Understanding the Bulging Disc Diagnosis Process

If you have unexplained pain, numbness, weakness, cramps, neck, or tingle, in the past, or is found to be present, see your doctor to receive the correct diagnosis. Your pain may be a result of a bulging disk, but also the opportunity to have a good chance that there is something disturbing. If your doctor is, in fact, it is not possible to tell if your symptoms are caused by bulging disc, bulging disc disease, but a broken arm or a slightly longer process to determine why the sinus cavities note that if the jam-packed. The main thing to remember to stay patient and positive, and their severity, location, and duration of an event, as much as possible from the properties reported in detail and found that you can be sure your doctor is.

What to Expect at Your Doctor’s Office

bulding diskYour doctor typically will start by asking about your personal medical history, which may include inquiries about any past surgeries or injuries you have had, and your family medical history. Your doctor will also take other factors into consideration when reviewing your condition, including your age, profession, and lifestyle. You may then undergo a physical exam and a neurological exam during which your doctor will test for flexibility, reflexes, sensation, and range of motion. After these steps have been completed, your doctor should be able to determine if you have a bulging disc. If your doctor is still unsure about the diagnosis or the exact location of the bulging disc, he or she may want to conduct an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to gain a better picture of your spine. These advanced images of your spine will help your doctor tremendously in the process, and should confirm your bulging disc diagnosis.

What to Do When Diagnosed with a Bulging Disc

Upon finding out you’ve been diagnosed with a bulging disc, your doctor will be right there to tell you about the ways to treat the problem. Your doctor will probably suggest a variety of conservative treatments, like muscle relaxants, physical therapy, and pain and anti-inflammatory medications, gentle stretching, low-impact exercise, hot/cold compresses, and cortisone injections. Be patient, because a certain degree of trial and error will likely be necessary before you find a combination of treatments that delivers results. Some patients even choose to supplement their treatment regimen with alternative therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure, massage, or chiropractic manipulation. If you try conservative treatments for several weeks or months and see no improvement in your symptoms, you may want to ask your doctor about surgery. The truth about spine surgery is that it is generally used as an elected, last-resort treatment method if nonsurgical treatment fails to help with the pain, numbness, or tingling after several months. Less than 10 percent of people with bulging discs are candidates for spine surgery, but those who elect to have surgery should research the surgical approaches that are available for their condition and get several medical opinions before making a final decision.