A bulging or herniated disc sounds alarming, but it’s often more manageable through conservative care than people expect.
Understanding Disc Injuries
Discs act as cushions between vertebrae, and years of poor movement patterns, a single acute injury, or a combination of both can cause a disc to bulge or herniate, sometimes irritating a nearby nerve root and causing radiating pain.
Conservative Care First
Gentle, position-specific adjustments and directional preference exercises, movements that reduce nerve irritation and encourage the disc to move away from the nerve, form the core of care, with the goal of avoiding surgery when a conservative approach can resolve the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need surgery for a herniated disc?
Many disc injuries respond well to conservative care and never require surgery. Dr. Devine will be direct if your case shows signs that warrant a surgical consult, but that’s not the starting assumption.
What movements should I avoid?
It depends on the specific disc and direction of herniation. Part of the evaluation is identifying your “directional preference,” the movements that ease your symptoms versus the ones that aggravate them, so you get specific guidance rather than generic advice.