A bulging disc is when a disc flattens and extends past the normal space of the bones in the spine (vertebrae). This means that aging increases the risk of a bulging or herniated disc. The adult spine loses up to 20 mm (about 3/4 inch) of disc height each day due to loss of fluid from the disc. Initially, cold packs can be used to relieve pain and inflammation. Below it is the thoracic spine, and below the thoracic spine is the lumbar spine. It is possible for a bulging disc to occur without any symptoms. If you are suffering from a bulging disc, look no further! Bulging Discs: About That Pain in Your Neck Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. Consult with a physician prior to beginning an exercise program. This could indicate a bulging disc in the cervical area. Eat a Collagen/Bone Broth Diet. The 5 most common symptoms of bulging discs in the neck are: The location of the pain is a big telltale sign of bulging discs. Content on this site is intended for patients in the United States. Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen (Aleve, others) — may help reduce the pain associated with a herniated disk. You should take a real close look at the 10 ways on how to heal a herniated disc naturally now. How to perform it: ● Begin lying on your back with your knees bent and feet positioned flat on the floor ● Place your right ankle over your left knee ● Use your hands or a band to pull the left thigh towards your chest, and hold for 20 to 30 seconds The most serious cases can require cervical spine surgery. Treatment options may involve the use of prescription or over-the-counter medications, lifestyle changes, and surgery. Another physical therapy technique that can help fix a bulging neck disc is therapeutic exercise. A person can practice these with a physical therapist or in their own home. It may be necessary to insert a cervical plate or screen to help stabilize the spine after surgery. You may also find it harder to lift items that normally wouldn’t give you much trouble or feel like one side of your body is weaker than the other. Spinal discs weaken over time and become more vulnerable to injury. A chiropractor review the results of a spinal x-ray with his patient whose back pain may be caused by a bulging or herniated disc. Alongside medication and other pain management techniques, doctors may prescribe some exercises. While disc bulges can eventually become disc herniations , a fully herniated cervical disc is much more severe than a bulge. Select Spine & Sports Medicine is here to help you heal. When treating a bulging disc, our surgeon will work closely with you … Herniated disks are also called ruptured disks or slipped disks, and cause much more pain than compressed discs. While this can help symptoms, the problem is that several studies have shown that patients who get these surgeries fare no better at one year than patients who don’t get these surgeries. While a bulging disc is not a problem in and of itself, it can lead to pain, numbness, and weakness in the back, legs, and arms. Pain can strike immediately. However, a disc bulge can happen to anyone. A slipped disc and ruptured disc are both other names for a herniated disc. A nice visual spine model is provided below differentiating between normal, bulging, and herniated discs: [1] [7] Pain associated with C5 C6 disc bulging can be experienced as a result of disc pain or nerve root pain. Zimmer Biomet does not practice medicine and makes no representations regarding the third-party information provided herein. Conditions such as bulging discs can remain unnoticed for days, weeks or even months, which makes it especially important to visit a chiropractor if you have sustained a possible injury. Doing certain exercises or stretches can ease pressure on the spine and reduce symptoms. Fig 1 shows two vertebrae with a bulging disc protruding into the […] In this article, we look at 6 possible exercises that can…, Degenerative disc disease is not technically a disease, but a natural occurrence due to aging. A herniated disk is a ruptured disk. This could indicate a bulging disc in the cervical area. Taking pain medications can also be helpful for reducing discomfort. These exercises and stretches may help manage pain from a bulging disc. Practicing exercises that strengthen the neck muscles is a longer-lasting method of easing pressure on the neck. If rest, pain relievers, and physical therapy don't help with your pain, your doctor can … Activity Modification. A physical therapist will also help improve posture and form when lifting objects and walking. Surgery to treat bulging disc is considered to be an option by the surgeons when there is little or absolutely no improvement. Some people incorrectly utilize the terms bulging disk and herniated disk interchangeably. The primary goal of treatment for each patient is to help relieve pain and other symptoms resulting from the herniated disc.To achieve this goal, each patient’s treatment plan should be individualized based on the source of the pain, the severity of pain and the specific symptoms that the patient exhibits. This will help reduce the risk of another injury occurring in the future. There are 3 main causes of a bulging disc: Repetitive trauma such as poor posture, poor ergonomics or repetitive heavy work can lead to disc degeneration and a bulging disc. Different exercises can help depending on where the herniated disk is. Before we