How do you treat a bulging disc?
Treatment
- Rest. One to 2 days of bed rest will usually help relieve back and leg pain.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). Medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help relieve pain.
- Physical therapy.
- Epidural steroid injection.
Do bulging lumbar discs heal?
Usually a herniated disc will heal on its own over time. Be patient, and keep following your treatment plan. If your symptoms don’t get better in a few months, you may want to talk to your doctor about surgery.
What causes lumbar disc bulge?
A bulging disc occurs when the nucleus shifts to press against the disc’s outer ring, causing the disc to flatten and protrude into the spinal canal. Age-related wear and tear on the spine is the most common cause of a bulging disc. A traumatic accident like a car crash or sports accident can also damage spinal discs.
What is the recommended treatment for a lumbar bulging disc?
Ice and heat therapy, pain medications, and muscle relaxants are all initial treatment options for a lumbar herniated disc.
How long does a bulging disc take to heal?
The primary question that comes to mind of an individual with a bulging disc mind is that how long will it take for the bulging disc to heal. For some individuals it may take up to a year or two to completely recover from disc bulge while it may take far less time for another individual to recover from the same injury.
Should I have surgery for bulging disc?
For a lot of cases there is no need for surgery. Bulging discs can be treated more conservatively with rest, therapy and anti-inflammatory medication. However, if those methods have proven to be ineffective then the best solution is surgery. While a bulging disc is not a medical problem in of its own,…
What is the difference between a bulging and herniated disc?
Here are the main differences between a bulging disc vs herniated disc. A bulging disc is when a disc in your spine literally bulges outside its usual area. Even with this bulging, though, the inner material of your disc (called the nucleus pulposus) is still contained. A herniated disc is not contained.