How could he have a herniated disc ( bulging disc )? All "Bob" did was bend over to tie his shoe and when he tried to stand up...he couldn't! The back pain was terrible, and he was even beginning to feel shooting pains into the back of his thigh.
At first, he figured he had just pulled a muscle, but after a few days of severe pain with no relief, he went to see his doctor. Bob's doctor took X-rays, which looked OK (a herniated disc or bulging disc usually doesn't show up on regular X-rays), and prescribed medication -
anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers - and told Bob to rest.
A week later, Bob still wasn't much better, so he returned to his doctor. This time the doctor sent Bob for an MRI. The results weren't good. Bob had a large herniated disc at L5-S1, the last disc in the spine. The bulging disc was pushing against the nerve, which is why Bob was in so much pain. Bob's doctor referred him to a specialist - an orthopedic surgeon.
The surgeon told Bob that surgery was probably going to be necessary. The surgeon recommended a spinal fusion in which the herniated disc would be removed, and the spinal bones would be held together with metal plates and screws. Bob was pretty scared about what the surgeon was recommending, so he went home to think about it.
When Bob got home, his next door neighbor John was outside and noticed Bob struggling to get out of the car. John went over to help and asked Bob what was going on. When Bob explained, John remembered that a friend of his had gone through something similar and had been helped with a new machine that was developed to treat bulging and herniated discs. John told Bob he would find out from his friend where he had gone for treatment and the next day he stopped by Bob's house to give him the doctor's name and phone number.
Bob went in to consult with the doctor and found out he did have an alternative to surgery. Within a few weeks, Bob was feeling good again, and a few weeks after that, the doctor released him to start playing golf again.
Bulging, or herniated discs in the low back can be extremely painful.
Although the term "slipped disc" is sometimes used, the discs are very firmly attached to the spinal bones above and below them, so they do not actually slip (except in extreme spinal trauma), but the bulging may give the appearance that the disc has slipped.
Symptoms of a bulging disc or herniated disc may include back pain, sciatica, leg weakness, sexual dysfunction, and in severe cases, loss of bowel and/or bladder control (if you are currently experiencing a loss of bowel and/or bladder control, this is an emergency situation and you should seek medical attention immediately!)
A disc (or disk) is the soft tissue "shock absorber" between two bones of the spine. The disc has an outer wall (called the annulus) of tough tissue known as fibrocartilage, which is similar to the tissue that makes up the ear. Within the wall of fibrocartilage is a gel-like material (called the nucleus) composed of water and water-binding chemicals.
When the outer wall of the disc is damaged, either by a single major injury, or many small injuries over time, the pressure from within the disc can cause it to bulge outward, much like a tire may bulge on the side if there is a defect in the sidewall.
Although there's no definitive rule on the terminology, some doctors will refer to a less-severe case as a bulging disc, and a more severe (larger bulge) case as a herniated disc. If the wall of the disc is breached and the gel comes out of the disc, it is said to be ruptured or "extruded". Although, many people (including some doctors) will incorrectly call a herniated disc (in which the disc wall has not been breached and the gel is still contained) a ruptured disc (in which the inner gel of the disc is no longer contained).
In many cases, the location of a herniated disc is such that it can push against the sensitive nerves where they branch off from the spinal cord. The pressure on the nerves from the bulging disc may be further increased by swelling of the area due to inflammation. In some cases, more nerve pressure is actually a result of inflammation than from the bulging disc itself, and in these cases, pain is often relieved by means of ice, medications, and in severe cases, steroid injections, to reduce the inflammation.
Over time, a herniated disc may begin to lose fluid and become thinner, and then would be considered as degenerative disc disease.
There are various treatment options for bulging or herniated discs, depending on the severity of the case and other individual patient factors. We are proud to be among the first in the San Antonio area to offer the latest breakthrough in herniated disc treatment. See our herniated disc treatment page for information on an amazing offer that allows you to experience the effects of this new treatment without spending a dime!
At first, he figured he had just pulled a muscle, but after a few days of severe pain with no relief, he went to see his doctor. Bob's doctor took X-rays, which looked OK (a herniated disc or bulging disc usually doesn't show up on regular X-rays), and prescribed medication -
anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers - and told Bob to rest.
