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How a Bulging Disc is Different from a Herniated Disc
The terms bulging disc and herniated disc are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not quite the same thing. Further complicating the matter are two other intervertebral disc-related terms—prolapsed disc and slipped disc. Slipped disc, like the non-medical term whiplash, is a colloquialism that has gained acceptance through wide-spread usage. However, it does not describe any particular condition. Prolapsed disc is a broader term that can refer to either a herniated or a bulging disc. “Prolapse” is the medical term for a body part or organ that has “fallen” or become displaced. A prolapse occurs with a bulging and a herniated disc, but not exactly in the same way.
What, then, is the difference between a herniated and a bulging disc? It has to do with the tough, fibrous outer wall of the intervertebral disc—the annulus fibrosus. Put simply, a herniated disc occurs when the annulus fibrosus has split or ruptured, allowing the gel-like interior of the disc-- the nucleus pulposus—to spill out into the spinal canal. A bulging disc occurs when a portion of the annulus fibrosus has weakened, allowing the nucleus pulposus to create a bulge in the wall that juts into the spinal canal. Both conditions are caused by abnormal pressure on the nucleus pulposus, which might be the result of a number of spinal conditions, including degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis. Both conditions also can lead to radiculopathy, which is the term for nerve-related symptoms that can include radiating pain, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness.
Most of the time, symptoms related to a bulging disc can be managed with conservative treatment including physical therapy, over-the-counter or prescription medication, exercise, or behavior modification. However, if symptoms persist after weeks or months of conservative treatment, your doctor might suggest surgery as an option. Fortunately, Laser Spine Institute (LSI) offers an alternative to traditional open-back surgery, which is highly invasive and comes with many risks and complications.
LSI will analyze your MRI or CT scan for free in order to determine whether you are a candidate for a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that can help you rediscover a life without pain. Contact LSI to learn more about the endoscopic techniques we use to treat a bulging disc.