geordie

Originally Posted by admin

Contrary to popular belief, there is a lot of difference between a bulging disc and a herniated disc. People tend to believe that a herniated disc is a bulging disc or a slipped disk. Here, we will describe the difference, but will concentrate more on a bulging disc.

The spine is made up of thirty-three vertebrae, twenty-seven of which are separated from each other by an ‘Intervertebral disc’. The function of the spinal column is to protect the spinal chord – the nerves that connect the parts of the body to the brain. The Intervertebral discs cushion the vertebrae from grinding against each other and so are constructed specifically for this purpose.

These discs can be thought of like a jam doughnut with the central part being the jam. These discs are constructed of a hard cartilage layer on the outside and a soft spongy substance inside. They serve as very efficient shock absorbers and protect the spine from injury.

With age, the discs get compressed and they begin to bulge. In order to get a clearer idea of a bulging disc, just think of a burger with the filling slipping out from all around the bun. A bulging disc is a natural occurrence and normally does not cause any discomfort; but in some cases bulging discs may cause back pain.

However, in extreme cases, the bulging disc can be a cause of pain if the vertebrae compress too much. There may be an occurrence of one bulging disc or many bulging discs.

A slipped disc or herniated disc is a condition where the hard outer cartilage of the disc ruptures and the soft tissue from inside begins to bulge out of the rupture. (Think of the jam donut analogy above, with the jam starting to ooze out). This can be a very painful condition and may require hospitalization in some cases. However, what is common in many cases, is that the patient suffering from a herniated disc will spend a couple of days in bed while the pain subsides. Then gradual movement is very much encouraged to help convalescence. Some doctors prescribe some exercises and physical therapy to help the recovery.

Though bulging discs are an age-related condition, it can occur in youngsters as well. This is not a cause for concern however.

Treatment for bulging discs may include chiropractic therapy, medicine for pain control and even surgery in extreme cases. However, these methods are usually only resorted to after eight to twelve weeks of conservation treatment have been tried out to relieve the patient from pain and discomfort and if the patient reports no relief in the condition.

The time that should be allowed for conservation treatment will depend on the patient and the doctor treating him or her. With proper treatment a patient with a bulging disc will soon be back to normal, with the patient living a healthy painless lifestyle once again.