A week later, Bob still wasn't much better, so he returned to his doctor. This time the doctor sent Bob for an MRI. The results weren't good. Bob had a large herniated disc at L5-S1, the last disc in the spine. The bulging disc was pushing against the nerve, which is why Bob was in so much pain. Bob's doctor referred him to a specialist - an orthopedic surgeon.
The surgeon told Bob that surgery was probably going to be necessary. The surgeon recommended a spinal fusion in which the herniated disc would be removed, and the spinal bones would be held together with metal plates and screws. Bob was pretty scared about what the surgeon was recommending, so he went home to think about it.
When Bob got home, his next door neighbor John was outside and noticed Bob struggling to get out of the car. John went over to help and asked Bob what was going on. When Bob explained, John remembered that a friend of his had gone through something similar and had been helped with a new machine that was developed to treat bulging and herniated discs. John told Bob he would find out from his friend where he had gone for treatment and the next day he stopped by Bob's house to give him the doctor's name and phone number.
Bob went in to consult with the doctor and found out he did have an alternative to surgery. Within a few weeks, Bob was feeling good again, and a few weeks after that, the doctor released him to start playing golf again.
Bulging, or herniated discs in the low back can be extremely painful.
Although the term "slipped disc" is sometimes used, the discs are very firmly attached to the spinal bones above and below them, so they do not actually slip (except in extreme spinal trauma), but the bulging may give the appearance that the disc has slipped.
Symptoms of a bulging disc or herniated disc may include back pain, sciatica, leg weakness, sexual dysfunction, and in severe cases, loss of bowel and/or bladder control (if you are currently experiencing a loss of bowel and/or bladder control, this is an emergency situation and you should seek medical attention immediately!)
A disc (or disk) is the soft tissue "shock absorber" between two bones of the spine. The disc has an outer wall (called the annulus) of tough tissue known as fibrocartilage, which is similar to the tissue that makes up the ear. Within the wall of fibrocartilage is a gel-like material (called the nucleus) composed of water and water-binding chemicals.
When the outer wall of the disc is damaged, either by a single major injury, or many small injuries over time, the pressure from within the disc can cause it to bulge outward, much like a tire may bulge on the side if there is a defect in the sidewall.
Although there's no definitive rule on the terminology, some doctors will refer to a less-severe case as a bulging disc, and a more severe (larger bulge) case as a herniated disc. If the wall of the disc is breached and the gel comes out of the disc, it is said to be ruptured or "extruded". Although, many people (including some doctors) will incorrectly call a herniated disc (in which the disc wall has not been breached and the gel is still contained) a ruptured disc (in which the inner gel of the disc is no longer contained).
In many cases, the location of a herniated disc is such that it can push against the sensitive nerves where they branch off from the spinal cord. The pressure on the nerves from the bulging disc may be further increased by swelling of the area due to inflammation. In some cases, more nerve pressure is actually a result of inflammation than from the bulging disc itself, and in these cases, pain is often relieved by means of ice, medications, and in severe cases, steroid injections, to reduce the inflammation.
Over time, a herniated disc may begin to lose fluid and become thinner, and then would be considered as degenerative disc disease.
There are various treatment options for bulging or herniated discs, depending on the severity of the case and other individual patient factors. We are proud to be among the first in the San Antonio area to offer the latest breakthrough in herniated disc treatment. See our herniated disc treatment page for information on an amazing offer that allows you to experience the effects of this new treatment without spending a dime!
To contact us, email to info@SpineSA.com, or call us at (210)341-7040.
Copyright 2008 SpineSA.com Herniated Disc | Bulging Disc San Antonio
Copyright 2008 SpineSA.com Herniated Disc | Bulging Disc San Antonio
Best Health And Wellness
Dr. George Best, D.C.
(210) 341-7040
We are located at:
11230 West Avenue, Suite #1109
(in the Commons West Offices)
San Antonio, Texas 78213
Dr. George Best, D.C.
(210) 341-7040
We are located at:
11230 West Avenue, Suite #1109
(in the Commons West Offices)
San Antonio, Texas 78213