Low back disc bulge
The term bulging disc implies that most of the disc has extended beyond where it normally sits. This occurs in much of the same way as a pillow bulges out when squashed. This is different from a disc herniation which is a specific area of the disc that moved from where it sits. If a more technical description on the difference between a disc bulge and a disc herniation please see the following articles:
Bulging discs occur with ageing, most individuals will have bulging discs and be completely unaware. At times a disc bulge can be problematic and other times it is nothing more than an incidental finding. For more information on disc degeneration see the following article written by our Balmain and Rozelle chiropractors.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a disc bulge depend on many factors. Most disc bulging is not symptomatic and apart of typical ageing. When there is disc degeneration that accompanies a bulge there may be pain associated with this process (discs causes pain when injured acutely or chronically). If a disc bulge compresses pain-sensitive structures in the low back pain may result. If a nerve becomes irritated, numbness, shooting pain or other neurological symptoms may result.
Treatment
The treatment for a disc bulge depends on its location, the nature of the bulge and the severity of symptoms. Chiropractic treatment is important in the treatment of disc bulges in most cases. Self-management exercise and general exercise recommendations are important when planning effective long term management.
Causes of low back pain
The following conditions are common causes of low back pain.
- Lumbar myelopathy
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Bone Spurs
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- Pinched nerve
- Lumbar radiculopathy
- Lumbar facet joint pain
- Herniated Disc
- Disc protrusion
- Discogenic pain
- Post laminectomy syndrome
- Coccydynia
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondyloarthropathy
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Reiter’s syndrome
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Enteropathic arthritis
- Sciatica
- Sacroiliac disorders
- Foot drop
- Spinal neurofibroma
- Acute low pain
- Chronic low back pain
- Stiff low back
- Trigger points in the low back
- Red flags for low back pain
- Lumbar spondylosis
- Lumbar facet syndrome
- Lumbar foraminal stenosis
- Lumbar disc herniation
- Lumbar osteoarthritis
- Lumbar osteophytes