A bulging disc, which is also known as a herniated or ruptured vertebral disc, is something many people suffer from. This condition is caused by a mis-alignment of one of the spinal discs, which leaves part of the disc bulging out. This problem can be extremely painful.
The discs are soft and work as cushions between the bony spinal vertebrae, stopping the vertebral bones from rubbing against each other and giving the spine flexibility to move. They also have the function of cushioning the spinal nerves located around the spinal cord.
The discs tend to become brittle and stiff with age, just like most other parts of our bodies. Many begin to experience disc deterioration by the time they are 30 years old. By the time they reach fifty or sixty, most people have lost a lot of their original disc flexibility. And of course, being less flexible, the disc can undergo more damage. Unfortunately, bulging disc is a condition many people will likely suffer from as they age.
What causes a bulging disc to be painful is that when a disc is thrown out of place, some of the spinal nerves get pinched. A bulging disc can be exasperated by other pre-existing conditions such as spinal stenosis, where the space around the spinal cord and spinal nerves gradually narrows. This can happen without the person even knowing what is going on until they feel pain.
Herniation of the disc may happen suddenly, for example when a person lifts something heavy or has an accident or a fall. Then the pain is likely to come on suddenly and severely. In other cases it may happen gradually over time, as the spine is strained over and over. In those cases, the pain may be occasional, becoming more and more of a problem until the person seeks treatment.
Sufferers from a bulging disc will often experience pain like an electric shock that results from the compression of the spinal nerve. This shock type pain may be felt going down your arms (when the problem is in the vertebrae of the neck) or down your legs (when the problem disc is in the lower back region). You may also have tingling or numbness in your arms or legs, and general muscle weakness.
A herniated or bulging disc can also cause problems during urination and bowel movements, and it case cause numbness around the genitals. This should be considered an emergency, and medical attention should be sought immediately.
Surgery can correct this condition, but in most cases, rest is all that’s needed to correct the problem and heal the disc. All types of back problems should be discussed with your physician. Your doctor needs to determine that nothing worse is going on, and it he decides that your problem is a bulging disc, he can prescribe pain medication to make you more comfortable.
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