A bulging disc is a condition that causes the discs in the spine to bulge out of their normal boundaries and pinch a spinal nerve. This compression can lead to a variety of debilitating symptoms, including pain, numbness, tingling and weakness, which can cause you to miss out on the activities you love, like playing hockey.

If you have a bulging disc, it is often recommended to refrain from playing contact sports like hockey that can aggravate your condition even further and set your recovery back. With this condition, activities that were once simple, like bending down to tie your skates or getting your gear off, may produce debilitating pain and discomfort. However, the treatments described below can help you get back on the ice in no time.

Conservative bulging disc treatments

If you are suffering from a bulging disc, avoiding activities that put pressure on your spine and practicing appropriate spine exercises can help you make a return to your active lifestyle. Furthermore, your doctor may recommend a conservative treatment regimen consisting of the following:

• Intermittent periods of rest
• Core-strengthening exercises
• Physical therapy
• Low-impact activities
• Epidural steroid injections
• Chiropractic manipulation
• Pain medication

Surgery is typically considered a last resort if several weeks or months of nonsurgical treatment do not provide you with adequate relief from your symptoms.

Surgical bulging disc treatments

If you require surgical intervention for your bulging disc, the minimally invasive spine surgery offered at USA Spine Care can help you reclaim your quality of life from this condition. Our procedures offer a safer and effective alternative to traditional open spine surgery.^ To learn more about our outpatient procedures, contact our team.

As the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, USA Spine Care performs thousands of minimally invasive spine surgeries each year. Our team is able to use a less than 1-inch incision and muscle-sparing techniques to treat a bulging disc and help them quickly get back to their normal routine. In fact, 88 percent of our patients report returning to daily activities within three months after surgery.

To find out if our bulging disc surgery would be effective for you, reach out to our dedicated team today. Through a free MRI review,* we can determine if you are a potential candidate for our procedures.