What is a Bulged Disc?

A bulged disc is a common and painful disorder where the innermost nucleus of the disc in the spine applies pressure against the outer portion of the disc, forming a bubble or a bulge. With a bulged disc, the nucleus is still within the walls of the disc and the disc has not torn or ruptured; however, the pressure placed on the nerve root of the spine can cause extreme pain. A bulged disc can occur in any portion of the spine, but it is most common in the lower back or the lumbar area. There are two primary causes of a bulged disc – old age or an injury to the spine. The symptoms vary from person to person; however the main complaint is pain or numbness through the nerve area of the back. This occurs when the bulged disc presses on the nerve roots. In some cases, there is little or no back pain – which means the bulged disc is not pressing on the nerve root. There are two main things that can happen with a bulged disc: it can heal itself or be healed with minor treatment, or it can ...  more