Pain from a bulging disc can be one of the most aggravating types of pain to live with. Not only will disc herniated case pain, it will also tend to cause quite a bit of disability because of the effect it has on the spinal nerves, which control everything in the body.
This article will cover some important details about this health problem – what diffuse posterior disc bulging is, what causes it, the symptoms associated with it, and the most effective treatments available for disc bulging.
disc bulging is one of the more serious problems that can develop in the spine. In order for us to have a good understanding of what this health problem is and how it causes pain, we first need to have a brief discussion of what a normal spinal disc is.
The discs of the spine are simply shock absorbers that separate each set of bones of the spine. Each one is composed of a strong outer covering called the annulus, and a soft jelly center called the nucleus.
When a person develops disc herniated, the annulus of the disc tears and the nucleus in the center of the disc begins to shift where the disc is weakest. This creates a bulge in the wall of the disc, which is why this problem is often referred to as a bulging disc.
One interesting fact about the spinal discs that you may not be aware of is that they are designed to not feel pain. This makes sense if you think of the main function of the discs, which is to absorb shock. If you could feel this occurring, you would be in pain all the time, with every movement that you make.
However, if you’re living with diffuse posterior disc bulging, you know that this can cause severe pain. So, why does this occur if the discs of the spine can not cause you to feel pain?
Well, if you take a closer look at the spine, you will notice that the nerves of the spine are located directly behind each disc of the spine. Because most discs will develop the bulge at the back of the disc where the nerves are located, they tend to apply pressure to these nerves, which is what causes all of the pain.
In addition to the pain, disc bulging will also cause quite a bit of dysfunction in the body because the spinal nerves control everything in the body. So, whatever the affected nerve controls will start to break down and stop working properly.
For example, disc herniated in the neck will not only cause neck pain, but will also commonly lead to shoulder and arm pain, weakness or numbness, headaches, blurred vision, chest pains, and even ringing in the ears.
In the middle back, disc herniated will cause middle back pain, pain radiating around the rib cage, shoulder and arm pain, chest pains, and even difficulty breathing.
In the lower back, the most common symptoms are low back pain, pain traveling down the legs, numbness in the feet and toes, weakness in the legs (even to the point where you can’t stand because of how weak the legs become), pain while going to the bathroom, and problems with the bowel and bladder (usually an inability to maintain control of when you go to the bathroom).
The cause of disc herniated is most commonly an injury of some sort. Some examples would be an auto accident, or even lifting something heavy. There is also a hereditary component to this condition. So, if you have other members of your family who have had disc herniated (or any spinal condition, for that matter), there is a chance that you could be born with weaker disc walls, which would predispose you to developing diffuse posterior disc bulging.
Lifestyle also plays a role in developing disc herniated. People who smoke, for example, are more likely to develop disc problems because the toxins will weaken the disc wall. This is true for anything toxic within the body, such as alcohol, poor diet, or even problems with the cleansing organs of the body (such as the kidneys, liver, and spleen).
The most common treatments for herniated disc pain include medications (usually muscle relaxers and pain relievers), injections (usually cortisone and epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery in the worst cases.
The success rates of these therapies, however, are not very high. The primary reason for this is because their main purpose is to numb the affected nerve. Although that may sound good at first (because the nerve is causing the pain), if you do not find a way to heal the disc, the pain will return because that is the cause of the problem.
There are a number of other therapies that I have found to be more effective with this condition, but it’s truly a combination of treatments that I have found to be most successful.
If you would like to learn more about the most effective therapies for herniated disc pain, as well as the combination of those therapies that I recommend for the best results, you can click here (disc herniated) to get all the details.
About the Author: Dr. Ron Daulton, Jr. is a chiropractor, national speaker, and published author who specializes in spinal disc conditions.
