Disc Bulging - What It Is, What Causes It, And What You Can Do For Relief
pain from a bulging disc can be one of the most frustrating types of pain to live with. Not only will disc bulging case pain, it will also tend to cause a great deal of disability because of the effect it has on the nerves of the spine, which control everything in the body.
This article will cover some important details about this condition – what disc bulging is, what causes it, the symptoms associated with it, and the most effective therapies available for disc bulging.
disc bulging is one of the more serious problems that can develop in the back. In order for us to have a good understanding of what this condition is and how it causes pain, we first need to have a brief discussion of what a normal spinal disc is.
The spinal discs are simply cushions that separate each set of bones of the spine. Each one is composed of a strong outer covering called the annulus, and a soft jelly center called the nucleus.
When a person develops disc bulging, the annulus of the disc tears and the jelly in the center of the disc begins to shift where the disc is damaged. This creates a bulge in the wall of the disc, which is why this condition is often referred to as a bulging disc.
One interesting fact about the discs of the spine that you may not be aware of is that they are designed to not feel pain. This makes sense if you think of the main purpose of the discs, which is to absorb shock. If you could feel this occurring, you would be in pain all the time, with every movement that you make.
However, if you’re living with disc bulging, you know that this can cause severe pain. So, why does this occur if the spinal discs can not cause you to feel pain?
Well, if you take a closer look at the back, you will notice that the nerves of the spine are located directly behind each spinal disc. Because most discs will develop the bulge at the back of the disc where the nerves are located, they tend to apply pressure to these nerves, which is what causes all of the pain.
In addition to the pain, disc herniated will also cause a great deal of dysfunction in the body because the nerves of the spine control everything in the body. So, whatever the affected nerve controls will start to break down and stop functioning properly.
For example, disc bulging in the cervical spine will not only cause neck pain, but will also commonly lead to shoulder and arm pain, weakness or numbness, headaches, blurred vision, chest pains, and even ringing in the ears.
In the middle back, disc bulging will cause middle back pain, pain radiating around the rib cage, shoulder and arm pain, chest pains, and even difficulty breathing.
In the lower back, the most common symptoms are low back pain, pain radiating down the legs, numbness in the feet and toes, weakness in the legs (even to the point where you can’t stand because of how weak the legs become), pain while going to the bathroom, and problems with the bowel and bladder (usually an inability to maintain control of when you go to the bathroom).
The cause of disc bulging is most commonly an injury of some sort. Some examples would be an auto accident, or even lifting something heavy. There is also a hereditary component to this condition. So, if you have other family members who have had disc bulging (or any spinal condition, for that matter), there is a chance that you could be born with weaker disc walls, which would predispose you to developing disc bulging.
Lifestyle also plays a role in developing disc bulging. People who smoke, for example, are more likely to develop disc problems because the toxins will weaken the disc wall. This is true for anything toxic within the body, such as alcohol, poor diet, or even problems with the cleansing organs of the body (such as the kidneys, liver, and spleen).
The most common therapies for pain from a bulging disc include medications (usually muscle relaxers and pain killers), injections (usually cortisone and epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery in the worst cases.
The success rates of these therapies, however, are not very high. The primary reason for this is because their main purpose is to numb the affected nerve. Although that may sound good at first (because the nerve is causing the pain), if you do not find a way to heal the disc, the pain will return because that is the cause of the problem.
There are a number of other therapies that I have found to be more successful with this condition, but it’s truly a combination of treatments that I have found to be most successful.
If you would like to learn more about the most effective therapies for pain from a bulging disc, as well as the combination of those therapies that I recommend for the best results, you can click here (disc herniated) to get all the details.
Filed under: Diseases And Conditions
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