Discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. An outer layer of tough cartilage surrounds softer cartilage in the center. A bulging disc is a condition usually related to your lumbar spine region. Typically it is the outer layer of tough cartilage that bulges. It occurs when a disc bulges through a crevice in the spine extending outside the space it should normally occupy. This condition is considered to be part of the normal aging process and is commonly seen on MRIs of people in every age group. This condition usually occurs gradually over time and will be painless unless the disc becomes herniated, ruptures or protrudes into a nerve.
Treatment of a bulging disc is typically conservative in most cases. Physicians will commonly recommend rest and lifting restrictions and may also recommend a combination of heat and ice therapy. Anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and/or pain relievers may be prescribed. The physicians at AOK Spine and Pain will examine you and determine the best treatment plan for your condition.