- Anatomy of The Spine
- Back Pain in Children
- Caring for your Spine
- Emerging Spinecare Trends
- Evaluation of Spinal Disorders
- Exercise and The Spine
- Intervention - Spinal Disorders
- Intervertebral Disc
- Non Surgical Options
- Nutrition and Spinecare
- Options for Spine Treatments
- Pregnancy and Back Pain
- Prevalence of Spine Disorders
- Sleep and the Spine
- Spinecare Introduction
- Spinehealth and Disease
- Surgical Interventions
- Treatment with Medications
- Understanding Back Pain
Spinecare Topics
Intervertebral Disc
Disc Bulge
A disc bulge without other pathology will not be identified at all on an X-ray study. If there is some associated age-related disc degeneration, an X-ray study may reveal reduced disc space height between vertebrae. There may be signs of arthritis with bone spurs and enlargement of the spinal (facet) joints. CT assessment may confirm the generalized extension of the outer portion of the disc beyond the boundary of the adjacent vertebrae. MR imaging is the most revealing of the imaging tests for disc bulge. It typically presents with reduced signal on T2 weighting consistent with some disc degeneration. It may reveal thickening of some of the spinal ligaments and degenerative joint changes. MRI may reveal tears of the disc fibers (annulus) if present.
A disc bulge needs to be differentiated from other conditions including:
2
Disc Bulge
A disc bulge is defined as generalized mild extension of the outer boundary of the intervertebral disc beyond the border of the adjacent bone. If there is not other evidence of disc abnormality is may be considered a normal variant. Disc volume and shape will adapt and change under different loading and positional states. A symmetric disc bulge which involves between 50 and 100% of the circumference of the disc is not considered a form of herniation and is more likely to represent a normal state.
Disc bulges are very common occurring in over 50% of adults at some level of the spine. It is more common is individual who are more than 30 years of age. Disc bulges become more prevalent with advancing age.
Most disc bulges are not associated with symptoms. If symptoms do occur it may involvement one or more of the following.
Disc bulges are very common occurring in over 50% of adults at some level of the spine. It is more common is individual who are more than 30 years of age. Disc bulges become more prevalent with advancing age.
Most disc bulges are not associated with symptoms. If symptoms do occur it may involvement one or more of the following.
- Neck or back stiffness
- Spinal segment dysfunction (subluxation)
- Midline neck or back pain
In the presence of other spine pathology it may be associated with nerve root symptoms such as
- Radiating extremity pain
- Extremity numbness and tingling
- Muscle weakness
A disc bulge without other pathology will not be identified at all on an X-ray study. If there is some associated age-related disc degeneration, an X-ray study may reveal reduced disc space height between vertebrae. There may be signs of arthritis with bone spurs and enlargement of the spinal (facet) joints. CT assessment may confirm the generalized extension of the outer portion of the disc beyond the boundary of the adjacent vertebrae. MR imaging is the most revealing of the imaging tests for disc bulge. It typically presents with reduced signal on T2 weighting consistent with some disc degeneration. It may reveal thickening of some of the spinal ligaments and degenerative joint changes. MRI may reveal tears of the disc fibers (annulus) if present.
A disc bulge needs to be differentiated from other conditions including:
- Disc Protrusion
- Ossification (Calcification) of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
- Vertebral Bone Spur
2
