(801) 298-9190
Request Appointment
A bulging disc and a herniated disc are not the same thing, and knowing which one you have changes how it should be treated.
Seek emergency medical care first if you develop loss of bladder or bowel control, progressive weakness in both legs, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs. Those specific symptoms need to be evaluated urgently. For the great majority of disc problems, conservative care is the appropriate first approach, and many people recover well without surgery.
A spinal disc has a tough outer ring and a softer gel-like center. In a bulging disc, that outer ring pushes outward beyond where it belongs, but it stays intact. Think of it as the disc losing its shape and spreading under load.
In a herniated disc, the outer ring tears and some of the inner material pushes through. Because that material can press directly on a nerve root, herniation more often produces sharp pain, numbness, or weakness travelling down an arm or leg.
Both are common. Both are treatable. The distinction matters because it changes what treatment is aimed at.
Local pain in the neck or lower back is usually the first thing. When a nerve is involved, the pattern changes. Sharp or electrical pain travelling into an arm or a leg, numbness or tingling in a specific area, and sometimes weakness in a particular movement, like difficulty pushing off with one foot.
Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, coughing, or sneezing is a common pattern with lumbar disc problems, because all of those increase pressure on the disc.
The goal is straightforward. Take pressure off the disc and the nerve, reduce the inflammation around it, and restore normal motion so the area can heal.
Low back decompression is a central part of this, gently separating the vertebrae to reduce pressure on the disc. Alongside that we use adjustments to restore motion in the joints above and below, soft tissue work, and therapies such as muscle stimulation, ultrasound, and cold laser to address inflammation.
Care is gentle. When a disc is irritated, forceful technique is not what the situation calls for, and we adjust our approach accordingly.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Eveline Onkels, DC and Dr. Michael Onkels, DC, Onkels Chiropractic, Bountiful, Utah. This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an examination.
In a bulging disc the outer ring of the disc pushes outward but remains intact. In a herniated disc the outer ring tears and inner material pushes through, which is more likely to press on a nerve and cause pain, numbness, or weakness travelling into an arm or leg.
Many disc problems respond well to conservative care. We use decompression, adjustments, and therapy aimed at relieving pressure on the disc and nerve and reducing inflammation. If your examination indicates surgical evaluation is warranted, we will tell you.
Yes, when the technique matches the situation. We use gentle, low force approaches and decompression rather than forceful technique when a disc is irritated. Your doctor examines you first and adapts the treatment accordingly.
Many improve over time, particularly with treatment that reduces the load on the disc and restores normal motion. What tends not to help is continuing the pattern that produced the problem, which is why we address movement and posture as well as symptoms.
Call us now or send a message. If you reach us after hours, we will get back to you the next business day.
Fill this out and we will contact you as soon as possible.