Bulging Disc: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options

Four out of five people will have trouble with back pain in their lives. A bulging disc could be the cause of your pain. Your doctor can evaluate your symptoms and offer treatment options.

Bulging Disc

• The vertebrae in your spine are cushioned by rubbery discs that lay between them. A bulging disc is a disc that has herniated. The center of the disc pushes out through the disc's wall and can put pressure on the nerves nearby.

Considerations

• Bulging disc symptoms occur most often in men who are middle-aged or older.

Lumbar Signs

• Signs of a bulging disc in the lumbar region of your spine include lower back pain, sharp pain in your buttock or leg and muscle weakness or numbness.

Cervical Signs

• If you have a bulging cervical disc, you could feel pain in your neck that radiates down your arm. You could also experience tingling and muscle weakness in your arm.

Other Signs

• A serious sign of a bulging disc is loss of bladder and bowel control. Rarer symptoms include pain in your calf, sole of your foot or your fingers.