Bulging discs can be painful and even debilitating, and they affect millions of people worldwide. A bulging disc occurs when a spinal disc protrudes beyond its normal boundaries and compresses nearby nerves, causing pain, numbness, and tingling sensations. While there are many treatment options available, including medications, physical therapy, and surgery, some people wonder whether stretching can fix a bulging disc.
Stretching is a common practice for maintaining flexibility and reducing muscle tension. It involves lengthening the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the body, which can increase range of motion and reduce pain. However, stretching alone may not be enough to fix a bulging disc. This article explains the value of stretching in treating a bulging disc.
Understanding the Anatomy of a Bulging Disc
To understand whether stretching can fix a bulging disc, it is important to know what happens to a spinal disc when it bulges. Discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in the spine, absorbing shock and preventing bones from rubbing together. Each disc has a tough outer layer (annulus fibrosus) and a soft, jelly-like center (nucleus pulposus). When a disc bulges, the outer layer stretches beyond its normal limits, causing the disc to protrude outward.
The protrusion can put pressure on the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing pain and discomfort. In some cases, the disc can rupture, causing the inner contents to leak out and compress the nerves even more severely.
The Role of Stretching in Treating a Bulging Disc
Stretching can alleviate some of the symptoms associated with a bulging disc, such as muscle tension and spasms. It can also increase your range of motion, which can help you perform everyday tasks more comfortably. For example, when the sciatic nerve, the longest and widest nerve in the body, is affected by a bulging disc, sciatic nerve stretches can alleviate these symptoms by reducing pressure on the nerve and increasing spinal flexibility. However, stretching alone is not enough to fix a bulging disc.
To treat a bulging disc, you need to address the underlying cause of the problem. For most people, the cause is related to poor posture, weak muscles, or repetitive strain injuries. Physical therapy, which includes stretching, can correct these underlying issues and improve your overall spinal health.
Physical therapy for a bulging disc typically includes:
- Strength exercises – To support the spine, physical therapists may recommend exercises that target the muscles supporting the back and abdomen.
- Stretching exercises – Stretching exercises can lengthen tight muscles and reduce muscle tension.
- Manual therapy – This involves hands-on techniques like massage, mobilization, and manipulation to improve spinal alignment and mobility.
- Postural correction – Your physical therapist may also work with you to improve your posture, which can reduce pressure on your spine.
In some cases, physical therapy may be combined with other treatments, such as medication, injections, or surgery, depending on the severity of the bulging disc.
Discectomy: Surgery for a Bulging Disc
If conservative treatments, such as physical therapy and medication, do not relieve the symptoms of a bulging disc, a discectomy may be recommended. This surgical procedure involves removing the bulging portion of the disc that is causing pressure on the nerves. The surgery is minimally invasive and has a high success rate in relieving the symptoms associated with a bulging disc.
If you have a bulging or herniated disc that is not responding to conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend a discectomy or a less invasive microdiscectomy. Although this is generally a very successful procedure, having a large hole in the outer ring of the disc more than doubles the risk of needing another operation. A new treatment, Barricaid, is a bone-anchored device that closes this hole, and 95 percent of Barricaid patients did not undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in a 2-year study timeframe. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and does not require any additional incisions or time in the hospital.
If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment, ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.
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