The three mobile regions of the spine – cervical (neck), thoracic (upper and middle back) and lumbar (lower back) – share one of the most common and unavoidable bulging disc risk factors, which is intervertebral disc deterioration brought on by the normal aging process. However, the threat of bulging disc development is greater in the neck and lower back than in the thoracic (middle) region. This is due to the constant stress from movement in the neck and lower back, like twisting, turning and bending, as well as the weight-bearing functions of the cervical (upper) and lumbar (lower) vertebrae. On the other hand, because the thoracic (middle) vertebrae are connected to the rib cage and are relatively immobile, only about one percent of disc problems occur within the thoracic spine.
Risk factors for a bulging disc include:
- Age
- Degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis
- Improper lifting techniques or not wearing a brace when lifting heavy objects
- Excessive back and neck strain (for example, working at a job that requires a lot of standing, bending, heavy lifting, etc.)
- Height (taller individuals may be more prone to bulging discs)
- Excessive weight
- An unhealthy diet
- Poor posture
- Failure to get regular exercise
- Smoking
Bulging Disc Symptoms
A bulging disc occurs when a portion of the fibrous outer wall weakens and pops out of the disc’s normal boundary. More often than not, bulging discs are asymptomatic. In fact, many people never realize they have a bulging disc – unless the displaced portion of the outer wall begins to irritate a nerve or presses against the spinal cord. An irritated, or compressed, nerve can produce localized pain, radiating pain, tingling, loss of sensation or muscle weakness. The location of the compressed nerve determines the area of the body subjected to symptoms, as listed below:
- Cervical region – head, neck, shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands, fingers
- Thoracic region – hands, chest, back, abdomen
- Lumbar region – buttocks, legs, feet, abdomen
Treating the Symptoms of Bulging Discs
Regardless of the location, symptoms produced by a bulging disc usually can be managed conservatively, using pain medication, behavior modification, physical therapy or other non-operative methods. However, if chronic pain persists after weeks or months of conservative treatment, surgery may become an option. Rather than resort to highly invasive, extremely disruptive traditional open back surgery, tens of thousands of patients have found relief at Laser Spine Institute. Our orthopedic specialists perform minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures on an outpatient basis, with far less disruption and a much shorter period of recuperation than traditional surgery. Contact Laser Spine Institute to learn more about bulging disc risk factors or for a free review of an MRI or CT scan.
