Maintaining a healthy spine concerns more than just the bones themselves. The discs between each vertebra, which are made from cartilage and other materials, are extremely important. These small cushions prevent the vertebrae from grinding against one another when you bend or twist your spine. And when one is damaged or out of place, major pain can result.
What is a bulging disc? The term “bulging disc” simply means that one or more of your discs is protruding past the outer edge of the vertebrae around it. Many bulging discs are asymptomatic, but some can cause problems. If it presses on a nearby nerve, debilitating pain can be the result.
What causes a bulging disc? In most cases an injury, such as a bad fall, car accident, or sport-related accident can cause a bulging disc. But age is another important factor. Over time, the outer portion of discs can be weaker. Then pressure from the vertebrae can cause the disc to bulge.
What are the symptoms of a bulging disc? Nearly all cases of bulging discs occur in the lumbar spine. If this is the case, pain will radiate down through the hips, buttocks, legs, and even all the way into your feet. But bulging discs can occur in the upper area of the spine, called the cervical spine, as well. In this case you might feel debilitating pain radiating from your neck down into your arms and even fingers.
Chiropractic treatment for bulging discs. Yes, chiropractic treatments can help to resolve the pain of a bulging disc. Over one or several sessions, gentle chiropractic adjustments can relieve the pressure on the disc so that the problem resolves. Sometimes, special exercises are also prescribed, depending upon the patient’s specific case and overall condition.
If you experience back pain, and suspect a bulging disc or other types of back injury, please call our office to schedule a consultation right away. In many cases we can help you resolve the problem without the need for surgery or pain medications.