What exactly is a bulging disc?

What exactly is a bulging disc?

Bulging discs occur when the outer shell becomes weaker, allowing the disc to bulge to one side of the spinal canal, or flatten. You may experience this after an injury to the spinal disc. Bulging discs occur when the outer shell becomes weaker, allowing the disc to bulge to one side of the spinal canal, or flatten.

What do you call a torn annulus fibrosus?

Annulus Fibrosus Disci Intervertebralis. An annular tear describes a condition when the disc wall develops a rip or hole. This condition is commonly called a ruptured disc . In this instance, the nucleus actually bleeds partially or completely out of the disc. When the nucleus migrates out of the disc, this is called an extrusion.

How does the outer wall of the annulus fibrosus work?

Intervertebral Annulus Fibrosus. This protective wall surrounds the nucleus pulposus on every side and also attaches the disc to the vertebral bones through cartilaginous end plates. The outer disc wall is rarely overly affected by degenerative disc disease, but is the structure which fails in the case of a herniated disc.

What does annular bulging in the spine mean?

“Annular bulging” refers to a protrusion from a spinal disc that is still contained by the annulus, connective fibers that give the spinal discs strength. When these fibers are torn or compromised, the condition is known as a herniated disc.

How does the annulus fibrosus help with herniated discs?

Herniated Disc. Cure Herniated Disc Pain. The annulus fibrosus is the thick, protective outer wall of the intervertebral disc structure. This protective wall surrounds the nucleus pulposus on every side and also attaches the disc to the vertebral bones through cartilaginous end plates.

What is treatment for annular disc bulge?

Treatment for an annular tear normally begins with a well designed physical therapy program, low-impact exercises, over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory medications, pain medication, and limited rest.

What is diffuse bulging of the disc annulus?

A diffuse annular disc bulge is just a long term for a disc bulge but some doctors use it when they want to emphasize that only the outer part of the disc called annulus fibrosus is involved in the bulge and there is no herniation.

What is diffuse disc bulge?

Diffuse Disc Bulge. A diffuse disc bulge is a medical diagnostic term often substituted for the more commonly seen broad based herniated disc, although technically, there can be some differences.

What is annular tearing?

Annular Tear Definition: An annular tear is a hole or rip somewhere in the interwoven layers of the annulus fibrosus, the tough ligament that forms the exterior capsule of an intervertebral disc.