Bulging vs Herniated Disc: Understanding the Differences
Did you know that almost 16 million American adults experience chronic or persistent back pain?
If you are dealing with back pain yourself and are trying to figure out the main difference between bulging vs herniated disc, you are in the right place. We are going to go over what each one is to clear up any confusion.
Read on to learn more.
What Is a Bulging Disc?
When the spine has active trauma brought on by either repetitive movement, poor posture, injury, or improper form during lifting, it can cause a bulging disc. This is one of the most common types of disc injuries.
Usually, a bulging disc is not diagnosed unless the person is having routine physical exams. When it comes to a bulging disc, the symptoms tend to progress very slowly. The most common symptoms include chronic pain in the legs, difficulty with walking, and numbness in the buttocks and lower back.
For those suffering with a bulging disc, there are several treatment options available. Short term solutions will address the pain from the nerve cluster being pressed. Long term solutions will include muscle relaxers and in some cases opioids.
You can get more information from doctors about treating bulging discs and back pain.
Herniated Disc in Depth
The cause of a herniated disc is age. As we get older, the bones in our spine become weaker. In some cases, sudden movements, active trauma, an accident, or a blow to the spine can cause a herniated disc.
Because the core can rupture and cause chaos in the body, a herniated disc is a lot more serious. The symptoms for bulging and herniated discs are pretty similar. There is discomfort around the area, weakness, tingling, numbness in the shoulders, and acute pain that is triggered by either walking or moving.
The older you are, the more you have to be careful about your movements to avoid getting a herniated disc. One main difference with herniated discs is that the severe pain can sometimes require having surgery to help ease the pain.
For those considering surgery, it is important to speak to a doctor about all the risks associated with this type of surgery. Because of the high risk that comes with spine surgery, most doctors do not recommend it as the primary method of treatment unless it is a true emergency.
The symptoms of herniated discs tend to show up immediately, vs a slow progression like bulging discs. Keep in mind that in rare cases, people live with a herniated disc without it being detected.
Feeling Like a Bulging vs Herniated Disc Pro?
Now you know the main difference in the bulging vs herniated disc debate. One is caused more from age, while the other is more from repetitive movements. One thing they have in common is they both hurt and cause pain.
If this blog post helped you out, please continue browsing this section for our latest tips and tricks.
