A bulging disc is an injury that is suffered when the inner portion (nucleus) of a spinal disc remains contained within the outer portion (annulus fibrosis) and protrudes. This condition is different from a herniated disc due to the fact that the nucleus is leaking out of the discus.
This protruding bulge can place a great deal of pressure on the surrounding nerve roots. Symptoms of this occurrence can lead to pain radiating down the back, neck, and other areas of the body. Some would describe this bulge as a tire-like structure in which the tube pushes out through the tougher outer shell, resulting in a bulge or bubble. This bulge does not rupture through the tire shell entirely.
Besides the fact that athletes are more often than not in better physical shape than the average person, it is the actual nature of their activity that places them at risk for a bulging disc.
Athletes often place stress on their body through:
- Running
- Lifting weights
- Twisting or turning
- General trauma
- Physical contact
In a variety of cases, people may not even know they have a bulging disc since the bulge has not herniated or put enough pressure on the nerve roots to cause any symptoms.
One the bright side, a bulging disc can often heal on its own. There are also a host of non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, rest, chiropractic manipulations, epidural steroid injections, and pain medications. All of these can help you achieve relief from pain.
For more information about our how A Family and Sports Chiropractic Clinic can help you find relief from your bulging disc, click here. We are a sports chiropractor in Vancouver WA who wants to help you get back to what you love as quickly as possible.