A set of simple physical assessments, such as the straight leg raise test, allows the physician to determine whether a herniated disc is likely the cause of pain. This procedure, along with a laminectomy and spinal fusion, adds stability to your spinal column. There are three steps involved in the diagnosis of a lumbar (lower back) herniated disc: a medical history, a physical exam, and when appropriate advanced diagnostic testing. In more severe cases, your doctor may replace the disc with an artificial one or remove the disc and fuse your vertebrae together. Your surgeon may remove the damaged or protruding portion of the disc without removing the entire disc. Your doctor may recommend surgery if your symptoms do not subside in six weeks or if your slipped disc is affecting your muscle function. nerve pain medications like gabapentin or duloxetine.

muscle relaxers to relieve muscle spasms.If your slipped disc pain does not respond to over-the-counter treatments, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications. Instead, try to remain as active as possible through stretching or low-impact activities such as walking. While it may be tempting to refrain from all physical activity while you’re experiencing the pain or discomfort of a slipped disc, this can lead to muscle weakness and joint stiffness. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and avoiding heavy lifting and painful positions can also help. A physical therapist may recommend exercises that can strengthen your back while reducing your pain. Most people can relieve slipped disc pain using an exercise program that stretches and strengthens the back and surrounding muscles. The treatment typically depends on the level of discomfort you’re experiencing and how far the disc has slipped out of place. Treatments for a slipped disc range from conservative to surgical. In severe instances, you may require surgery to remove or repair the slipped disc. If the slipped disc compresses one of your spinal nerves, you may also experience numbness and pain along the affected nerve. This is known as a slipped, herniated, or prolapsed disc. Injury or weakness can cause the inner portion of the disc to protrude through the outer ring. The discs protect the bones by absorbing the shocks from daily activities like walking, lifting, and twisting.Įach disc has two parts: a soft, gelatinous inner portion and a tough outer ring. From top to bottom, the column includes seven bones in the cervical spine, 12 in the thoracic spine, and five in the lumbar spine, followed by the sacrum and the coccyx at the base. Your spinal column is made up of a series of bones (vertebrae) stacked onto each other. This can cause pain and numbness and, if severe enough, may require surgery. Once diagnosis is confirmed, treatment may begin.If one of your spinal discs protrudes, it’s called a slipped or herniated disc. An MRI can provide detailed views of a bulging disc and nerves that may be compressed or impinged. A CT scan may be ordered if access to an MRI machine is difficult, but these results are subpar compared to results that an MRI would provide. Diagnostic Tests for a Bulging Discīecause the vertebral disc is comprised of tissue, an X-ray will not have favorable results. If your symptoms are severe and threaten to cause permanent damage to your spine or its surrounding structures, bulging disc surgery may be required before conservative methods are attempted. The physical manipulation tests that are performed should give your doctor a good idea of what condition or injury may be causing the pain. The medical history of the patient will help describe when the pain started, what the patient was doing that caused it, what the pain feels like Is it a burning sensation? Does it radiate to the arms? Does it feel less intense in one position rather than the other?ĭuring the physical examination the physician will test for nerve function as well as how strong the muscle is in certain areas of either the arm or leg. If deemed necessary, diagnostic tests will also be ordered. The medical history of the patient is taken into account, along with physical examination. For a physician to diagnose a bulging disc they need to look at a few different aspects of your pain.

Bulging disk on a xray