- Medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are the first-line medications for a bulging disc.
- Physical therapy.
- Chiropractic.
- Massage.
- Ultrasound therapy.
- Heat or cold.
- Limited bed rest.
- Braces and support devices.
How long is physical therapy for bulging disc?
Duration of treatment can range from 4 to 12 weeks depending on the severity of the symptoms. Patients need to continue with a regiment of stretching, strengthening and stabilization exercises.
Can a bulging disc go back into place?
Non-surgical treatments can include physical therapy or bracing to try and gradually ease the bulging disc back into its rightful place. When these conservative options fail, and there is still a lot of pain, a minimally invasive surgical procedure can be used to correct the bulging disc.
Do bulging discs ever fully heal?
Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer as to whether your disc herniation will fully heal. With treatment, a disc herniation can dry up, shrink or go away. Your body may have an autoimmune response and aid in healing the herniation.
Is L4 L5 disc bulge serious?
Most importantly, an L4-L5 disc bulge can lead to prolonged pain and other, more serious conditions like spondylolisthesis if you delay treatment. Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a vertebra shifts or slips, and can cause significant pain that may require surgery to fix.
Can a chiropractor fix a bulging disc?
Yes! Chiropractic care is the preferred treatment method for many patients suffering from a bulging disc. It is non-invasive and does not require drugs or injections of any kind. Chiropractic can help provide you with improved mobility, decreased pain, and overall better quality of life.
What exercises to avoid with bulging discs?
- Sit-Ups. Sit-ups are difficult to perform correctly and are not recommended for those with a herniated disc due to the pressure that is put on the lower back.
- Squats.
- Cycling.
- Standing Hamstring Stretch.
- Deadlifts.
- High Impact Aerobic Activity.
- Leg Press.
- Straight Leg Raises.
What causes you to have a bulging disc?
A bulging disk usually results from aging, but it can also be due to spinal injury, such as the result of a car accident. An injury could also cause symptoms to become more severe. Other risk factors include: engaging in some types of physical activity, especially if they involve repetitive movements.
What does a neurologist do for a bulging disc?
If surgery is necessary, your neurosurgeon will gauge the severity of your condition and either repair, remove or replace the disc. To remove the damaged portion of the disc, your neurosurgeon will perform a discectomy or microdiscectomy using minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever possible.
Which is worse bulging or herniated disk?
Herniated discs are considered more severe than bulging discs because they put significant pressure on nearby nerves, which can cause intense pain, inflammation and difficulties with movement.
Can you feel a bulging disc with your fingers?
In most cases, when a bulging disc has reached this stage it is near or at herniation. Tingling or pain in the fingers, hands, arms, neck or shoulders. This could indicate a bulging disc in the cervical area.
Do steroid injections help bulging discs?
Corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation and can be effective when delivered directly into the painful area. Unfortunately, the injection does not make a herniated disc smaller; it only works on the spinal nerves by flushing away the proteins that cause swelling.
What are the symptoms of L5 nerve damage?
L5 NERVE ROOT DAMAGE This pain can come in the form of numbness, tingling, weakness and shooting and is commonly felt in the big toe, inside of the foot, top of the foot and ankle. Radiculopathy of the L5 nerve may also cause loss of coordination in the foot and toes.
What happens if a bulging disc goes untreated?
If a bulging disc is untreated, the symptoms will become worse as the constant pressure on the nerve intensifies the sensations. This can also cause issues with walking, and even while holding objects, as the pressure impedes the ability of the nerves to transmit information properly.
Is a bulging disc permanent?
Once a healthy disc herniates, it will never return to its normal anatomical state—the disease or injury is permanent in nature.
What are the symptoms of L4-L5 nerve damage?
Common symptoms and signs include: Sharp pain, typically felt as a shooting and/or burning feeling that originates in the lower back and travels down the leg in the distribution of a specific nerve, sometimes affecting the foot. Numbness in different parts of the thigh, leg, foot, and/or toes.
What causes L4-L5 disc bulge?
Causes Of Bulging Disc Already existing annulus weakness. Body mechanics and poor posture that put stress on the spinal disc. Torsion of disc from repetitive work with a lot of bending, twisting or lifting. Sitting, standing driving or working for long periods of time.
What nerves does L4-L5 affect?
The L4 and L5 nerves (along with other sacral nerves) contribute to the formation of the large sciatic nerve that runs down from the rear pelvis into the back of the leg and terminates in the foot.
Is ice or heat better for a bulging disc?
Heat or Ice for Herniated Disc Pain Treatment Heat and ice can be used to treat the symptoms of pain associated with the muscle spasm from a cervical herniated disc. As a general rule, use ice for the first 24 hours after this injury and then use whichever feels better after that.
What is the difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc?
Bulging and Herniated Discs Explained “A bulging disc is like letting air out of a car tire. The disc sags and looks like it is bulging outward. With a herniated disc, the outer covering of the disc has a hole or tear. This causes the nucleus pulposus (jelly-like center of the disc) to leak into the spinal canal.”
What is the difference between a bulging disc and a pinched nerve?
A bulging disc may cause low-level chronic pain due to impingement on the spinal cord or spinal nerves, which is usually not as severe as with a herniated disc due to its gradual onset. A pinched nerve arises when a nerve is compressed by a surrounding structure, disrupting its conduction of electrical signals.
How is L5-S1 disc bulge treatment?
Treatment of L5-S1 usually begins with: Medication. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually tried first for pain stemming from L5-S1. For more severe pain, prescription medication, such as opioids, tramadol, and/or corticosteroids may be used.
How do you sleep with l4 L5 disc bulge?
Sleeping on the stomach is typically preferred, as this position can relieve pressure on the disc space. People with degenerative disc disease may feel most comfortable using a relatively firm mattress while placing a flat pillow under the stomach and hips.
How long does L5-S1 pain last?
Generally, the pain resolves in 4-6 weeks’ time. You should restrict your activities that are causing aggravation of pain, pain medications, ice/heat therapy, physical rehabilitation will help in your recovery.
Will an MRI show a bulging disc?
MRI scan is the best non-invasive test available to find herniated and bulging discs and annular tears. Because the spatial resolution of spinal anatomy can be defined to 0.5mm with an MRI scan, doctors can identify with over 95% accuracy the herniated discs in the spine.