What is the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk?

Just got MRI results back. Family Doc says I have a bulging disk between C5-C6. Went to pain management yesterday and that Doc said it is pressing on the nerves affecting my left arm. I refused steroids shots b/c I am not in severe pain or debilitated. I am being sent to physical therapy which is fine with me as I need to learn how to do things so it does not get worse. Anyhow, what is the difference between buldging disks and herniated disks? I thought they were the same but I think I am mistaken. Also, any advice?

Bulging disc - the disc bulges out between the vertebrae into the spinal canal but it has not broken open.
Herniated disc - the disc has broken open and the contents bulge out between the vertebrae into the spinal canal.
Sorry, I don't know enough to give advice, and I'm not going to guess in a situation like this. Hope all goes well for you.

Nothing. They are one in the same thing just different terminology. Therapy might help, but it also might make it worse. Usually the treatment is rest to allow the disk to straighten out on it's own.

It really depends on the severity of the disk. It can be slightly bulging and look to be a problem but not quite be "herniated". It's all very technical when you get into the spinal column. It's pretty much the same thing but it can be millimeter differences.

Basically, a bulging disk (a spinal disk moved out of its original position) means you will live with pain because surgery can't correct it. It will, like you said, pinch nerves, causing minor, irritating pain.

A herniated disc is treatable with surgery because the cushion between the discs can be put back into place. However, those with herniated discs also experience pain, but usually much worse. My cousin has a herniated disc and has had surgery, but she still goes through spouts of pain and needs to get acupuncture and epidurals.

My boyfriend lives with a bulging disc, which prevents him from lifing his right leg up very far. It's difficult for him to stretch before running, but moving it around often makes it feel much better. He opted out of physical therapy because he seems to manage it his own.

But that is a personal preference thing, and you should always get a second opinion when it comes to these things. Always be an informed patient :)

A bulging disk is when your disk bulges through a gap in your spine. Disk are soft as they are made of gelatinous material to cushion the vertebrae and spine. A bulging disk occurs when the disk shits from its normal position; most of the time it is caused by age and typically happens slowly over time.
A herniated disk is mostly cause by trauma to the spine鈥?. In most causes one does not have pain with a bulging disk unless the disk protrudes into the nerves or becomes herniated.

Get lots of rest and do not pick up anything heavy, also when you bend bend at the knees and not the waist. If you doctor did not perscribe and anti-inflammatory you should take Advil to help with the pain. You can also take Tylenol four hours later. for a maximum of three days. Basically you keep taking Tylenol four hours after your last dose of Advil. YES THIS IS SAFE I WOULD KNOW!!!!! Last but not least try using hot and cold therapy on your back and if you can see a physiotherapist to help you strengthen your back to help prevent future disk problems.

A bulging disk does look different from a herniated disk. A bulging disk is one in which the outer layers (annulus fibrosis) of the disk simply bulge into the spinal canal. The bulging typically affects a large portion of the disk. Bulging disks are more common than herniated disks and usually cause no pain.

In a bulging disc, the nuclear material of the disc (the jelly like substance in the middle) displaces, causing the outter rings of the annulus fibrosis (the cartilagenous outer rim of the disc) to bulge out from its normal resting position. The nuclear material remains contained within the annulus fibrosis.

In a herniated disc, the nuclear contents have push out past the annulus fibrosis, but the outer rim remains intact.

Both can potentially be helped with physical therapy...it depends on the size of the herniation/bulge along with several other factors.

In other words, a herniation is a progression of a disc bulge...then there is extrusion/sequestered disc where the annular ring has ruptured and the nuclear contents have leaked out...

READ THE BOOK NOW (bottom) any good chiropractor and massage therapist using the principles in the book will have much better success rate with much less pain.

Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas (natural muscle relaxers) daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.