These discs sit between the vertebrae in the spine, absorbing the pressure of upper body weight and allowing for basic movement and flexibility. Bulging discs and spinal anatomyĪ bulging disc in the spine occurs when a weakened disc bulges out of its normal place in the spinal column. While the best person to consult with for your individual situation is your primary care doctor, the following information can help you be more engaged in the treatment process. Whether you have been recently diagnosed with this condition or are researching spine conditions to find a cause to your neck or back pain, educating yourself as a patient is important. This can make simple activities, like sitting at your desk, grocery shopping or even relaxing after a hard day, difficult to impossible. Symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness that are usually the result of spinal narrowing and nerve compression. Decompression with Interlaminar Stabilization®Ī bulging disc in the spine can have a serious effect on your ability to lead a normal life.Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Ulnar Nerve Entrapment.This article is copyrighted by Blogging Chiropractors for its Doctor of Chiropractic members and may not be copied or duplicated in any manner including printed or electronic media, regardless of whether for a fee or gratis without the prior written permission of Blogging Chiropractors. Some people are able to prolong their need for surgery, while others avoid surgery completely. You might discover that you can decrease your pain and begin moving about easier again. If you have been told that surgery is your only option, it’s time to seek the services of a chiropractor first. You might find relief after one appointment, but it is important to keep seeking care from your chiropractor when you are trying to get help for a bulging or herniated disc.Ĭhiropractic care is a safe, holistic way to treat pain, stiffness and swelling caused from a bulging or herniated disc. You will be taught strengthening exercises to keep your spine in alignment. Decompression strategies such as stretching and traction are used to open up the space between your vertebrae. If you are in pain because of a herniated or bulging disc, chiropractic treatment can ease some pressure on your disc. Treatment for Bulging and Herniated Discs Once problem areas are identified, your chiropractor creates a treatment plan to address these areas. Your chiropractor will want to look at any imaging that has been done on your spine to see what your discs look like. Chiropractic treatment begins with a careful assessment of what is going on in your spine to cause pain, stiffness or inflammation. You can find pain relief by working with a chiropractor, but it’s important to work with your chiropractor on a consistent basis. Chiropractic Assessments For Disc ProblemsĬhiropractic care looks at the overall function of your spine to determine what can be done about areas that are out of alignment. Herniated discs tend to reach nerve endings more readily than bulging discs, resulting in nerve pain that can be difficult to treat. It means you have damage to the outer layer of your disc, and you are more likely to experience pain. Your doctor might also call a herniated disc a ruptured or slipped disc. When you have a herniated disc, there is damage to the tough outer layer of cartilage and the inner layer is protruding out from the tear. Herniated discs are different from a bulging disc.
While damage can occur if you have a bulging disc, decompression strategies to open up the area with chiropractic care can reduce pain and inflammation in the area. The whole disc doesn’t have to be impacted, but the bulge tends to be fairly even throughout the disc. If the space between vertebrae narrows, you might experience pain, stiffness or poor range of motion in the area.Ī bulging disc occurs when the outer layer of your disc becomes compressed, and the disc becomes more flattened. The cartilage can become stiff and dehydrated, giving you less cushion and shrinking the space between your vertebrae. Injuries can cause a disc to bulge or become herniated. The outer layer is tough cartilage, while the interior of discs is softer. Discs are the cushioning in your spine that act as shock absorbers and prevent vertebrae from rubbing together.