Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator
Post count: 8660

A “disc bulge” is not the same a disc herniation. Think of the disc as a car tire full of jello, not air. If you thin out the side wall of the tire, the wall will bulge out without the jello being visible. If you develop a full tear in the wall of the tire, the jello will squirt out. This is the difference between a disc bulge and a disc herniation.

Discs have no blood supply so these findings will not change as the disc cannot heal. You might have a greater chance for a disc herniation over time but this is nothing that you can do anything about so do not concern yourself about it.

The best you can do is to rehabilitate your back and learn the correct lifting mechanics. Avoid very large loads.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.