Bulging disc symptoms & treatment

A bulging disc is caused by the wear and tear of living. Most of us have them by age 40, yet we may have no symptoms to let us know.

Discs are the parts of the spine that fit in between the vertebrae to cushion them. Sometimes, a spot on a disc starts to get weak and bulge out a little. Over time, it continues to bulge. The supporting ligaments may start to buckle and not do their job as well, either.

Unlike a herniated disc, where the pain occurs quickly, a bulging disc may not hurt much at first. When you rest it or treat it with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, it may get a little better and not bother you for a while. Each time the pain comes back, it may feel a little worse until the point when you decide to make an appointment with a doctor to see what else can be done.

Choose Aurora to care for your bulging disc

• Care that’s focused on you: We work hard to find bulging disc treatment solutions that work for you. You may benefit from a customized physical therapy plan or you may need a minimally invasive surgical procedure. We consider your health goals, personal preferences and lifestyle when creating a care plan. Together, we’ll help you get back to enjoying your life.
• Collaborative orthopedic and neurosurgery care: Our multidisciplinary teams include both orthopedic and neurosurgery experts. We’re one of the only centers in Wisconsin that offers this kind of integrated care. Working together, we provide comprehensive, coordinated care that treats your pain and other symptoms while protecting the health of your spine.
• Minimally invasive techniques: If you need spine surgery, our orthopedic and neurosurgery experts use minimally invasive techniques. Such methods deliver more precise surgery with less damage to healthy tissue than conventional open surgeries. Patients usually have a more comfortable, faster recovery and better long-term results.

Symptoms of a bulging disc

Symptoms from a bulging disc come on slowly over time. You may have neck or back pain, with tingling, numbness or weakness in your arms, hands, legs or feet.

Diagnosis of a bulging disc

When you see one of our doctors for pain you need help with, we’ll conduct a complete medical history, examine your spine and ask you about your pain and how your symptoms developed. We might also:

• Check your reflexes, muscle strength, range of motion and stability
• Perform an MRI so we can see the position of the vertebrae in the area of your pain
• Perform other imaging tests as needed

We will provide an accurate diagnosis and work with you to provide treatment that meets your needs.

Treatment for a bulging disc

Nonsurgical treatment

Nonsurgical bulging disc treatments may include using medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Chiropractic care or physical therapy exercises may also ease the pain. Keeping physically active with low-impact exercises such as walking or swimming can help you maintain flexibility and strengthen muscles that support the spine.

Surgical treatment

If surgery is recommended for a bulging disc, it would be done with a minimally invasive approach. Surgery depends on the location and severity of stenosis or upon whether you’ve had any loss of height. The goal would be to take pressure off the nerves.

Sometimes a fusion is performed. Surgical plates, screws or rods may be used to provide support for the bones.

When removal of the disc is indicated, one of the choices would be to use a cage around the vertebrae on either side of the missing disc and use synthetic bone to fuse them together. Additional support may be provided with surgical plates, rods or screws.

Find a spine specialist

Use our search tool to find the doctor who’s right for you.

Find a spine specialist