Bulging disc is a spinal condition that is also medically called spinal disc herniation where the intervertebral disc‘s annulus fibrous or the outer fibrous ring allows the soft inner portion called the nucleus pulposus to bulge out or press beyond the outer rings that are damaged.
Bulging disc is a disorder that is related to the natural process of aging when the discs start to degenerate due to the regular and wear of life. However, this disorder may also take place due to a trauma or injury to the back. The main symptom of a bulging disc is severe back pain that a person suffers because of the nerve root compression.
Bulging Discs Locations
Majority of the time, bulging discs occur in the lumbar or the lower back region of the spinal column and the second spinal region where this condition can occur is the cervical region. Finding thoracic bulging discs is quite a rare scenario and these cases are s few and rare as 0.15% to 4.0%.
Cervical Bulging Discs
This is the second most common site for bulging discs to occur. This type of herniation occurs in the neck and it usually occurs between vertebral bodies C6/7 (sixth and seventh) and C5/6 (fifth and sixth). When a person suffers from cervical bulging discs the affected areas include the neck, shoulder, arms, and hands, back of the skull, girdle and scapula. Apart from these areas the cervical plexus as well as the brachial plexus nerves are also affected from cervical bulging discs.
Lumbar Bulging Discs
The lumbar region accounts for 95% of the bulging discs cases that occur (L4-L5 or L5-S1). The lumbar region is the lower back region of the spinal column and the bulging disc in this column most usually occurs in the vertebral bodies in the fourth and fifth segment or the fifth and the sacrum. When a person suffers from lumbar bulging discs the lower back as well as the thighs, buttocks as well as the genital or anal region feel the affect. This problem may also trickle down to the foot and the toe as the patient suffering from lumbar bulging disc may also suffer from sciatica pain.
Treatment
Most of the time, bulging disc doctor prefer treating this condition through conservative treatment therapy that includes physical therapy, pain medications, heat and ice therapy as well as massage therapy.