What is a bulging disc?
A bulging disc is a common injury that occurs at the intervertebral disc of the spine. This injury occurs when the disc gets compressed and the disc gel pushes onto the nerve roots. A good way to think of the mechanism of injury is to picture a strawberry jam donut. You have the donut shell (hard layer) and then you have the strawberry jam on the inside the donut (soft layer). The donut represents the disc and if you squeeze the donut a bit too hard then the strawberry jam will start to spill out of the donut. The area of injury can happen in the upper, middle and lower back. However, most bulging disc occur at the lower back (lumbar spine). The term bulging disc is also often referred to as a slipped disc or disc herniation. This injury can be caused from trauma to the disc e.g. a heavy lift. It can also be caused from the natural ageing process.
Signs and symptoms:
- Back pain during movement
- Muscle spasms
- Weakness and numbness radiating down the leg
- Difficulty walking
Diagnosis:
Medical imaging is the most common method used to diagnose a bulging disc. MRI and CT scan can be used to determine the location and the severity of our bulging disc. We are often told that if a bulging disc appears on the scans, then that is the cause of your back pain. This can definitely be an anxious experience for many people. However, it is important to note that we are much more than our scans. Did you know that 50% of 40 year old adults have disc bulges and report no pain? This means you can live a normal and pain free life with a disc bulge present in the spine.
How do I treat a bulging disc? Physiotherapy is an effective evidenced-based way to treat a bulging disc. You might be asking does a bulging disc go away? You will be happy to know that disc can heal on its own and that physiotherapy strength training is a great way to help this healing process. Physiotherapy is usually the first line of treatment before surgical consideration. In most cases, people can make a full recovery even if the disc bulge is still present, many people will be able to be free of symptoms and lower back pain. The physiotherapy