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Bulging disc is a condition in which the external wall of a spinal disc, the annulus fibrosus, is weakened and allows the soft internal material of the disc, the nucleus pulposus, to push outward.
Bulging disc causes can include one or a combination of the following:
- Spinal disc degeneration
- Aging
- Injury - traumatic or the accumulation of smaller injuries over time
- Arthritis
- More
Symptoms of a Bulging Disc
In most cases, the condition goes unnoticed because it does not put pressure on any nerve roots or the spinal cord, so no symptoms form. Even for the minority of cases that do cause symptoms, the bulging disc usually heals on its own with time and without the need for significant treatments.
A bulging disc can have many causes, but the symptoms resulting from them are usually quite similar. They differ only in the area of the body that they affect, and perhaps, severity. For example, a bulging disc that compresses a nerve root between vertebrae C1to C7 may cause symptoms in the head, neck, shoulders, upper back, and arms because the nerves in this region extend out to these parts of the body.
The symptoms a bulging disc causes can include:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Headaches
- Tingling or pins and needles
- Muscle spasms
- Weakness
For more information on bulging disc causes, or to discuss your treatment options with an LSI spine doctor, contact us. We'll review your MRI or CT scan free of charge and let you know if you qualify for one of our minimally invasive procedures to treat a bulging disc.