What Are the Symptoms of a Bulging Disk?

Disks in the back are cushion like areas that lie between the various vertebrae in the spine. The outer layer of the disk is a hard cartilage that surrounds a soft interior. A bulging disk occurs outside the space it should normally occupy.

Aging

• A bulging disk is considered a normal part of aging. It can easily be recognized on an MRI. It is common in both the young and the old, and sometimes does not cause any pain, problem or concern at all.

Numbness and Pain

• Often a bulging disc will not cause problems. When it presses on or against a nerve and causes numbness and pain, treatment is necessary.

Pain Not Limited to the Back

• A bulging disk can cause pain, pins and needles and numbness in the arms, the legs, the buttocks, the fingers, the neck and the feet. Some patients often mistake the cause and the culprit. A complete medical exam and MRI can locate the bulging disk.

Degree of Pain

• The degree and the amount of pain will result from which disc is pressing on which nerve. Weakness in the arms, legs, feet and fingers may also result.

Activity

• The pain from a bulging disk can get worse with activity, exercise, driving, bending, coughing, sneezing and even sitting. Rest alleviates much of the pain.

Causes

• A bulging disk often occurs after an injury, a fall or a sprain. Many are treated with physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medicines as well as rest. Surgery is always the last resort.