Your back consists of a column of individual bones - or vertebrae - separated by small cushions - known as discs. These discs serve as shock-absorbing pads and are located between each vertebra.
When a disc is strained beyond its limit, the outer casing may bulge or rupture. The jelly-like inner substance can be squeezed or pushed out to the side or back and touch or put pressure on one of the spinal nerves. This is commonly called a disc protrusion, also known as a herniated disc or a ruptured disc.
Is a Bulging Disc the Same as a Herniated Disc?
What Is The Difference Between Disc Protrusion And Disc Herniation? Are they the same thing?
Probably the most frequent problems of the back involve the discs which are typically vunerable to compression, tearing or protruding. Two of the most prevalent spinal injuries involve the intervertebral discs. Commonly referred to as disc protrusion and herniated disc, quite a few who experience these conditions are uncertain whether they are actually the same.
Both disc protrusion and herniated disc injuries can be painful and unbearable and may worsen or cause damage of the spine as the patient ages. Muscle weakness, loss of range of motion, arthritis and also numbness in the extremities are common signs caused by a protruding or herniated disc.
A protruding disc develops when the exterior ring around the disc tears allowing the internal disc to alter shape and protrude through the fibrous layer upon compression. Similar to a gradually leaking car tire, the gelatinous core of the disc gets bigger upon compression and bulges through the disc’s outside wall.
As opposed to a protruding disc, herniated discs are more sudden and painful in character, and may include the fragmentation and subsequent displacement of other tissues in addition to leakage of the soft inner part of the disc.
