Bulging disc or herniated disc, they are the same thing: they both talk about the cushioning discs of the spinal column which somehow inflames and bulges out causing pain and difficulty in movement to the one who is experiencing it.
When it comes to the spine, people immediately get tense as they can imagine all sorts of urban tales relating from tingling all the way to paralysis. Then of course there are the tales involving the inevitable surgery where tales of woe and horror are passed on from one to the other.
Symptoms of a bulging disc really depend on the patient. There are times when the patient feels no pain at all, or is asymptomatic and the bulge simply heals by itself or can only be discovered if and when the patient goes through an imaging scan for another problem, not related to back pains. For those who are symptomatic, the patient will usually feel acute pain and discomfort on the lower extremities, upper extremities or other parts of the body. It really depends on the location of the spine in relation to the parts affected.
There are four segments or divisions of the spine. The cervical which controls the neck above and the rest of the body, the thoracic which controls the trunk area, the lumbar which controls the lower back and lower extremities and the sacral or the pelvic area. When going for a check up with the doctor, it's best to make sure that the course and area of the pain are monitored. With the information readily available, the doctor will not find it hard to determine the exact area of the bulging disc.
A bulging disc can be treated with pain medications, rest and surgery. When it comes to managing the pain, it is best that the treatments be under the direct and vigilant supervision of a doctor. There have been a lot of cases of patients getting too dependent on the pain medications and addiction may have to be addressed.
The only time a doctor will talk surgery to a patient with a bulging disc complaint is when all other treatments failed and the conditions worsens or the disc will rupture.
When it comes to the spine, people immediately get tense as they can imagine all sorts of urban tales relating from tingling all the way to paralysis. Then of course there are the tales involving the inevitable surgery where tales of woe and horror are passed on from one to the other.
Symptoms of a bulging disc really depend on the patient. There are times when the patient feels no pain at all, or is asymptomatic and the bulge simply heals by itself or can only be discovered if and when the patient goes through an imaging scan for another problem, not related to back pains. For those who are symptomatic, the patient will usually feel acute pain and discomfort on the lower extremities, upper extremities or other parts of the body. It really depends on the location of the spine in relation to the parts affected.
There are four segments or divisions of the spine. The cervical which controls the neck above and the rest of the body, the thoracic which controls the trunk area, the lumbar which controls the lower back and lower extremities and the sacral or the pelvic area. When going for a check up with the doctor, it's best to make sure that the course and area of the pain are monitored. With the information readily available, the doctor will not find it hard to determine the exact area of the bulging disc.
A bulging disc can be treated with pain medications, rest and surgery. When it comes to managing the pain, it is best that the treatments be under the direct and vigilant supervision of a doctor. There have been a lot of cases of patients getting too dependent on the pain medications and addiction may have to be addressed.
The only time a doctor will talk surgery to a patient with a bulging disc complaint is when all other treatments failed and the conditions worsens or the disc will rupture.
About the Author:
Vern Zackerack examines spinal disc problems at his site, Bulging-Disc-Treatment. Read more about degenerative disc disease treatment and bulging disc.
