How rare is a bulging disc?

The incidence of a herniated disc is about 5 to 20 cases per 1000 adults annually and is most common in people in their third to the fifth decade of life, with a male to female ratio of 2:1 [6]. The estimated prevalence of symptomatic herniated disc of the lumbar spine is about 1-3 percent of patients.

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What percentage of the population has a bulging disc?

Every year, up to 2% of people get a herniated disk. Herniated disks are a leading cause of neck and/or arm, and back and/or leg pain (sciatica). They can happen anywhere along the spine, but herniated disks most often occur in the lower back or the neck.

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Should I be worried about a bulging disc?

Bulges can put pressure on the surrounding nerve roots, leading to pain that radiates down the back and other areas of the body depending on its location within the spinal column. If the symptoms are severe enough and have become chronic, surgery for a bulging disc may be required.

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How serious is a bulging disc in your back?

Rarely, disk herniation can compress the entire spinal canal, including all the nerves of the cauda equina. In rare instances, emergency surgery might be required to avoid permanent weakness or paralysis. Seek emergency medical attention if you have: Worsening symptoms.

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What is the average age for bulging disc?

Results: Mean ages of the patients with disc herniation at L5-S1, L4-5, L3-4, and L2-3 were 44.1 +/- 0.5 years, 49.5 +/- 0.6 years, 59.5 +/- 0.9 years, and 59.6 +/- 2.7 years, respectively. Mean ages were significantly higher with herniation levels at L4-5, L3-4, and L2-3 compared to L5-S1 (p < 0.0001).

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5 Things Making Your Bulged Disc WORSE! (WHAT TO DO INSTEAD)

28 related questions found

Is it OK to work with a bulging disc?

In summary, someone with a disc herniation should at all times avoid any heavy lifting, any sudden pressure on the back, or repetitive strenuous activities when recovering from a herniated disc. All exercises that cause pain, or feel as though they are making the pain worse, should be avoided.

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Is a bulging disc life long?

Disc bulges are not permanent. The disc is a fluid filled structure and therefore has the capacity to heal, resolve and be re-absorbed.

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Is L4 L5 disc bulge serious?

An L4-L5 disc bulge or slip-disc (slipped disc) pinches and leads to serious health issues, including impotence, reproduction issues, infertility, loss of bowel and bladder control, or paralysis in one or both legs.

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What is worse than a bulging disc?

Herniated discs are considered more severe than bulging discs because they put significant pressure on nearby nerves, which can cause intense pain, inflammation and difficulties with movement.

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Is L5 S1 disc bulge serious?

L5-S1 Disc Bulge Symptoms

This process is absolutely normal and is a part of aging and happens with everyone. L5-S1 bulging discs are most common as they take the stress and weight of the body. The symptoms experienced in the lower back can be terribly painful.

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What should you not do with a bulging disc?

Activities to Avoid With a Herniated Disc
  • Sitting too Much. Sitting for too long is never good for you, but people with herniated discs need to be especially careful because slouching in your chair puts more stress on your spine. ...
  • Too Much Bed Rest. ...
  • Vacuuming. ...
  • Bending Over.

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What will a doctor do for a bulging disc?

In nearly all cases, surgeons can remove just the protruding portion of the disk. Rarely, the entire disk must be removed. In these cases, the vertebrae might need to be fused with a bone graft. To allow the process of bone fusion, which takes months, metal hardware is placed in the spine to provide spinal stability.

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What are the red flags of a herniated disc?

Pain that radiates below the knee is a red flag for a herniated disc or nerve root compression below the L3 nerve root. This is based on the dermatomal distribution of the nerve roots and the fact that the pain associated with inflammation radiates along the entire pathway of the nerve.

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Do a lot of people have bulging discs?

The incidence of a herniated disc is about 5 to 20 cases per 1000 adults annually and is most common in people in their third to the fifth decade of life, with a male to female ratio of 2:1 [6]. The estimated prevalence of symptomatic herniated disc of the lumbar spine is about 1-3 percent of patients.

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How common is disc bulge in MRI?

Bulging discs are relatively common, and in many cases, do not show any symptoms or cause discomfort. However, as the disc bulges out and presses on a nearby nerve, most people experience pain, numbness, and/or muscle weakness in that area, or along the affected nerve pathway.

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At what point does a bulging disc require surgery?

Your doctor might recommend surgery as an option for your herniated disc if: Your symptoms have lasted at least 6 weeks and make it hard to do your normal activities, and other treatments haven't helped. You need to get better quickly because of your job or to get back to your other activities as soon as possible.

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What are the 4 levels of bulging discs?

There are four stages of a herniated disc depending on the extent of displacement of the nucleus towards the outside annulus.
  • Stage 1: Disc Compression. ...
  • Stage 2: Bulging Disc. ...
  • Stage 3: Disc Protrusion. ...
  • Stage 4: Herniated Disc.

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Does a bulging disc hurt all the time?

A bulging disc may have no pain at all because it has not reached a certain severity level, and this can make it difficult to identify the bulging disc symptoms before the condition becomes more severe. Most commonly, bulging discs create pressure points on nearby nerves which create a variety of sensations.

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What is a very painful bulging disc?

A herniated disk is a condition that can occur anywhere along the spine, but most often occurs in the lower back. It is sometimes called a bulging, protruding, or ruptured disk. It is one of the most common causes of lower back pain, as well as leg pain, or sciatica.

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What should you not do with a L4 L5 disc bulge?

Unsafe Exercises for Individuals with a Bulging Disc
  • High impact aerobics.
  • Flexion-based movements.
  • Leg lifts.
  • Situps.
  • Twisting movements.
  • High-level core strength exercises.
  • Overhead weightlifting.
  • Repetitive forward bending at the waist.

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Is walking good for L4 L5 disc bulge?

Walking is a gentle form of exercise that has the potential to be beneficial if you have a bulging or herniated spinal disc.

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How long does it take for a bulging disc L4 L5 to heal?

Self care: In most cases, the pain from a herniated disc will get better within a couple days and completely resolve in 4 to 6 weeks. Restricting your activity, ice/heat therapy, and taking over the counter medications will help your recovery.

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Is bulging disc a permanent disability?

A herniated disc injury may result in a designation of permanent disability and make you eligible for disability benefits from workers' compensation if: The herniation compromises a nerve root or the bundle of nerves that lead out from the spinal cord.

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Can you become paralyzed from a bulging disc?

With a herniated disc, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This can irritate the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness and numbness in the arms or legs. A severely herniated disc can cause paralysis.

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Can a bulging disc take 6 months to heal?

The good news is that most cases of lumbar disc herniation do not require surgery! Long-standing evidence suggests that pain associated with a herniated disc often diminishes without surgical treatment within 4-6 months.

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