Book Your PT Session (281) 888-0047
Next Level Physical Therapy
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Next Level Process
  • Pain Help Now
    • Back Pain
    • Neck Pain
    • Shoulder Pain
    • Foot & Ankle Pain
    • Knee Pain
    • Hip And Sciatica Pain
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Talk To A PT On The Phone
    • Request A Free Discovery Visit
    • Ask About Cost & Availability
    • Rehab Store
    • Intake Forms
  • Blog
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Next Level Process
  • Pain Help Now
    • Back Pain
    • Neck Pain
    • Shoulder Pain
    • Foot & Ankle Pain
    • Knee Pain
    • Hip And Sciatica Pain
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Talk To A PT On The Phone
    • Request A Free Discovery Visit
    • Ask About Cost & Availability
    • Rehab Store
    • Intake Forms
  • Blog

"We Help People Aged 40+ Overcome Pain & Injury Using Natural Solutions So They Can Stay Active And Mobile Without Medications, or Unnecessary Surgeries."

Talk to a pt on the phone
Request A discovery visit
Ask About Cost & Availability

Herniated VS Bulging: Disc Injuries and Their Differences

11/18/2019

0 Comments

 
Back pain is one of the most debilitating injuries out there. We don’t say this lightly. It really is one of the injuries responsible for the most heartbreak and sadness. From shooting pains, to chronic, unrelenting, searing pain, for those of us who suffer from back pain, the reality of dealing with its symptoms can be overwhelming at times. It is easy to lose a lust for life. The good news is that we’re about to tackle two of the most common back injuries: herniated discs and bulging discs. We look at why one may be confronted with these injuries and, better still, what one can do to get back to a normal pain-free life… we know how much this means to you. [....]
First off, let’s chat about what herniated and bulging discs really are. Clearly their names talk of an injury related to discs in the spinal structure, but often even that idea can become hazy upon closer inspection. With that in mind, what we’d like you to do is think of the spine as a series of building blocks in a vertical, upright tower – like a Lego tower perhaps. Imagine that each block is separated by a jelly donut. It’s a bit like your kid’s science fair project, right? Each block rests on a donut so as to take some pressure off of the one below it. The donuts, therefore, perform a very specific, very important task in the structure as a whole. Now, if we think of the spinal discs as the donuts in our spines, then we may begin to see why injuries within them – or on them – can cause structural damage, injury, and pain. 


Let’s consider what may happen if our donuts have jelly in them. In this case, if the donut experiences too much pressure from the above, then the jelly will spill out of the center of that donut. On the other hand, if the pressure is notable yet not destructive, the jelly may bulge out, not spill over. The former metaphor is a good one for thinking about a herniated disk: vital cushioning liquid is lost from a disc/ multiple discs in our spines if too much pressure is applied. Alternately, a bulging disc fits neatly into our latter metaphor: heavy pressure causes the liquid to expand horizontally, but not to leak from the disk. 


And now that we understand what both a herniated and bulging disk is, it’s time to take a closer look at each. 


Herniated Discs


Ok, so we understand that in this situation a spinal disc – or many, if serious – has ruptured, thereby causing a crack in its shell. The soft jelly-like liquid, known as cartilage, leaks from it, consequently causing a myriad of issues. Because the cartilage is no longer capable of providing adequate support to the spinal vertebrae above it, the bone itself bears down on the one underneath, thereby trapping surrounding nerves and causing the sufferer great amounts of pain. 


The uncomfortable symptoms of a herniated disc include:



  • Feelings of sharp pain in the back or down the leg.
  • Numbness.
  • Tingling.
  • Weakness in the arms and/or legs, buttocks, thighs, and calf muscles. 


Herniated discs are amongst the most painful and debilitating back injuries out there.  And, because of their sudden onset – due to force or sudden pressure – many people are blindsided by their symptoms. We’ll get to some answers for this predicament a little later on, but for now let’s move on to bulging discs. 


Bulging Discs


Unlike herniated discs, a bulging disc doesn’t produce any cracks in the disc wall. However, that certainly doesn’t mean that the discomfort is lessened. The pressure placed on a bulging disc still means that the nerves are placed under pressure, thereby pinching them in some cases. Once again, we find the following disheartening symptoms in bulging disc sufferers:



  • Pins and Needles.
  • Spasms.
  • Numbness.
  • Muscle Weakness.
  • Overactive Reflexes.




