Most (80-90%) cases involving bulging or herniated discs will heal within
2-4 months
. This of course depends on the severity of the injury, as well as your age and overall health. An important difference is that a herniated disc is a permanent injury that usually results in chronic, recurring pain.
Do bulging discs ever fully heal?
Unfortunately,
there is no clear-cut answer as to whether your disc herniation will fully heal
. With treatment, a disc herniation can dry up, shrink or go away. Your body may have an autoimmune response and aid in healing the herniation.
Can bulging discs repair?
As with bulging discs, there is a spectrum of options to treat herniated discs. If you’ve experienced symptoms for less than 6 weeks and have no nerve damage,
anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and steroid injections (if needed) can help resolve the issue in 6 to 12 weeks
.
Is a bulging disc permanent?
Disc bulges are
not permanent
. The disc is a fluid filled structure and therefore has the capacity to heal, resolve and be re-absorbed.
What happens if a bulging disc goes untreated?
A severe case of a bulging disc can
cut off nerve impulses, even causing permanent nerve damage
. Additionally, you may experience sharp paints, incontinence, bowel movement irregularity, or even partial paralysis as the issue worsens.
What is the fastest way to heal a bulging disc?
- Alternate applying heat and cold.
- Stay as active as you can. Take walks to avoid becoming too stiff from resting too often.
- Try alternative treatments like acupuncture, massage, or chiropractic.
Can a chiropractor fix a bulging disc?
Yes! Chiropractic care is the preferred treatment method for many patients suffering from a bulging disc
. It is non-invasive and does not require drugs or injections of any kind. Chiropractic can help provide you with improved mobility, decreased pain, and overall better quality of life.
Can a bulging disc get worse?
Do disc bulges get worse over time? Unfortunately
if disc bulges are left untreated, and if the abnormal spinal stresses that caused them continue, they will often worsen over time
.
Is L4 L5 disc bulge serious?
Most importantly, an L4-L5 disc bulge
can lead to prolonged pain and other, more serious conditions like spondylolisthesis if you delay treatment
. Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a vertebra shifts or slips, and can cause significant pain that may require surgery to fix.
How do doctors treat bulging discs?
Treatments for a bulging disk will depend on its severity and location. Doctors may recommend
anti-inflammatory medications to help with pain and reduce inflammation
. For people with severe pain, steroid injections may be a suitable short-term solution. If the disk ruptures, bed rest may be necessary.
How do you get a bulging disc back in place?
The most common indicator of a herniated disc is when pain radiates down into the leg or arm.
Special extension exercises can help relieve pain from a herniated disc
. Exercise can work like a vacuum to suck the center of the disc back into place, helping release pressure on the nerve.
How painful is a bulging disc?
A bulging disc
may have no pain at all
because it has not reached a certain severity level, and this can make it difficult to identify the bulging disc symptoms before the condition becomes more severe. Most commonly, bulging discs create pressure points on nearby nerves which create a variety of sensations.
Can you become paralyzed from a bulging disc?
With a herniated disc, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This can irritate the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness and numbness in the arms or legs.
A severely herniated disc can cause paralysis
.
Can you fix a bulging disc without surgery?
When the centre or nucleus of a disc pushes out and even passes through the wall of the disc, this is what we refer to as a herniated disc. The good news is that
the vast majority of herniated discs can be treated without surgery using manual therapy and exercise or with IDD Therapy disc treatment
.
When should I be worried about a bulging disc?
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E
if you have back pain and: numbness around your bottom or genitals
.
cannot pee
.
lose feeling in 1 or both legs
.
What makes a bulging disc worse?
The pain from a herniated disc usually is worse when you are active and gets better when you are resting.
Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving, and bending forward
may make the pain worse. The pain gets worse when you make these movements because there is more pressure on the nerve.
Which is worse bulging or herniated disk?
Herniated discs are considered more severe than bulging discs
because they put significant pressure on nearby nerves, which can cause intense pain, inflammation and difficulties with movement.
What should I avoid with a bulging disc?
- Sitting too much. Sitting puts more stress on your spinal discs, especially when slouching forward in a seat. …
- Doing laundry. …
- Vacuuming. …
- Feeding a pet. …
- Strenuous exercise. …
- Shoveling snow or gardening. …
- Learn more:
Is stretching good for bulging disc?
One of the best treatments for the symptoms of a herniated disc is stretching exercises
. By gently stretching the muscles in the back, their flexibility is improved, helping them stabilize the disc herniation area. Overall endurance and circulation are also improved with herniated disc exercises, and symptoms improve.
How do you sleep with a bulging disc?
- Lay on your back and then roll over gently onto your side.
- Tuck your knees toward your chest and gently curl your torso toward your knees.
- Remember to switch sides from time to time to prevent any imbalances.
Is a hot bath good for herniated disc?
Moist heat, such as a hot bath, may be preferred
. Heat and ice. Some people find alternating hot and cold packs provides the maximum pain relief.
Is heat good for bulging disc?
For mild herniated disc pain, relieve the inflammation to decrease pain. For instance,
applying a heating pad or ice pack to the affected area may be a good way to temporarily relieve your pain and reduce inflammation
.
Is mild bulging disc serious?
Symptoms and When to Seek Medical Care
A mild to moderate injury may persist for several years without causing pain or loss of function
. If a protruding disc is significant or worsening, symptoms may include the following: Back pain, especially while sitting or lifting heavy loads.
How does a bulging disc feel?
Pain is often described as
sharp or burning. Numbness or tingling
. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.
