What is mild diffuse disc bulge L4 L5?

A lumbar bulging disc occurs in the lower levels of the spine typically at L4-5 and L5-S1. It may be associated with a disc herniation. The bulging disc is a desiccation of the disc that may occur with the aging process or with injury. The L4-5 and L5-S1 discs are the most commonly affected.

What is mild diffuse disc bulge?

A diagnosis of a diffuse cervical bulge means that a disc in the neck area is bulging outward beyond its normal boundaries. This can occur due to trauma or injury or with age-related changes or wear and tear damage to the spine.

What is L5-S1 disc bulge treatment?

Treatment of L5-S1 usually begins with: Medication. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually tried first for pain stemming from L5-S1. For more severe pain, prescription medication, such as opioids, tramadol, and/or corticosteroids may be used.

Is a disc bulge 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.

How do you treat a bulging L4-L5 disc?

Treatment of the L4-L5 spinal motion segment typically begins with nonsurgical methods….Surgical Treatments for L4-L5

1. Microdiscectomy. In this surgery, a small part of the disc material near the nerve root is taken out.
2. Laminectomy.
3. Foraminotomy.
4. Facetectomy.
5. Lumbar artificial disc replacement.
6. Fusion of L4-L5.

How do you treat a diffuse disc bulge?

Injections. If rest, pain relievers, and physical therapy don’t help with your pain, your doctor can inject a steroid medicine into the space around your spinal nerve. This is called an epidural injection. The steroid can help bring down the swelling, help you move more easily, and ease pain from a herniated disk.

What causes diffuse disc bulge?

Causes Of Bulging Disc Body mechanics and poor posture that put stress on the spinal disc. Torsion of disc from repetitive work with a lot of bending, twisting or lifting. Sitting, standing driving or working for long periods of time. Sustaining back injury from a severe fall.

How is a mild disc bulge treated?

Common treatment for spinal injuries should include rest, physical therapy, exercise and medications. The aim of any treatment for bulging disc injury is to allow the torn fibers of the annulus to heal with time and to encourage the return of fluid to the centre of the disc.

How long does it take for L5 S1 to heal?

Treatment with rest, pain medication, spinal injections, and physical therapy is the first step to recovery. Most people improve in 6 weeks and return to normal activity.

What are the symptoms of L4 nerve damage?

Symptoms and Signs Stemming from L3-L4

• Sharp pain, typically felt as a shooting and/or burning feeling that may occur in the thigh and/or inner part of the leg.
• Numbness in the thigh and/or inner part of the leg.
• Weakness while moving the thigh and/or knee in different directions.

What nerves do L4 and L5 affect?

The L4 and L5 nerves (along with other sacral nerves) contribute to the formation of the large sciatic nerve that runs down from the rear pelvis into the back of the leg and terminates in the foot.

What is an L4/5 bulging disc?

An L4/5 bulging disc puts pressure on your L5 nerve — one of the most common levels where this condition occurs. Bulging of this disc, located in your lower back, causes a variety of problematic symptoms.”

Does L5 disc desiccation with narrowing respond to facet injections?

Although a L5 selective nerve root block provided short-term relief, there was no response to facet injections. The sagittal MRI (Fig. 1) demonstrates disc desiccation with narrowing at L4-L5 and L5-S1. There is a component of contained disc protrusion at both levels. A high intensity zone (HIZ) is seen at L4-L5. Figure 1. Sagittal MRI.

What does L4 L5 mean on an MRI?

The sagittal MRI (Fig. 1) demonstrates disc desiccation with narrowing at L4-L5 and L5-S1. There is a component of contained disc protrusion at both levels. A high intensity zone (HIZ) is seen at L4-L5. Figure 1.

What are the symptoms of a L5-S1 disc herniation?

Numbness in the leg that went to the bottom of the foot. This is the S1 nerve which would be expected to be irritated by a central L5-S1 disc herniation. Numbness can also go to the big toe had his disc been out more to one side, which would be the L5 spinal nerve. Pain/tightness in the hamstrings, side of the leg, and calf.