Notably, then, both herniated and bulging discs are caused by pressure. However, wear and tear on the body can make discs susceptible to these types of injuries. We often find that, while falls, accidents, and heavy lifting bring about a large number of these types of injuries, it is often the repeated actions involved in everyday activities that cause the most harm: daily heavy lifting at ones job, incorrect posture when standing, sitting, lying down, etc., twisting and/or turning sharply, and incorrect weight distribution when doing mundane activities like carrying a handbag or lifting shopping bags. 


Disc issues such as herniated and bulging discs can strike at any moment. Therefore, taking care of your back and neck becomes increasingly vital as you age – strengthening back muscles and facilitating mobility is of the utmost importance. But, for those of you who have been dealt a blow and are now suffering from either of these ailments, we have good news: physical therapy can help. In the capable hands of a professional physical therapist, the root-cause of the problem will be determined. This means, if you are suffering from either a herniated disc, a bulging disc, or something altogether different, a physical therapist will find out. Unlike methods which aim to mask the pain via painkillers or surgery, physical therapy will treat the actual cause of the problem, thereby eradicating your pain permanently and safely. With tailor-made exercises provided alongside world-class treatment, physical therapy sets you up to maintain your pain-free life at home. It really is the safest, most effective way of treating your back problems, right now. 


Life is too short to strain under the burden of a back injury. Nerve pain CANNOT be eradicated via painkillers, and the pills you’re taking may actually be a lot more detrimental than you think. We offer you a way of treating your pain safely and effectively, and not only that, we give you answers to all the questions we know you have. 


So, if you’re unsure whether you’re suffering from a herniated disc or bulging disc, or even if you just want to make sure your back is strong, mobile, and flexible enough to potentially avoid these types of injuries, then we invite you to contact us today. To find out how we can help you, and what the next step in your journey to health is, simply click the link below to ask about cost and availability. It’s time to live pain-free… and we cannot wait to help. We look very much forward to meeting you!
Talk To A PT On The Phone
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Blogs - Next Level Physical Therapy

    Dr. Jack Wong

    Leading Physical Therapist In The Kingwood Area
    Contact Us
    Picture
    Back Pain
    Picture
    Sciatica & Hip Pain
    Picture
    Knee Pain
    Picture
    Shoulder Pain
    Picture
    Neck Pain
    Picture
    Foot & Ankle Pain

    Categories

    All
    Aches
    Achilles Tendon
    Ankle Injury
    Back Pain
    Balance
    Bulging Disc
    Concussion
    Core
    Core Strength
    Desk Jobs
    Diet
    Exercise
    Exercise Routine
    Falls
    Fear
    Fitness
    Flexibility
    Foot Pain
    Golf Pain
    Habitual
    Hand/Wrist Pain
    Healthy Habits
    Heel Pain
    Herniated Disc
    Hiking Injury
    Hip Pain
    Injections
    Injuries
    Injury
    January 2021
    Knee Pain
    Low Back
    Mobility
    Muscle Pain
    Muscles
    Muscle Strain
    Neck Pain
    Over Training
    Over Training Syndrome
    Pain
    Pain Language
    Pains
    Physical Activities
    Physical Therapist
    Physical Therapy
    Pinched Nerve
    Piriformis Syndrome
    Plantar Fasciitis
    Posture
    Pulled Muscles
    Rest
    Running
    Running Injury
    Running Pains
    Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
    Scar
    Scar Tissue
    Sciatica
    Shoulder Pain
    SI Joit
    Stablity
    Staying Healthy
    Strength
    Stress
    Stretching
    Tendonitis
    Tight Muscles
    Upper Back Pain
    Working From Home
    Work Out Schedule
    Wrist

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017

    RSS Feed

Address:
​1306 Kingwood Dr. Ste# I
Kingwood, Texas 77339

Phone: (281) 888-0047
Email:
​
nextlevelpthouston@gmail.com
Privacy Policy

​MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:

All information on this website  is intended for instruction and informational purposes only. The authors are not responsible for any harm or injury that may result. Significant injury risk is possible if you do not follow due diligence and seek suitable professional advice about your injury. No guarantees of specific results are expressly made or implied on this website.