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What Is a Bulging Disc?
Your spinal discs provide cushioning between each vertebra in your spine. Each disc is flat and rubbery, with a soft, jelly-like center and a strong outer layer. A bulging disc happens when the outer layer of one of your discs sticks out beyond your vertebra, which can cause pinched nerves or compression of your spinal cord.
What is the difference between bulging and herniated discs?
A bulging disc happens when the outer layer of your disc sticks out beyond your vertebra. A herniated disc — also known as a ruptured disc — occurs when a tear in the outer layer of your disc allows the jelly-like center of your disc to leak out.
What are the types of bulging discs?
Bulging discs are diagnosed based on the part of the spine where they occur. Types of bulging discs include:
- Cervical bulging disc — Happens in your neck.
- Lumbar bulging disc — Happens in your lower back (most common).
- Thoracic bulging disc — Happens in your mid- to upper-back.
What causes bulging discs?
The most common cause of a bulging disc is degenerative disc disease due to natural wear and tear on your discs as you age. You can also develop a bulging disc after injury to your spine, such as from a fall, car accident, or sports injury.
What are bulging disc risk factors and complications?
Bulging disc risk factors
You may be at higher risk of developing bulging discs due to degenerative disc disease if you have:
- A history of spinal injuries.
- A job that requires repetitive motion, such as heavy lifting, pulling, or bending.
- Obesity.
- Poor posture.
- A sedentary lifestyle.
Complications of a bulging disc
Bulging discs may compress your spinal cord or spinal nerves, so getting treatment is important if you have symptoms that don’t get better after a few days.
If left untreated for a long time, a bulging disc could cause worsening symptoms that affect your ability to work and do everyday activities. A bulging disc could also cause permanent damage to your spinal cord or nerves.
How can I prevent a bulging disc?
Bulging discs are usually caused by age-related degenerative disc disorder, so it’s not always possible to prevent them. However, you may be able to reduce your risk by taking good care of your spine and your overall health.
Your doctor may recommend:
- Exercising and stretching regularly.
- Getting plenty of sleep.
- Having good posture, especially while sitting and using electronic devices.
- Learning proper body mechanics to prevent injury during lifting, bending, and athletic activities.
- Maintaining a healthy body weight.
- Managing stress.
- Strengthening your core to reduce your risk of lower back injury.
How common are bulging discs?
Bulging discs are very common, especially as you age. However, bulging discs do not always cause symptoms, so estimating how many people are affected is difficult.
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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Bulging Disc?
Bulging discs do not always cause symptoms. They are sometimes diagnosed during an x-ray or imaging test to diagnose another condition. Bulging disc symptoms can be mild or severe or come and go depending on your posture, activity level, or movements.
Symptoms may include:
- Back or neck pain.
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet.
- Pain that worsens when you cough or sneeze.
- Pain that worsens with movement, such as bending over, lifting, or bringing your knees to your chest while lying on your back.
- Pain that radiates down one buttock or leg.
When should I see a doctor about my bulging disc symptoms?
If you have mild bulging disc symptoms that don’t improve after a few days, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.
If you have severe symptoms of spinal cord or nerve compression — especially if they come on suddenly or occur after an injury — you may need emergency care.
You should go to the nearest hospital emergency department if you have severe symptoms, including:
- Inability to walk to stand.
- Loss of strength or sensation in your legs or lower body.
- Problems with bowel or bladder control.
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How Do You Diagnose a Bulging Disc?
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and order imaging tests to diagnose a bulging disc.
What to expect during your visit
During your visit, your doctor will:
- Ask about any medications you’re taking.
- Ask about recent activities or injuries.
- Order imaging tests.
- Perform a physical exam.
- Review your health history.
Tests to diagnose a bulging disc
Tests to diagnose a bulging disc include:
- CT scan — A CT scan is a test that creates images of the bones, discs, nerves, and tissues in your spine.
- Electromyography (EMG) — Sometimes called an electromyogram, an EMG allows a doctor to record and study the electrical activity of your muscles.
- MRI scans — MRI is a diagnostic procedure that combines large magnets, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within your body.
- Myelogram — A myelogram is a specialized test that uses contrast dye to take real-time x-ray or computed tomography (CT) images of your spine's bones, discs, nerves, and tissues.