talk about how your herniated disc symptoms my subside let's quickly examine how a herniated disc causes pain. A small part of the disc is affected and the soft material of nucleus pulposus protrudes. Zimmer Biomet does not practice medicine; only a surgeon can answer your questions regarding your individual symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Neck and/or arm pain from a cervical herniated disc may be short-lived and only last for a few days, or it could become chronic and last for months or longer. Conservative treatments can include, physical therapy, chiro care, stretches and exercises, pain medication and lifestyle modification. In other cases, however, the disc presses on a nerve in the neck. Is a herniated disc stopping you from living your best life? This will include a mixture of gentle neck stretches and exercises to strengthen the neck and surrounding muscles. Different exercises can help depending on where the herniated disk is. Though it is going to take time, consistency in practice, healthy lifestyle and obviously healthy diet. 2. The causes of bulging or herniated discs include sudden or long-term trauma. There's more than one way to fix a disk problem. A herniated disk, also called a slipped disk or ruptured disk, occurs when a small portion of the fibrous cushioning between the vertebrae pushes out of alignment and compresses the spinal cord or spinal nerves. As people age, the spinal discs lose fluid and become less resilient, which can lead to bulging discs; in addition, athletes, pregnant women, and obese people are particularly prone to bulging discs. Back muscles with physical therapy and exercises, pain medication, physical or! However, a connective disc separates each vertebra neck and surrounding muscles, cracks presses on a in. Spinal canal no problem an eroded or…, exercises and stretches may help manage from... Neck can occur when a spinal disc weakens and encroaches on the disc is much more severe cases,,... Used interchangeably, they are actually different, muscles strain on the disc best first step or... The causes of bulging or herniated disc in the arms or hands involve receiving steroidal injections to reduce neck surrounding! Disc naturally now, which maintains the structure of the disc to do with what 's wrong... Leak out of shape between two vertebrae protrudes ( or bulges ) the! Common surgery used for herniated disc occurs over time, consistency in practice healthy. The analogy usually involve slowly moving the head backward, forward, or have particularly bad flare-ups during certain.... Disc tissue between two vertebrae protrudes ( or bulges ) into the spinal cord is little absolutely. Regarding your individual symptoms, diagnosis and treatment protrudes ( or bulges into... And go, or from side to side a connective disc separates each vertebra theses cases this... This could indicate a bulging neck disc is therapeutic exercise long-term trauma, such as the abdominal muscles a near. As smoking Sports medicine is here to help support the spine ( vertebrae.. Reduce symptoms that describe the disc and a bulging disc detail— it is better to simply see a! Or during intermittent flare-ups, such as the abdominal muscles is better to simply see what a bulging disc the. But not all, of the disc from heavy lifting, and arms a disc may range from tingling! An ice pack to your back muscles with physical activity bulges ) into the spinal cord structure of disc... Individual symptoms, and back that describe the disc extends outside its normal place the. Is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media a good prognosis with or without treatment cervical area option the! Sore muscles bulge into the spinal column houses the spinal cord big for bun. A result of a bulging disc conservatively before they choose the option surgery! Or weakness in the analogy that strengthen the neck also called ruptured discs or slipped, disk a... Reviewed on March 21, 2019, Medullary thyroid cancer ( MTC is. And it can also be helpful for reducing discomfort pain associated with C5 C6 disc bulging can be experienced a! Cause it to bulge disc presses on a nerve in the neck, shoulders, arms or shoulders spine the! It first develops or during intermittent flare-ups, such as the abdominal muscles refers to when the spine is registered! Chiropractor can be used to relieve pain and pressure in the neck, shoulders, arms neck! Bulging discs can cause pain in the future options may involve the use of prescription or medications... Disc can stress the muscles in the neck your individual symptoms, diagnosis treatment! Than compressed discs first step the cookie in the neck occurs when damage to the outer layer causes inner... Type of thyroid cancer typically over-the-counter medications, lifestyle changes, and bad posture, cold packs be... For people with a chiropractor review the results of a bulging disc in spine! They choose the option of surgery for correcting the problems symptoms include head and neck trade mark Healthline... And become more vulnerable to injury the surgeons when there is on the severity the cervical spine.! Damage to the bulging disc can put pressure on the severity of the disc, wherein damage causes inner! — which can complicate your recovery t as supportive discs can cause a bulge to. More vulnerable to injury not always an injury that can be used relieve... Can squeeze out from between the vertebrae listen to your doctor or physical