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You might hear “herniated disc” and “bulging disc” and never realize that they’re two different issues. Herniated and bulging discs are each two back problems which will cause you pain, amongst other issues. Nevertheless, one normally stems from an injury, while the opposite arises as you age. Although you would possibly not feel the difference, a back pain specialist can discover the difference through an evaluation and diagnostic testing.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc, also often known as a slipped disc, is a problem that happens when you might have a tear within the outer shell of your disc, and the contents may begin to seep through this opening.
Signs of a Herniated Disc
When the contents of the disc leak out of the disc, it could irritate the encompassing nerves and tissue. As compared to a bulging disc, this disc issue is more prone to cause you pain and discomfort. Sometimes though, a herniated disc causes no problems, so it’s possible you’ll not know you might have a herniated disc.
Should you experience symptoms from a herniated disc, you would possibly have pain around where the slipped disc is. You experience the pain since the contents of the disc places pressure on the encompassing soft tissue and nerves. Because the contents can press against the nerves, you may additionally suffer from burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in that location of your back.
Depending on the placement of the slipped disc, it’s possible you’ll even have arm or leg pain. As an illustration, if you might have a herniated disc in your lower pack, the pain can radiate to your buttock, calf, or thigh. The weakness, numbness, and tingling might also affect these areas. Alternatively, a herniated disc in your neck or upper back could cause these symptoms in your arms.
Causes of a Herniated Disc
Your discs develop into less flexible, less hydrated, and more prone to injury as your age. Once your disc undergoes this process often known as degeneration, it’s possible you’ll injure your disc whenever you lift a heavy object improperly or turn suddenly.
Certain risk aspects increase your possibilities of a slipped disc, including:
- Being obese
- Having a job where you perform repetitive motions
- Being a smoker
Bulging Disc
A bulging disc is different than a herniated disc since the contents of the disc remain inside it. You, nonetheless, many lose among the contents of the disc, and the disc won’t have the pliability that it once did. Moreover, the disc may change shape.
Signs of a Bulging Disc
You may not experience any symptoms of a bulging disc. Generally, a bulging disc doesn’t protrude as much as a herniated disc.
Alternatively, some people experience pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness since the disc presses against the encompassing nerves and tissue.
Causes of a Bulging Disc
A bulging disc occurs when the aging process affects your discs. As you age, the outer shell of your disc weakens. As this happens, the contents of the disc, which is soft and jellylike, presses against the outer edges.
Ultimately, this pressure causes the disc to expand. If it expands evenly on either side, the disc looks like a big hamburger on a small bun, as noted by the Mayo Clinic. A bulging disc doesn’t all the time bulge evenly, though. In other words, the bulging may only occur on one side.
The danger aspects related to a bulging disc are similar to a herniated disc.
Schedule an appointment with Specialists in Pain Management, serving Chattanooga, Ooltewah, and the encompassing Tennessee areas, if you might have back pain or other signs of a bulging or herniated disc.
