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Disc Protrusion

Disc protrusion is a common form of spinal disc deterioration that can cause back and neck pain. Commonly caused by injury or the regular aging process, a protruding disc may go undetected unless it has irritated a nearby nerve.

When functioning correctly, the spinal vertebrae are cushioned by spongy, oval-shaped “discs” that essentially act as shock absorbers for the neck and back. Over time, however, discs can deteriorate and bulge out of their normal positions in the spinal column.

Discs typically degenerate in stages:

• The first stage is often a bulging disc, when the disc’s inner material, called nucleus pulposus, moves beyond its normal parameters and pushes into the thick outer wall, called the annulus fibrosus, creating a bulge. A bulging disc is said to involve more than half (more than 180 degrees) of the disc’s circumference.
• The next stage of disc deterioration may be classified as a disc protrusion, when the disc bulge is still contained within the disc’s outer wall, but it has worsened and is pushing even further into the spinal column. Disc protrusions may involve 180 degrees or less the disc’s circumference (creating a more pronounced, “sharper” bulge).
• The final stage may be a herniated disc, which means the disc’s outer wall finally breaks open, allowing the inner nucleus pulposus to leak out.

It is important to remember, however, that different health care providers may use terms like “bulging disc,” “disc protrusion,” and “herniated disc” interchangeably, so you may want to ask for clarification if these terms are discussed during your diagnosis.

The spinal column is home to the spinal cord and dozens of nerve roots that branch off the spinal cord, exit the spine, and continue to the bodily area they serve. When a disc protrudes into the limited space of the spinal column, the disc can pinch, irritate, or otherwise interfere with a nerve root or the spinal cord. It is this nerve compression that causes disc protrusion symptoms, including:

• Local, chronic back and neck pain
• Muscle weakness
• Sciatica
• Pain, numbness, and tingling in the extremities
• Stiffness or soreness
• Loss of flexibility or mobility
• Muscle weakness

An individual’s specific symptoms depend entirely on the pathology of the disc disorder. For example, a cervical disc protrusion (in the neck) can cause shoulder problems, while a lumbar disc protrusion (in the lower back) may be responsible for leg weakness. Thoracic disc protrusion (in the middle spine) is relatively rare but can occur. The protrusion’s origin in the spine and the severity of the disc disorder will determine the range and intensity of symptoms.

Correctly diagnosing a disc protrusion typically requires the use of medical imagery and a thorough examination by a physician. Conservative disc protrusion treatment methods are often quite effective and may include massage, physical therapy, bed rest, and pain medications. Spine surgery is only considered when conservative treatment of the disorder has proven ineffective or a patient’s symptoms are extreme and debilitating.

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If you are suffering from a disc protrusion and have exhausted your non-surgical options, consider contacting Laser Spine Institute (LSI). We address disc protrusion with minimally invasive endoscopic procedures that incorporate the latest in gentle laser technology. The result is an outpatient procedure that helps alleviate your pain without the recovery and rehabilitation of traditional open-back surgery. To learn more about disc protrusion, or for a free review of your MRI or CT scan, contact LSI today.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.