Our Top List of Treatments for Bulging Discs in the Lower Back

Your Quick Guide to Feeling Better

Main Topic	Subtopic
Getting to Know Bulging Discs	What Causes Them, How They Feel, Things That Make Them Worse
Ways to Get Better	Medicine, Physical Therapy, Surgery
Things You Can Do at Home	Exercises, Changes in Your Daily Life
What Doctors Say	Quotes from Doctors
Looking Ahead	New Treatments Being Studied

Getting to Know Bulging Discs

What Causes Them

Bulging discs usually happen because of age. As we get older, the discs in our back can start to wear out. This is called degenerative disc disease. It can cause the discs to move out of place.

How They Feel

Not everyone with a bulging disc will feel pain right away. But as the disc gets worse, you might start to feel back pain that gets worse when you move. You might also feel like your back muscles are twitching or feel weak or numb in your legs and feet.

Ways to Get Better

Medicine

Doctors might suggest medicine that can help with the pain and swelling. If the pain is really bad, they might give you a shot of steroids.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help a lot with bulging discs. Doing gentle exercises like walking, swimming, or riding a bike can make you feel better.

Surgery

If other treatments don't work and the pain is really bad, doctors might suggest surgery. This can help take pressure off your spine and make the pain go away.

Things You Can Do at Home

Exercises

Doing exercises that make your back and stomach muscles stronger can help with the pain from a bulging disc.

Changes in Your Daily Life

Doing things like sitting up straight and not lifting heavy things can keep your disc from getting worse.

What Doctors Say

Doctors say it's important to start treatment for bulging discs early to keep them from getting worse. They also say that using medicine, physical therapy, and changes in your daily life together can help manage the condition.

Looking Ahead

Scientists are studying new ways to treat bulging discs. One thing they're looking at is using stem cells to help damaged discs heal.

Our Top Pick: The Decompression Belt

One thing that might help is a special belt you can get from here. This belt is made to help with back pain from bulging discs. You can use it at home and it doesn't have any known risks, so it's safe for most people.