- Nerve conduction study (NCS) — An NCS measures the speed of electrical activity passing through your nerves.
- X-ray — A diagnostic test that uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.
Bulging disc prognosis
For most people, bulging disc symptoms improve on their own over time or with nonsurgical treatment.
Will a bulging disc heal?
If your symptoms are mild, a few weeks of nonsurgical care and rest may be enough to improve your symptoms. For severe symptoms, you may need a spinal injection or surgery.
Can I live with a bulging disc?
It is possible to live with a bulging disc. Sometimes, bulging discs do not cause any symptoms. In other cases, symptoms are mild and only happen occasionally. You may be able to manage occasional, mild symptoms with nonsurgical care and rest.
You may be able to reduce your risk of future symptom flare-ups by modifying your activities, doing physical therapy exercises, maintaining good posture, and using proper body mechanics when lifting, pushing, bending, or pulling.
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How Do You Treat a Bulging Disc?
Bulging disc treatment aims to improve symptoms, restore mobility, and improve your quality of life.
How do you fix a bulging disc?
Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan based on your condition and the severity of your symptoms.
Treatment options may include:
Nonsurgical care
If you have a bulging disc that is causing mild symptoms, your doctor may recommend nonsurgical care, including:
- Heat and/or ice.
- Over-the-counter medications to manage pain.
- Physical therapy.
- Rest.
Does walking help a bulging disc?
Although it may be tempting to lie down and rest when you have bulging disc symptoms, movement like slow walking may help to relieve stiffness and pain. However, you should avoid vigorous walking until you are fully healed and your symptoms go away.
Spinal injections to treat a bulging disc
If your symptoms don’t improve with nonsurgical care, your doctor may recommend a spinal injection to treat your bulging disc symptoms.
Types of injections include:
- Epidural steroid injection (ESI) — An ESI involves injecting a medication into the epidural space surrounding your spinal cord to reduce irritation and inflammation of your spinal nerves.
- Selective nerve root block (SNRB) — An SNRB is a procedure to inject a long-lasting steroid (cortisone) around your nerve root as it exits your spinal column. The injection reduces the inflammation and pain caused by pressure on your nerve.
Surgery for a bulging disc
If you have severe symptoms or your symptoms don’t respond to other treatments, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair your bulging disc.
Surgical treatment options may include:
- Artificial disc replacement (ADR) — During an ADR, your doctor will remove and replace your damaged spinal disc with an artificial disc implant. ADR is also known as a total disc replacement (TDR) or total disc arthroplasty (TDA).
- Discectomy with spinal fusion — During a discectomy with spinal fusion, your doctor will remove all or part of your damaged disc. Then, your doctor will perform a spinal fusion procedure to fuse together two vertebrae (spinal bones) to eliminate motion between the vertebrae and relieve pain. This procedure connects two or more vertebrae together with metal screws and rods so they have a chance to grow together or fuse.
- Microdiscectomy — Sometimes spelled microdiskectomy, this minimally invasive spine surgery treats compressed (pinched) nerves in your spinal column caused by bulging discs. During the procedure, your surgeon will remove all or part of the damaged disc that is putting pressure on your spinal nerves.
- Microlaminectomy — A minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat conditions that cause compressed (pinched) spinal nerves, including bulging discs. During microlaminectomy, your surgeon will remove the lamina, a section of bone of one or more vertebrae (spinal bones), using small surgical instruments and a specialized surgical microscope. Your surgeon may also remove all or part of a damaged spinal disc if it is causing symptoms.
- Microlaminotomy — A minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat conditions that cause compressed (pinched) spinal nerves, including bulging discs. During microlaminotomy, your surgeon will remove a small portion of the lamina, a section of one or more vertebrae (spinal bones), using small surgical instruments and a specialized surgical microscope. Your surgeon may also remove all or part of a damaged spinal disc if it is causing symptoms.
Why choose UPMC for bulging disc care?
When you choose UPMC for your bulging disc care, you will receive:
- Access to world-class orthopaedic expertise — Our world-renowned experts treat the full spectrum of spine and back disorders using the latest surgical and nonsurgical techniques.
- Advanced diagnostic care — We’ll find the cause of your back pain and work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
- A full range of treatment options — We offer nonsurgical care, as well as robotic and traditional surgical approaches, depending on your individual care
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By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-02-28
