What is a Bulging Disc?
A bulging disc is a disc that extrudes into the spinal canal. It is also referred to as a ruptured disc or slipped disc. As a disc degenerates, it can herniate (the inner core extrudes) back into the spinal canal, as shown in this picture on the right. The light blue oval area is the disc and it is bulging into the spinal canal on the lower right side of the disc. In the lumbar area, this can cause pain to radiate all the way down the leg into the foot. In the area of the cervical spine, the pain would radiate from the neck down the arm, to the fingers.
Approximately 90% of bulging discs will occur at L4- L5 (lumbar segments 4 and 5) or L5- S1 (lumbar segment 5 and sacral segment1), which causes pain in the L5 nerve or S1 nerve, respectively.
Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 daysRecommended treatment is generally open back surgery, with high risks, hospital stays and lengthy recuperation time.
If you are concerned that you're starting to show signs of a bulging disc, you should take the time to visit our bulging disc symptoms page to confirm your suspicions.
A bulging disc can be very painful, but you can increase your chances of avoiding this condition by learning more about bulging disc causes. It is important to know what activities to avoid and which ones you should take precautions against.
If you have been diagnosed with a bulging disc and the pain is limiting your ability to live life to its fullest, we suggest that you view our page dedicated to bulging disc treatment. Here you can see how you can reclaim your life with our minimally invasive procedure.
If you have not found the information you were looking for, we suggest visiting our bulging disc FAQ page, or feel free to contact us with any additional requests and we will be happy to assist you.
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Answer
The endoscope and arthroscope are the exact same instrument. They are small tubes through which surgery is performed. When the tube is placed into a joint, it is referred to as an arthroscopic procedure (arthro meaning joint). When the tube is placed into an area other than a joint, it is called an endoscope. At LSI, we perform endoscopic procedures.