A lumbar disc bulge happens when one of the intervertebral discs in the lower back (lumbar spine) starts to bulge outward, putting pressure on nearby nerves or spinal structures. While a disc bulge isn’t always painful, it can cause lower back pain, stiffness, and nerve symptoms like tingling, numbness, or leg pain if it compresses a nerve.
An analogy…
Think of a disc like a jelly-filled doughnut between your spine bones. If you squish the doughnut too much, the jelly pushes out the sides, that’s a disc bulge. The outer layer is still intact, but it’s bulging and can press on sensitive nerves nearby.
What are other names that a lumbar disc bulge can be called?
Bulging Disc, Disc Prolapse, Slipped Disc, Prolapsed Disc, Herniated Disc, Intervertebral Disc Injury, Sprained Disc
What causes a lumbar disc bulge?
Each disc has a tough outer layer (annulus fibrosus) and a soft inner centre (nucleus pulposus). A disc bulge occurs when repetitive pressure, strain, or a sudden force causes the inner part to push outward, creating a bulge in the disc’s outer layer. This can irritate or compress nearby spinal nerves, leading to back pain and referred pain down the leg (commonly known as sciatica).
What are the signs and symptoms of a lumbar disc bulge?
What tests are used to diagnose a lumbar disc bulge?
Physical exam: Checking posture, reflexes, sensation, and strength
Straight Leg Raise Test: Pain shooting down the leg when the leg is raised suggests nerve irritation
MRI: The most accurate way to confirm a disc bulge and nerve involvement
How long does a lumbar disc bulge take to heal?
Many disc bulges improve in 2 to 6 weeks with the right treatment and rest. If the bulge is large or causes nerve symptoms, it may take 6 to 12 weeks or longer to fully recover. Full return to heavy lifting, sport, or work may take 3 to 6 months, depending on severity, treatment, and rehab compliance.
How does a lumbar disc bulge happen?
What treatment can help a lumbar disc bulge?
What exercises or stretches can I do for a lumbar disc bulge?
What products can help with a lumbar disc bulge?
PROM Hip Flexion Supine
Bend your knees so that the feet are flat on the floor.
Reach underneath your knee and pull the knee in towards your chest as far as you can go comfortably.
Ensure you grab behind the thigh and not on top of the knee to avoid
compressing the knee joint.
Hold this position.
Lower Trunk Rotation
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
Extend your arms out to the sides and keep your shoulders on the mat at all times.
Keeping your knees together, drop them down to one side, rotating your torso.
Return to the starting position and allow your knees to fall to the opposite side.
Only drop your knees as far as you go comfortably.
You may want to hold the stretch on each side.
Prone Press Up Extension
Start face down on a mat.
Bend the elbows and bring your hands under your shoulders.
Push your upper body up into an extended position.
Keep your hips and thighs on the floor at all times.
Squeeze the buttock muscles throughout the duration of this exercise.
Hold this position.
Bird Dog
Start on your hands and knees, with your hands under your shoulders, and knees under your hips.
Tighten the abdominal core muscles.
Extend the opposite leg and the opposite arm simultaneously, making sure you maintain good control in your torso.
Do not allow your body or hips to rotate.
Repeat on the other side.
Standing Side Flexion
Stand with your legs at hip width apart and your feet firmly on the floor with your arms by your side.
Reach one hand down to the side towards your knee, leaning your body with the movement.
Hold this position.
Lean to the other side, hold this position and return back upright.
Note: the stretch can be increased by reaching overhead with your arm.
Sitting Finding Pelvic Neutral
Sit upright on a chair.
Your knees should be slightly lower than your hips and your feet flat on the floor.
Place your hands on your hips.
Start in a slumped position with your weight through your tail bone.
Gradually roll yourself up from your tail bone until your weight is through your seat bones.
Lift your head up and look straight ahead.
Roll back in to the slumped position, through your tail bone and repeat, sitting as tall as you can through your seat bones.
From this position, roll slightly back until your weight is centrally through your pelvis and your lower back has a very slight arch to it with your shoulders back and down and your head looking straight ahead.
This is pelvic neutral.
AROM Standing Trunk Extension
Stand with your legs at hip width apart and straight.
Place your hands on your hips.
Lean your body backwards, trying to arch in the lower back as much as you can, lifting your chest up towards the ceiling.
Try to avoid allowing your hips to swing forwards too far.
Hold this position before returning to the start position.
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