Slipped or bulging discs, while sometimes asymptomatic (without pain), can make their presence known aggressively.
When the spinal disc is under pressure, material on the inside may be forced out through the protective coating. This phenomenon may cause imbalance and nerve impingement.
This post covers some telltale signs you have a slipped or bulging disc. If you suspect you have this condition, the following may either confirm or dispel your suspicions. But let’s be clear: only a doctor can diagnose you. Read on and then, think about checking in with your primary care giver so he can assess your status.
Lower Body Pain
There are a couple of key pain signals associated with slipped or bulging discs. The first is a dull, persistent pain in the low back. The second is pain radiating down the backs of your legs (sciatica), which may manifest as far down as the feet and including numbness and/or tingling. The second type of pain signal occurs due to nerve impingement caused by the spinal disc being compromised.
Pain will usually manifest on one side of the body. Some patients will have pain when rising from sitting, or when bending from the waist.
Rapid Onset
Pain from a slipped or bulging disc may come suddenly. It can also be very intense.
But with 90% of patients the pain is gone within 6 weeks. This occurs even in the absence of medical attention.
Even if the pain you experience in your lower back only endures for several days then stops, you should explore the possibility that it’s caused by a slipped or bulging disc.
You’re in a High-Risk Group
Slipped and bulging discs can happen at any stage of life but it’s true that certain demographics are more likely to encounter them.
If you’re in any of these sectors of the population, you’re in a high-risk group:
- You’re between 35 and 50 years of age
- You’re a man (twice as likely as women to be diagnosed)
- You have a physically demanding job
- You’re obese
Now, if you’re in more than one of these sectors, then there’s a good chance you may have a slipped disc, if you’re experiencing symptoms like the ones described above.
If you suspect that’s the case, then going to your doctor will bring you relief. Non-invasive therapies can help with the pain, restoring stability and reducing inflammation. You may embark on a course of physical therapy to correct biomechanical issues which may be making you more vulnerable to injury. Or you may be visiting a chiropractor to correct imbalance in your spine. It depends what’s right for you.
Spine Consult NJ
At Spine Consult, we’re committed to restoring our patients to optimal function.
We treat all conditions of the spine with a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art range of therapies, from conservative to surgical.
Patient-centered care which addresses individual need is a big part of how our team finds the right solution to your condition. To that mission, we bring top-tier professionalism
Contact us to find out more.