What is the difference between a Herniated Disc and a Bulging Disc?

You’ve been told you have a Bulging Disc, how is that different from a Herniated Disc? One thing you do know, you have constant low back pain, or a pain in your neck that just won’t leave you alone. You’ve talked to friends and have seen doctors who’ve told you that you may have a ruptured disc, or a torn disc (or disc tear), slipped disc, collapsed disc, disc protrusion, bulging disc, or herniated disc. You see, many of these terms are commonly used, even by doctors, to describe the problem in your spine that’s causing you all of that pain. 

Let’s talk about the two terms most commonly used, bulging disc and a herniated disc. 

What is a Bulging Disc?

Some sources say there is no difference, but there really is. Discs are the cushions between your vertebrae, the bones that make up your spine. Each of these discs has a tough outside cover, with softer cartilage inside.  In a bulging disc, the softer cartilage begins to move into areas it normally wouldn’t or shouldn’t be. This bulges out the tougher disc covering. If the bulge comes in contact with a nerve, there can be pain, but often there isn’t any pain associated with a bulging disc.

What is a Herniated Disc?

With a herniated disc, a tear in the outer covering is allowing the softer inner material to escape. As this escaping materials moves onto nerves, it causes pain. If you are suffering from low back pain, or neck pain, it’s more likely caused by a herniated disc rather than a bulging disc. Most pain suffererss don’t really care, they just want the pain to go away.

How can you find out what’s causing your low back pain or neck pain?  You start with a thorough examination from an expert, such as Fort Wayne Chiropractor, Dr. Richard E. Busch III of the Busch Chiropractic Pain Center. Dr. Busch has helped thousands of patients suffering with herniated discs relieve their pain with out pain medications, surgery, or other ineffective treatments.

Once you determine the cause of your pain, there are several options for treating it. One option is to take powerful pain killing drugs for the rest of your life.  Another option is surgery, but surgery doesn’t’ always end your pain, and it oftens needs to be done again within a few years.  The best way to deal with a bulging or herniated disc that may be causing you chronic back pain is the DRS Protocol®.

DRS is drug free, pain free, and non-surgical. Unfortunately, not every back pain sufferer is a candidate for DRS. Only an examination can tell for sure. So, if you’ve been told only surgery or drugs can alleviate your back pain, then, you really need to see Dr. Busch and find out more about the DRS Protocol®.

Bulging or hernatied discs, it doesn’t matter what you call the problem in your spine. The only thing that matters is relief from the pain. Call Busch Chiropractic today to find out more about our herniated disc treatment with the DRS Protocol® available only at Busch Chiropractic Fort Wayne.