Bulging Disc Treatment Options

What is a bulging disc? For that, one has to first understand the anatomy of the spine. The spine that runs from base of the skull all the way down to the tailbone, is defined as a stack of bones, placed one above the other. A tough elastic circular tissue made up of gelatinous material lies between two bones that form the spine. These thick elastic tissues are referred to as discs and they help to prevent friction between bones. The displacement of any of the discs from its normal position is referred to as bulging disc. In this case, the disc is seen protruding out of the spine. However, the resultant discomfort can always be brought under control with bulging disc treatment options.

Bulging Disc

The bulging disc that is more often diagnosed in the elderly, will cause pain, depending upon whether the protrusion affects the nearby nerves. As we all know, the spine is a hollow bony structure covering the bundle of nerves that pass through it. A consistent gap (spinal canal) is maintained between these 'group of nerves' and the spine. However, when the displaced part of the disc enters the spinal canal and exerts pressure on the nerve, it causes pain in the lower back. The affected nerves become irritated and inflamed.

Treatment

Rest
Those who want to overcome this back problem, need to understand that taking adequate rest is a must. Lack of rest can cause displaced disc to move further away, thus aggravating the problem. Well, here rest doesn't mean being completely inactive but putting some limitations on day-to-day routine. Lifting or pushing the heavy objects can worsen this pain. Complete bed rest is certainly not the solution to overcome bulging disc pain. All one has to do is put some restrictions on the daily routine.

Ice Therapy
Application of ice packs on the affected area can also help to ease the bulging disc pain. This treatment method can certainly provide relief from mild to moderate lower back pain.

Warm Compress
Heat therapy in the form of warm compress is immensely useful to relieve the discomfort. Putting heating pad on the painful area is definitely a good idea to get relief. A warm shower bath too can contribute to reduce bulging disc.

Massage Therapy
Massaging the affected area from a professional therapist can also be a good remedy to promote healing. Massage therapy that stimulates blood circulation in the area of discomfort, may help to relieve pain. A bulging disc massage done by applying gentle pressure can work wonders to alleviate pain.

Medications
These medications help to manage pain effectively, so as to prevent our daily routine from coming to a standstill. Following are some oral medicines:

• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen
• Aspirin

Corticosteroid Injections
This form of treatment is also useful to relieve bulging disc pain. As aforementioned, the displaced nerve puts pressure on the nearby nerve of the spinal cord. This makes the nerve inflamed. In order to reduce the nerve inflammation, corticosteroids are administered intravenously. As the swelling of the nerve decreases, the pain also subsides gradually. The numbness and tingling sensation in the back area due to nerve swelling also decreases considerably.

Exercises
Once the pain subsides considerably, the doctor may ask the patient to do some stretching exercises to restore normal movement of the back. Eventually, the doctor may also introduce a few strengthening exercises to speed up healing.

Traction
Use of pelvic traction is yet another recommended therapy to ease the back pain associated with bulging disc. As the name suggests, one has to wear it around the pelvic area. The presence of bulging disc makes the spine deformed. Wearing the pelvic traction, will not only provide consistent relief from pain but also reduce the deformity. Regarded as a spinal decompression technique, pelvic traction can certainly help to bring back a misaligned disc to its original position. A mechanical pelvic traction in which equipment is used to exert force on the affected area, provides immediate relief. One may have to undergo few more sessions of mechanical pelvic traction therapy to get long-lasting relief.

Muscle Balance Therapy
For long-term relief from back pain, muscle balance therapy is a good option.This therapy targets the root cause, which is nothing but spinal misalignment. Muscle imbalance is a condition in which one muscle group is subjected to undue pressure, while other muscles are too weak. In this case, few muscles are being excessively pulled, while others aren't strong enough. This muscle imbalance affecting the back area, can lead to bulging disc and spinal deformity. So, to repair muscle imbalances, one has to consult a chiropractor or a physical therapist. To correct muscle imbalances and restore flexibility and strength of muscles, all one has to do is perform few stretches of the back area on a daily basis and within a few weeks, one may experience pain-free back.

These are some of the ways to treat bulging disc, that can play a significant role to reduce as well as eliminate back pain. Following spinal decompression techniques is indeed useful, as they address the root cause, which helps to cure back pain.