What Can you do about a Bulging or Herniated Disc?

Maybe you’ve heard someone say that they’ve got a slipped disc or that they’ve thrown their back out. These are all phrases that we hear often, but what exactly do they mean?

Well, what they are most likely talking about is a herniated disc, which is a very common cause of back pain and sciatica.

Discs are a sort of “padding” between the vertebrae in your spine. These allow the back to flex and move and they also act as a shock absorber for the stresses of daily life.

Each disc is composed of primarily two parts. The first part is called the annulus, and it is made up of a tough cartilage that surrounds and protects the second part. This is called the nucleus pulposus and it is a softer jelly-like center to the disc.

Whenever a disc ruptures or herniates, what is happening is this softer nucleus pulposus is pushing through the outer wall of the annulus cartilage. Often times this causes pain due to the fact that nucleus pulposus, once it pushes through the outer wall, presses up against the nerves in your spine.

A bulging disc can be just as painful, but the inner core of the disc hasn’t burst through the outer layer yet. It is only bulging out. However, if left untreated, a bulging disc can eventually rupture.

About 80% of all people will suffer from lower back pain in their lifetime. That’s a pretty shocking statistic. And one of the most common types of low back pain is sciatica, which is caused by a herniated disc.

Some of the common symptoms of sciatica include a sharp or stabbing pain that occurs anywhere from the lower back, hips, or buttocks all the way down to the leg or even feet. Pain is the most obvious symptom, but additionally you might notice numbness or tingling, weakness in the legs, or even loss of control of your bladder or bowel in extreme cases.

To understand whey discs herniate in the first place, you need to realize that they are predominantly composed of water. As we naturally age over time, the water content of your discs begins to decrease. Add to this the fact that many people also tend to gain weight or lose muscle strength as they age, it is no surprise that the discs may become more compressed.

Uneven pressure can start to build up, caused by imbalances, which pull your spine and vertebrae out of their natural alignment. Everyone’s spine is at least a little out of alignment, but those that are more-so are more likely to experience disc herniation and sciatica.

In order to treat a herniated disc, you might consider trying some of the conventional treatments out there, such as painkillers, anti-inflammatory medications, or even surgery. But you probably won’t find the lasting relief you’re hoping for.

Why? Because the underlying imbalances that caused the herniation in the first place are still there. If the condition of your disc is still pretty good and it hasn’t ruptured yet, you can actually reverse the condition by rebalancing your muscles and improving your posture.

This takes the pressure off your disc and allows it to heal. The best way to do this is with stretching and strengthening exercises that help you target the specific imbalances that are causing your disc herniation.