Herniated/bulging disc treatment - overview, symptoms
A herniated or bulging disc is a problem with one of the rubbery spinal discs that stack up to make your spine. Those rubbery spinal discs are a bit like a jelly donut, with a softer center inside a tougher exterior. Disc bulges or herniations occur when the softer center pushes out through a tear in the exterior.
A herniated or bulging disc can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in your arm or leg, depending on where the disc problem is occurring. However, many people with herniated or bulging discs experience no symptoms at all. A disc issue does not necessarily mean that you will have pain, as many people have disc issues but no symptoms at all.
What does a herniated disc feel like?
Discs themselves have pain receptors, so injury or strain to the tissue of the disc can be painful and cause pain in the spine. If that disc begins to compress the nearby nerve root, it can cause radiating pain outward away from the spine, typically into the arms and upper back (if it is a cervical (neck) disc), or into the buttocks or legs (if it is a lumbar (low back) disc).
What causes a disc to herniate or bulge?
Discs in the spine are filled with fluid. That fluid is surrounded by layers of tough tissue made up of ligaments and connective tissue. Imagine a jelly filled donut; Increased pressure on one side of the donut will cause the jelly filling to begin to move the opposite direction. If this occurs with enough force, pressure, or time, it will begin to stress the outer material of that donut. When we stay in poor posture or do repeated activities, such as lifting heavy items, bending, or twisting, the outside wall of the disc can begin to weaken and eventually the fluid will push out enough to cause a disc bulge or herniation
Do I need an X-ray or MRI?
An X-ray will not give you much information about a disc other than a basic estimate of disc height. An MRI does provide some information about the disc and can find a disc herniation or bulge. However, close to 70% of the pain-free population has abnormal MRI findings and without any symptoms or pain. An X-ray or MRI cannot determine how that disc bulge or herniation will change with different movements because it is a static image of your spine. A physical therapy evaluation can determine what types of movements make pain from a disc problem better and what movements make it feel worse. Physical therapy is the best initial treatment for a herniated or bulging disc. Our skilled Doctors of Physical therapy will prescribe movements and exercises that reduce pressure on the disc and allow for healing, whereas An MRI can often lead to more referrals and more expensive medical costs.
Herniated and bulging disc treatment options
Physical therapy is an effective first-line treatment option for a herniated or bulging disc. Our doctors of physical therapy are very experienced in helping people recover from a disc injury. They will first assess you to determine the root cause of your pain, check for range of motion and strength loss, and discuss your goals for physical therapy. Physical therapy treatment for a herniated or bulging disc may include stretches or exercises to reduce pain, manual therapy like joint mobilizations and massage, and strengthening exercises to improve spine stability and reduce the risk for recurrent injury. Depending on what your goals are, our doctors of physical therapy will help you return to normal activity after a disc injury, whether that is lifting weights in the gym or caring for children or grandchildren without pain. We also offer specialized treatment options that can help alleviate symptoms of disc issues in the short-term, such as dry needling, massage and manual therapy.
About Rise Physical Therapy
Hi, and welcome to Rise Physical Therapy.
Rise exists because we believe there is a demand for honest and ethical therapy that truly makes a difference in people's lives. After years of working in healthcare, we realized that the industry had lost its focus on the patient. So we decided to start our own clinics in Northwest Arkansas to focus on providing our patients the very best in one-on-one physical therapy. We wouldn't have it any other way.
Thanks for swinging by the site, and we hope to see you soon.
