Doctors fix bulging discs in the lower back by first trying conservative treatments like physical therapy, medications, and injections, but if those fail for severe pain or nerve issues, they use surgery (microdiscectomy) to remove the part of the disc pressing on the nerve, or sometimes spinal fusion or disc replacement for complex cases.
In nearly all cases, surgeons can remove just the protruding portion of the disk. Rarely, the entire disk must be removed. In these cases, the vertebrae might need to be fused with a bone graft. To allow the process of bone fusion, which takes months, metal hardware is placed in the spine to provide spinal stability.
Herniated Disc: A bulging or ruptured disc can press on nerves that connect to the stomach and digestive system, potentially leading to nausea. Degenerative Disc Disease: As discs deteriorate with age, pain and inflammation may contribute to feelings of nausea.
Treatment for a Bulging Disc
Lumbar disc herniations may present with pain in isolated areas in the lower extremities rather than with typical radicular pain along a sensory dermatome10). The primary symptoms reported are pain in the thigh, calf, knee, ankle, or heel.
Seek emergency medical attention if you have: Worsening symptoms. Pain, numbness or weakness can increase to the point that they hamper your daily activities. Bladder or bowel dysfunction.
The examiner gently raises the patient's leg by flexing the hip with the knee in extension, and the test is considered positive when the patient experiences pain along the lower limb in the same distribution of the lower radicular nerve roots (usually L5 or S1).
The goal of minimally invasive microdiscectomy is to remove the bulge from the herniated portion of the disc and relieve pressure on the affected nerve. The surgeon makes a half-inch incision and uses x-ray or CT navigation to insert a circular retractor tube.
In addition to natural wear and tear, other factors that can contribute to a bulging disc include repetitive movements, strenuous lifting, twisting of the body, bone spurs pushing against the disc, and many other degenerative conditions.
While no chiropractor can reverse a bulging disc, regular spinal adjustments can make such drastic treatment completely unnecessary. If you're living with chronic pain and discomfort, the experts at Oviedo Chiropractic can help.
Seeking Medical Care for Herniated Discs
Emergency departments are equipped to handle acute symptoms and can facilitate urgent imaging and consultation with a spine specialist. For non-emergency symptoms, scheduling an appointment with a spine specialist can provide the necessary evaluation and treatment plan.
Numbness or tingling in the buttocks, legs, or feet. Trouble walking or standing for long periods. Most bulging discs can be treated with conservative methods. But, some symptoms need urgent medical care.
A herniated disc has the potential to interfere with nerve signals responsible for regulating bowel movements, which may result in constipation.
Bulging discs are usually caused by age-related degenerative disc disorder, so it's not always possible to prevent them. However, you may be able to reduce your risk by taking good care of your spine and your overall health. Your doctor may recommend: Exercising and stretching regularly.
ER Treatment for Severe Back Pain
Treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause of your pain, but it may include: Pain medication to reduce discomfort. Muscle relaxers to ease muscle spasms. Anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease inflammation.
For example, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, and pinched nerves are all conditions that can usually be effectively treated by a neurologist. In many cases, the goal of treatment is to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life.
L4-L5 slip discs can herniate or bulge and compress the spinal cord fibers and the thecal sac. It is possible to cause serious injury or compression of a nerve or spinal cord fibers by the slightest bit. Nerve compression can cause nerve degeneration.
You may have heard people who have had a herniated disc describe the intense, burning pain in their back or leg that approaches a 10 on a scale of 1-10. If you experience this kind of pain, you need prompt treatment to alleviate pressure on the compressed nerve.
Compared with a bulging disk, a herniated disk is more likely to cause pain. The inner cartilage of the disk sticks out farther and is more likely to irritate nerve roots. The irritation can be from pushing on the nerve or, much more commonly, the herniation causes a painful inflammation of the nerve root.
Surgery for a herniated disc is typically considered when conservative treatments have failed to provide relief after six weeks to three months.
The "Big 3" for lower back pain, developed by spine expert Dr. Stuart McGill, are the Modified Curl-Up, Side Plank, and Bird-Dog, designed to build core stability without stressing the spine by strengthening essential muscles for everyday movement and protecting the lower back from injury. These exercises focus on endurance, not just strength, teaching your core to resist unwanted movement, unlike traditional crunches that can aggravate back pain.
To promote healing and/or prevent an L4-L5 injury from becoming worse, a few tips include avoiding: Repeated bending of the spine. Sudden, abrupt movements, such as jumping. High-intensity exercise and lifting heavy weights.
You should seek emergency medical attention for herniated disks if you experience symptoms such as bladder and bowel dysfunction or other serious symptoms. These symptoms include pain, numbness, or weakness that increases to the point of interfering with daily activities.
L4 L4 root compression symptoms may include: Burning pain: Many people describe pain from L4 L5 root compression as a burning sensation that extends from the lower back through the buttocks and into the legs. This symptom is similar to sciatica, but stems from the L4 L5 nerve roots, rather than the sciatic nerve.
The difference between a herniated disc and sciatica
As we mentioned above, it's possible for a herniated disc to cause no symptoms, though usually there's some pain, tingling, and weakness. Sciatica, on the other hand, is defined by its symptoms, particularly the pain's ability to travel.