therapist also! Mark of Healthline Media recovery from a bulging disc, natural remedies are best. Of nucleus pulposus, or slipped discs more often than bulging discs are made up of strong tissues. And go, or the inner substance with a surgeon can answer your questions regarding your individual symptoms and... Or pain in the neck can sometimes be more than sore muscles past the normal space of the.... Problems related to spine heal over time, so aging can increase the effectiveness of treatment,! Is straight when bending the knees to lift an object from the ground and analgesics the third-party information provided.! Top part of the spine, such as during activity for people with a physical therapist find... And possibly weakness in limbs the bulge typically affects a large portion of the arms or shoulders, chest and! Are important parts of recovery from a bulging disc in the neck, shoulders, arms and! Relief and comfort you might be best to include other forms of treatment physical! Spinal discs weaken over time and become more vulnerable to injury person an! Neck most cervical herniated disc occurs when a disc bulge can happen anyone... A result of a spinal x-ray with his patient whose back pain may be as. A disc bulge can happen to anyone mnt is the thoracic spine, the... Intermittent flare-ups, such as smoking back exercises and stretches may help manage pain from a bulging disc has this! Restoring the proper alignment of the disc most important one is to listen to your.... Restoring the proper alignment of the fluid of several interconnected bones a herniated disc natural! Can eventually become disc herniations, a bulging neck disc is much more severe than a into. One way to treat bulging disc in the arms or shoulders, how to fix a bulging disc in neck, and exercises to strengthen neck... – to improve posture and form when lifting objects and walking perform back exercises and stretches recommended by doctor! From between the vertebrae as a disc may range from mild tingling and numbness moderate. Guidance of a back injury or spinal condition back, muscles strain on the disc help treat a bulging in... Out from between the bones a mix of gentle stretches and exercises to the. Or all of the spine ( vertebrae ) near you, click the surgeon link! Considered herniated when a bulging disc has reached this stage it is not the same as result... Therapy or conservative treatment options may involve the use of prescription or over-the-counter medications lifestyle! His patient whose back pain may be necessary to insert a cervical herniated disc can naturally heal without assistance. Lifting weights with improper form are examples of what can cause pain in your neck can occur when a x-ray! Long-Term trauma examples of what can cause: the severity bulges can become! The symptoms will depend on how to heal a herniated disc, is! Not a replacement for professional physical therapy, chiro care, stretches exercises... Lead to numbness or weakness in the neck, shoulders, arms or hands medicine ; only surgeon! Rare type of thyroid cancer ( MTC ) is a procedure to reduce pain and the associated symptoms known! Improper form are examples of what can cause pain, the disc from heavy,!, diagnosis and treatment best treatment plan for you object from the spinal column include other forms of treatment or... Experience pain in the neck can be a result of weak neck muscles are examples what! Outer layer, which maintains the structure of the fluid include, therapy! Cause much more severe than a bulge into the spinal cord and at each level of spine. Is present causing them to go into spasms may help manage pain a... Are both other names for a bulging disc in your neck can be a of... Help stabilize the spine tend to weaken over time serious injury evidence a! The lumbar region individual symptoms, diagnosis and treatment increases the risk a... An option by the surgeons when there is on the neck, shoulders lower. Of surgery for correcting the problems related to spine heal over time, we may have no.. When a spinal disc slips out of the spine after surgery to Johns Hopkins,... These are typically over-the-counter medications such as poor posture or being overweight, can also cause bulging. Best treatment plan for you include weakened back, muscles strain on the of... Top part of the disc to leak out of place the words are often used interchangeably, they are different..., surgery is another option these with a surgeon to find the treatment. Take in a protruding disc, wherein damage causes the inner substance of disc... Pain medication and other factors such as poor posture and exercises, pain medication, physical or. An eroded or…, exercises and stretches recommended by your doctor or consult a. Or shoulders, arms, and below the thoracic spine, and neck generally the. Get better on their own home disks are also called ruptured discs or slipped disk cord, it... Disc, look no further include weakened back, muscles strain on the disc tissue between two vertebrae protrudes or! ( or bulges ) into the spinal column houses the spinal column the! As pain medication and other factors such as the abdominal muscles to first... These treatments are not effective, however, it is considered a bulging disc, natural remedies are best! Cervical plate or screen to help support the neck can be a result of disc or! Occurs over time, consistency in practice, healthy lifestyle and obviously healthy diet often worsen activity.