Bulging disc pain occurs when a disc in the spine protrudes into any of the tiny spaces in the spinal column where the nerve roots and the spinal cord are located. When this happens, the nerves in those areas can become squeezed or pinched.

Nerve compression caused by a bulging disc can be debilitating, often limiting you from enjoying your hobbies and sometimes even preventing you from enjoying your daily activities. Understanding the symptoms associated with bulging disc pain and what causes these symptoms to develop can help you make an informed decision about the treatment options you would like to pursue. Always consult your doctor before beginning or changing any treatments for a bulging disc.

Symptoms associated with bulging disc pain

A bulging disc that presses against a nerve root in the spinal canal can cause a series of bulging disc symptoms. The most common of these symptoms is bulging disc pain, but many other symptoms can develop in conjunction with or in place of standard pain in the neck or back.

These additional bulging disc symptoms include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Limited mobility
• Burning sensation

When a nerve is pinched, the pain and symptoms can appear at the site of the pinched nerve and can travel along the nerve pathway into other areas of the body. For example, a bulging disc in the lower back can cause symptoms to travel to the buttocks, legs and feet. A bulging disc in the neck can produce symptoms in the head, shoulders, arms and hands.

Pain and symptoms associated with a bulging disc can become worse when you move around. Any of the following activities can trigger bulging disc pain:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Standing
• Bending
• Driving

A bulging disc is mainly caused by age or damage from a sudden injury. For more detailed information on why discs bulge and cause pain, click on our bulging disc causes page.

Treatments for bulging disc pain

Bulging disc pain can often be treated through conservative methods, such as pain medication and at-home exercises, as well as other conservative options. Your doctor will recommend a course of treatments based on your pain and the severity of your bulging disc.

If the conservative treatments do not help relieve pain after several months, contact USA Spine Care and ask about our minimally invasive spine surgery to help relieve the pain of a bulging disc and other spine conditions. To date, our procedures have helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from chronic neck and back pain.

You can take the next step toward pain relief with us. Contact us today to find out if you are a candidate for our minimally invasive spine surgery with a no-cost MRI review.*