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Bulging Disc
Bulging Disc ConcernA bulging disc will go one of two paths. The first is to heal all by itself or through conservative treatment. Many minor disc injuries do follow this path and require no long term or drastic care. In fact, many disc injuries go undetected and will resolve without any treatment whatsoever. It is also possible for the disc bulge to worsen or for the disc to rupture. This can be painful, but does not have to be symptomatic. Ruptured discs often stabilize and stop causing pain all by themselves. In the case of chronic disc pain, treatment is sometimes necessary.Bulging Disc ControversyThere are so many examples of disc injuries that do not cause any pain. Many of these are discovered by accident when the patient is undergoing a completely unrelated imaging study. Assuming that ALL disc injuries cause long term pain is a common mistake made by many doctors and therapists. You know the old saying about ASSuming…The reality of disc pain is more of a case by case basis. Some injuries can be asymptomatic. Others might cause huge amounts of pain, then heal by themselves. Some disc pain can go undetected for a while, then increase in severity with time. Finally, some pain is chronic and never seems to resolve, regardless of treatment. Disc injuries must be studied carefully in order to rule out other contributing factors to the pain. Nerve related pain is sometimes misdiagnosed as a disc problem. However, the most common form of misdiagnosed back pain often blamed on bulging discs is psychological back pain. This is the primary reason why so many patients suffer for years or even an entire lifetime. They undergo treatment after treatment for their bulging discs, yet the pain remains. Many finally acquiesce to discectomy surgery only to have their pain continue, even after the “offending” disc is gone! Despite this frequent occurrence, medical science is still hesitant about diagnosing psychosomatic back pain as a legitimate and epidemic condition. Too bad…too bad indeed. Recommendation for a Disc BulgeDisc injuries are a huge contributor to the nocebo effect for back patients. The average person has heard many horror stories about terrible disc injuries and their effects. We all perceive the spine and discs as being easily injured and difficult to repair. This is simply a fallacy. Disc injuries do exist, but are rarely the cause for years of chronic pain. In these cases, the poor bulging disc is another innocent scapegoat used to perpetuate the profitable propagation of long term back pain treatments.
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