Kentucky Accident Blog

What is a Bulging Disk?

A bulging disk is a condition that manifests in the spine.  Bulging disks usually occur in the lower part of the back or  the lumbar region. The condition involves a disk that bulges through an opening in the spine.  Occasionally bulging disks can affect the neck as well.  Disks serve as a cushion for the vertebrae of the spine and are composed of a soft gelatinous material.  Usually, but not always,  a bulging disk is the result of aging.  Another cause of a bulging disc is a traumatic occurrence. This can be anything from a fall to an auto accident. The disk can shift out of its normal radius and can cause pain.

Bulging disks differ from herniated disks in that they usually develop over time while a herniated disk is the result of an immediate trauma or injury to the spine.  Commonly there is no pain associated with a bulging disk unless it becomes herniated or ruptures.  Because it doesn’t cause pain it often goes unnoticed and undiagnosed.  It can be diagnosed as a secondary condition and detected only through routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests. There can be pain from a bulging disc if the bulge comes in contact with the nerve root.

The good news is that the treatment of a bulging disk is generally conservative.  The treatment may involve rest and lifting restrictions.  Ice and heat therapy along with anti-inflammatory medication or cortisone injections are also different forms of treatment.  If pain is involved medication may be prescribed depending on the severity.  Occasionally back surgery may needed to relieve severe pain.

If you feel radiating pain from your neck to your shoulders and down through your arms that may be a sign that a nerve in the neck is pinched.  Similarly, if you feel radiating pain through your legs that may indicate a nerve in your lower back is being pinched.

As a lawyer who has handled many car accident cases it has become apparent to me that any back, neck, or head pain should always be checked out by a physician. 

For more information on me, a lawyer from Louisville, Kentucky go to www.mikeschaferlaw.com.