What is mild posterior disc bulge?

What is mild posterior disc bulge?

What is mild posterior disc bulge?

When a disc is damaged, it may herniate, or push out, against the spinal cord and spinal nerves. A ‘disc bulge’ is a word commonly used to describe a slight outpouching of the disc. The words ‘disc bulge’ imply that the disc appears symmetric with a small amount of outpouching, and no significant herniation.

What is posterior back pain?

Lower back pain is any type of pain or discomfort throughout the posterior (back) portion of your lower trunk area, extending down to your pelvis. The lower back is also referred to as the lumbar area or lumbar spine. Most people will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

What does mild degenerative changes of the lumbar spine mean?

The phrase “degenerative changes” in the spine refers to osteoarthritis of the spine. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Doctors may also refer to it as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis in the spine most commonly occurs in the neck and lower back.

Is mild bulging disc serious?

Is it serious? Bulging disks increase the likelihood of a herniated disk, which can be painful, affect mobility, and limit a person’s daily functioning and quality of life. Bulging disks can also lead to weakness or numbness in the legs and poor bladder control.

Does a mild disc bulge require surgery?

Most herniated discs do not require surgery. In approximately 9 out of 10 people, symptoms will resolve over days to weeks. Some people who have a herniated disc do not experience any symptoms at all. Sometimes, however, the herniated disc presses against a nerve in the spinal column.

What causes posterior disc bulge?

Although the etiology of posterior disc protrusions is not perfectly clear, trauma to and degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs alone or in combination seem to be the usual causes of posterior protrusion.

What causes a bulge in the posterior disc?

A bulging disc occurs when the nucleus pulposus—the soft, jelly-like center of the disc that gives the disc shock-absorbing capacities—extends beyond its normal position inside the disc structure, but remains contained within the annulus fibrosus.

How does the L5 nerve affect a bulging disc?

Discs provide cushioning between each of these bones,” said Livestrong. “Sometimes discs may bulge — move out of place — and put pressure on nerves that exit your spine. Symptoms are specific to the level of the bulge. An L4/5 bulging disc puts pressure on your L5 nerve — one of the most common levels where this condition occurs.

What are the symptoms of a bulging disc?

When a bulging disc does cause pain, it may be because the disc is pressing on the spinal cord or a spinal nerve root. Resultant symptoms may include pain, weakness, numbness and/or electrical sensations that go down one leg or one arm. 5 

Which is the least common type of bulging disc?

Thoracic Bulging Disc. A thoracic bulging disc is the least often seen type of intervertebral protrusion, since the middle and upper back spinal regions are far less likely to develop herniated discs.

A bulging disc occurs when the nucleus pulposus—the soft, jelly-like center of the disc that gives the disc shock-absorbing capacities—extends beyond its normal position inside the disc structure, but remains contained within the annulus fibrosus.

What are the symptoms of T11-T12 disc herniation?

Three of four patients with T11-T12 disc herniation experienced lower extremity weakness, and three patients had accentuated patellar tendon reflex. Sensory disturbance was observed in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh in one patient and on the entire leg in three patients.

Thoracic Bulging Disc. A thoracic bulging disc is the least often seen type of intervertebral protrusion, since the middle and upper back spinal regions are far less likely to develop herniated discs.

Can a bulge in the disc cause nerve root compression?

These studies show that not only can disc herniation or bulge cause pain without nerve root compression, but there can be internal disc disruption of the annulus with apparent MR/CT changes that can cause pain.