinal cord. The amount of pain will depend upon how far it bulges, and the direction in which it bulges.

A bulging disc is like a volcano which is about to erupt and it may cause the herniation of the spinal disc. It can also enter into the spinal canal without breaking open. Its interior, which is like a gel, does not leak out. The disc does not break but a small bubble is formed on the disc.

The symptoms of a bulging spinal disc depend on its the location in the spine. Therefore the symptoms can be different in different people. For example; some people have pain and discomfort in legs and feet that indicates a bulging disc. Still others may experience symptoms in the form of pain in the arms and other parts of the body.

Such a disc can become a problem because of the pressure it puts on the nerves in the spinal column. The symptoms are not common because the spinal nerves travel all around the body so the pain experienced by different people happens in different parts of the body.

A bulging disc can be caused by a host of reasons. It can happen due to the deterioration of the disc with age. Sometimes, it can also be caused by strenuous lifting and twisting.

Some examples of the bulging spinal disc include a bulging cervical disc, and bulging lumbar disc.

Bulging cervical disc is a problem of the cervical region of the spine. It is the portion of the backbone that facilitates the turning of the head in all directions. It is prone to an injury because of the presence of small bones that support the weight of the head. Aging and other general activities can cause a bulging cervical disc. It is not necessarily a problem, but a complication can arise if it presses against a nerve. A bulging lumbar disc, on the other hand, happens due to the loss of water in the intervertebral disc due to which it becomes dry and the nucleus bulges out.

There are precautions that need to be taken in the case of a bulging spinal disc and a good physiotherapist should be contacted. If not, it could lead to big problems if aggravated beyond control.

Degenerative Spine