Bulging Disc is a pretty common condition usually originating from the expected and natural aging of spinal discs. But that’s not the only reason why a Bulging Disc can appear in your life. Heavy lifting, accidents, degenerative diseases and basic bad posture can also lead to it.
To put it simply, spinal discs are responsible for allowing our backs to rotate and move freely, absorbing impact, shocks and regular movement efforts with their outer rubbery surfaces and inner jelly-like cores. When these discs lose integrity due to natural aging, repetitive bad posture and movements or injuries, they become less resistant and tend to deform. Their inner soft cores start moving toward the exterior shells’ weakest points and can even break through and produce herniated discs.
All of this can produce mild, severe and chronic pain on your upper and lower spine, leading to your every extremity. Bulging Disc may go unnoticed during the early stages until it becomes a much more unbearable condition.
Symptoms:
- Mild to severe pain, numbness or tingling and tickling as well as weakness.
- Lower back pain, radiating from buttocks to legs and feet.
- Upper spine pain, radiating from neck, arms and hands.
- Sometimes, Bulging Disc can remain unnoticed in an asymptomatic way.
- Wide range of pain intensities.
- Commonly located on the lower back.
Causes:
Natural Spinal Aging:
Our bodies age with time. That’s inevitable. And with that process comes the wearing of our spinal discs. The aging process may lead to their deformation and deterioration, which makes them susceptible to hernia and bulging as their resistance drops and overall endurance lowers.
Lifestyle:
Sedentary activities and jobs may also lead to a Bulging Disc condition. Poor posture, sitting for long periods and even sleeping in a particular position may also lead to our spinal discs becoming damaged. Proper care of our lower back by supporting it in an appropriate way will prevent a premature Bulging Disc or Herniated Disc condition.
Daily Activities:
If your job requires you to engage in physical activities such as lifting heavy objects and carrying them in a repetitive way, then your spinal discs may be receiving too much to handle, and you may be pushing their resistance to the limit. This type of lifestyle can easily lead to a herniated or bulged disc.
Accidents:
Although bulged and herniated discs are most commonly the result of long term deterioration, a sudden shock produced by a car accident can also provoke these types of injuries, resulting in a disc getting herniated or bulged in an accelerated way.
Degenerative Diseases:
Many long-term conditions and diseases that erode our bodies slowly and steadily will most probably result in a bulged disc, as these areas are the most susceptible due to their watery inner cores and soft tissue outer edges.