{"id":199,"date":"2023-09-12T01:41:45","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T01:41:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/?post_type=contents&#038;p=199"},"modified":"2024-10-29T17:23:05","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T17:23:05","slug":"herniated-and-bulging-discs","status":"publish","type":"contents","link":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/contents\/conditions\/herniated-and-bulging-discs\/","title":{"rendered":"Herniated and Bulging Discs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"199\" class=\"elementor elementor-199\" data-elementor-post-type=\"contents\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3de03d8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3de03d8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d439dc5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d439dc5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f7ec74 e-con-full e-flex elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4f7ec74\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a52a047 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a52a047\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Herniated and Bulging Discs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ae145f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ae145f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You\u2019ve probably heard the terms bulging and herniated discs before, and while sometimes they are used interchangeably, they are actually two different conditions. That said, they both share a lot of similarities, so let\u2019s take a look at the two conditions and how the pair are treated.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79b040e elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"79b040e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"\/contactus\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Make an Appointment<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5dbec4 e-con-full e-flex elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f5dbec4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2467eb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2467eb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/283472.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-201\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/283472.jpg 300w, https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/283472-282x300.jpg 282w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83c714c e-con-full e-flex elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"83c714c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2221e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d2221e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Similarities of Bulging &amp; Herniated Discs\n\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-906b4f2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"906b4f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As you might imagine, both a bulging disc and a herniated disc affect the intervertebral discs in your spine. These spongy discs at as a shock absorber between your vertebrae, which contribute to your spine\u2019s flexibility, which in turn helps protect the spine\u00a0from injury. The discs are comprised of a gel-like center and a tough, fibrous outer layer. In the medical world, the center is known as the nucleus pulposus, while the outer layer is called the annulus fibrosus.<\/p><p>Both bulging discs and disc herniation involve nerve root irritation or impingement, which can cause similar symptoms, like radiating pain, numbness, muscle weakness, tingling sensations or difficulty walking. Both injuries also share similar causes, like:<\/p><ul class=\"part-of-content-page\" style=\"margin-left: 18px;\"><li>Poor posture<\/li><li>Acute spinal injury<\/li><li>Overstress\/Repetitive spinal strain<\/li><li>Normal wear and tear with age<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-854b38c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"854b38c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Differences Between Herniated &amp; Bulging Discs\n\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9667d5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9667d5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The difference between the two conditions involves the gel-like center of the discs; the nucleus pulposus.<\/p><ul class=\"part-of-content-page\" style=\"margin-left: 18px;\"><li><strong>Bulging Disc<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 In a bulging disc, there is no tear or rupture inside the outer layer of the disc. A small \u201cbulge\u201d protrudes into the spinal canal, but no portion of the nucleus pulposus has leaked out of the disc.<\/li><li><strong>Herniated Disc<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A herniated disc involves a tear or a rupture inside the outer layer of the disc. This tear causes a portion of the gel-like nucleus to leak into the spinal canal. A herniated disc may have began as a bulging disc, but excess strain or pressure eventually led to a tear and disc herniation.<\/li><\/ul><p>Not all discs are the same, and many of the treatments are used on a trial-and-see basis. Here are some treatment options for bulging and herniated discs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf8d98d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cf8d98d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Bulging Spinal Disc Treatment<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f89a92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0f89a92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"part-of-content-page\" style=\"margin-left: 18px;\"><li>Avoid\u00a0lifting and any other activities that could make symptoms worse or lead to herniation.<\/li><li>Rest<\/li><li>Weight loss and lifestyle changes<\/li><li>Ice\/Heat therapy<\/li><li>Low impact exercises<\/li><li>Stretching to relieve nerve pressure<\/li><li>Targeted therapy with a physical therapist or spine specialist<\/li><li>Over-the-counter pain medications<\/li><li>Epidural steroid (cortisone) injections<\/li><li>Surgery (Only needed in about 5-10 percent of cases)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bacb2ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bacb2ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Herniated Spinal Disc Treatment\n\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd07684 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bd07684\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"part-of-content-page\" style=\"margin-left: 18px;\"><li>Rest<\/li><li>Weight loss<\/li><li>Physical therapy and gentle exercise to relieve nerve root pressure<\/li><li>Chiropractic manipulation<\/li><li>NSAIDs and other pain relievers<\/li><li>Oral steroids<\/li><li>Anti-inflammatory injections<\/li><li>Surgery (Lumbar Decompression or a Microdiscectomy)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1e0ab7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b1e0ab7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Spinal Surgeon\n\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2acf380 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2acf380\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr. David Chang is recognized as a skilled spinal neurosurgeon. If you are experiencing back pain,\u00a0<a href=\"\/contactus\">contact Dr. Chang<\/a>\u00a0today to see if you are a good candidate for spine surgery.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":189,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"class_list":["post-199","contents","type-contents","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contents\/199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contents"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/contents"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contents\/199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2417,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contents\/199\/revisions\/2417"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contents\/189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}