Can a bulging disc last forever?

Usually a herniated disc will heal on its own over time. Be patient, and keep following your treatment plan. If your symptoms don’t get better in a few months, you may want to talk to your doctor about surgery.

What happens if a bulging disc goes untreated?

If you leave a herniated disc untreated, you may experience intense, sharp pains, partial paralysis, or the inability to control bowel movements in relatively dire situations.

How long does a bulging disc take to settle?

Bulging Disc Recovery Time Most bulging disc injuries do take several weeks, or even months, to settle. Bulging discs will also remain weak and vulnerable for at least six weeks, sometimes longer. However, the good news is that most bulging disc injuries will not remain painful for that period.

What makes a bulging disc worse?

The pain from a herniated disc usually is worse when you are active and gets better when you are resting. Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving, and bending forward may make the pain worse. The pain gets worse when you make these movements because there is more pressure on the nerve.

How many MM is a bad disc bulge?

Hence, a disc bulge is nothing but a generalized extension of the disc tissue beyond the perimeter of the vertebrae, usually around 1-4 mm. This bulge or protrusion often causes nerve compression to produce symptoms like: Pain or tingling in fingers, arms, legs, neck, hand, feet, buttocks, or shoulders.

When should I be worried about a bulging disc?

If you experience any of the severe herniated disc symptoms below, contact your doctor immediately: Loss of bowel and/or bladder control, loss of feeling in your lower extremities (legs and feet): These symptoms, which may be caused by a lumbar (low back) herniated disc, may be related to cauda equina syndrome.

How long before nerve damage becomes permanent?

As a specialist in peripheral nerve surgery, Dr. Seruya wants his patients to know that after a period of 12-18 months nerve damage can become permanent.

Is a 3 mm disc herniation large?

A herniated disc with an AP diameter of approximately 3 mm was over 95\% sensitive and 95\% specific for leg pain consistent with a herniation at that level.

Is 3 mm disc bulge bad?

Herniated Disc. In simple terms, a disc bulge refers to an apparent generalized extension of disc tissues beyond the edges of the edge of vertebrae, usually less than 3mm. Bulge is a term for an image and can be a normal variant (usually at L5-S1).

Is 3 mm disc protrusion bad?

Is it normal to have a bulging disc?

A finding of a bulging disc is difficult to interpret in isolation. For the most part, bulging discs are very normal findings, even in young, active patients, and they are rarely thought to be a source of back pain.

What is the significance of a bulging lumbar disc?

Lumbar Bulging Disc Significance. Lumbar bulges, or any disc bulges, for that matter, are usually innocent and coincidental to any back pain suffered. In rare instances, intervertebral disc bulges can enact symptomatic spinal stenosis by imparting a huge mass effect on the thecal sac or more commonly, by compressing the actual spinal cord.

Can a disc bulge penetrate the ligament barrier?

Specifically, disc bulges do not penetrate the ligament barrier that separates the disc from the spinal canal. Disc bulging is often an incidental finding on MRI. As people age, disc bulges are commonly seen on MRI. Disc bulges can be seen in patients with no symptoms of back problems, especially in patients over the age of 40.

Is discogenic back pain the same as a bulging disc?

When pain is the source of pain, people often refer to this as discogenic back pain. This is not quite the same as a bulging disc, although discogenic pain can occur in people who have a bulging disc. Rarely are invasive or surgical treatments used for the treatment of a bulging disc.