What Is A Bulging Disc?

Dr. Ron Daulton, Jr.

A bulging disc is a spinal condition, where the outer wall of the disc (the Annulus Fibrosus) becomes weak and starts to bulge into the spinal canal. This condition may also be referred to as a Protruding Disc or a Slipped Disc.

What makes this condition different from a herniated disc or a ruptured disc is that, although the wall is weaker than normal, it does not tear, as you can see in the image below.

Photo Courtesy of 3D Virtual Consultation For Doctors

What Is The Expected Outcome For Healing This Condition?

This is actually the earliest stage of a disc injury, and because of that, it is also the easiest to heal. However, if the condition isn’t treated properly or early enough, it will continue to progress to a point where the wall of the disc will actually tear.

When this happens, it is then called a Herniated Disc.

I’m going to go ahead and discuss what that is in the next part of this article (in addition to what happens if it progresses past that point), so if you’re interested in learning about that, you can click here to learn more, or you can also click the Next button below.

Once we discuss the different stages of this condition, we will then be covering causes, symptoms, treatments, etc. So if you’d like to skip right to that information, feel free to use the Table of Contents below to find the information you are most interested in.

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Previous	Table of Contents	Next
What Is The Difference Between A Bulging, Herniated, Ruptured, and Degenerated Disc? Bulging Disc (Protruding Disc, Slipped Disc) Herniated Disc (Disc Prolapse, Prolapsed Disc) Ruptured Disc (Sequestered Disc) Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) What is the Major Cause of Pain for Spinal Disc Conditions? Discogenic Pain Neurogenic (Neuropathic) Pain Symptoms of Spinal Disc Conditions Cervical (Neck) Disc Symptoms Thoracic (Upper Back) Disc Symptoms Lumbar (Low Back) Disc Symptoms Causes of Spinal Disc Conditions Spinal Disc Treatments: What Are Your Best Options And How Effective Are They? The Most Commonly Prescribed Medications For Spinal Disc Pain NSAID’s (Non–Steroidal Anti–Inflammatory Drugs) NSAID’s Side Effects NSAID’s Drug Interactions Analgesics (Pain Relievers) Analgesics Side Effects Analgesics Drug Interactions Muscle Relaxers Muscle Relaxer Side Effects Muscle Relaxer Drug Interactions Corticosteroids & Anesthetics (Cortisone Injections, Epidurals And Oral Steroids) Corticosteroids And Anesthetics Side Effects Corticosteroids And Anesthetics Drug Interactions Selective Serotonin & Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SSNRI) Duloxetine (Cymbalta) Side Effects Duloxetine (Cymbalta) Drug Interactions Anticonvulsants (for Neuropathic Pain) Anticonvulsants Side Effects Anticonvulsants Drug Interactions Natural Alternatives To Medications For Spinal Disc Conditions: How To Reduce Inflammation Without Drugs Exercises For Spinal Disc Conditions (A Discussion About Physical Therapy) Surgery For Spinal Disc Conditions The Ultimate Solution For Spinal Disc Conditions – 90.2% Of People Who Do This Experience Relief In 2 Weeks Or Less