The human body has many rubbery discs between vertebrae in the spine. When these discs move beyond their normal boundaries, it creates a spinal condition. We call it by the name “bulging disc.” There are lots of reasons that can cause bulging discs including aging, injury, or wear and tear over time. But are there any ways to treat this spinal condition? We will learn about it in this blog along with the traditional treatments and the newly arrived platelet-rich plasma injection.
What Is A Bulging Disc?
Let us start by understanding what a bulging disc is in detail.
As discussed above, there are intervertebral discs between the vertebrae that work as cushions. As per biology, they provide flexibility and shock absorption to the spine of the human body. But when one of these discs extends beyond its normal position, it bulges out and is called a ‘bulging disc.’ Most commonly, a bulging disc comes from the outer layer weakening or sustaining damage. Now you might ask if this spinal condition causes some problems. Yes, it may press on your nearby nerves, and cause pain and discomfort. In many cases, people suffer from even numbness in the affected area.
But there’s a safe and supportive option of PRP for treating bulging discs that we will discuss in a while.
Causes of Bulging Discs
Before directly diving into PRP injections, let us find out what factors can lead to the development of bulging discs. Some of the potential ones are as discussed below:
Age-Related Wear And Tear:
With age, the spinal discs start losing water content and elasticity. As a result, they become more prone to bulging or herniation. The condition of bulging is termed a ‘bulging disc’ while for herniation, we call it ‘herniated disc.’
Along with bulging discs, there are therapies of platelet-rich plasma for herniated discs as well.
Injury or trauma:
It’s easy to understand how an injury can lead to displacement of the vertebral discs. The injuries can be because of accidents, falls, or sudden jerks.
But what about trauma? As it’s a major mental problem, many of you might not be able to relate the spinal condition of the bulging disc with it. The simple answer to it is the correlation between our physical and mental health. Both of them directly impact each other. When one suffers from chronic stress or trauma, it leads to muscle tension, poor posture, and decreased spinal support. As a result, a bulging disc is more likely to occur.
Poor Posture & Improper Lifting:
If you build a habitual poor Posture or follow incorrect lifting techniques, it will strain your spine and can increase the risk of disc bulges.
Symptoms of Bulging Discs
After the causes, let’s learn what will you experience in case of a bulging disc:
Pain
The most common symptom of a bulging disc is persistent or intermittent pain in the spine. Your affected area will be mostly painful. And, it can radiate similar pain to other body parts.
Numbness or Tingling
When our nerves are affected, we start feeling numbness, tingling, and weakness.
Muscle Weakness
Also, there are chances that you might feel weakness in your muscles in the case of a bulging disc. Ultimately, it will affect your mobility and other daily activities.
Traditional Treatment Approaches Other Than PRP for Bulging Disc
Although PRP injections have arrived on board to help treat bulged discs, there used to be some treatment options earlier:
Medications
Previously, people used to consume nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or pain relievers to manage the pain and inflammation of bulging discs. Although medicines provided relief from pain, they were not used to be a permanent way to treat this spinal issue.
Physical Therapy
Many experts used to and still prefer many exercises and stretches to strengthen the muscles that support your spine. As a result, its flexibility would increase and you can get rid of the bulged-out disc. However, this treatment option was also not quickly effective.
Injections
People used to take corticosteroid injections into the affected area to reduce inflammation and get rid of pain.
All these traditional treatments did not offer a permanent and long-lasting solution for bulging discs. Hence after years of research and studies, the doctors and the experts discovered ‘platelet-rich plasma injection.’
Introducing PRP Injections For Bulging Disc
PRP therapy has become very popular in recent decades to treat many spinal conditions including bulging discs, herniated discs, etc. You can also take PRP injections for knee, shoulder, and back pain. It has been proven as an effective aid in treating these critical problems and providing you relief.
How Do They Work For Bulging Disc?
The therapy of platelet-rich plasma injection involves taking the blood from the patient’s body, concentrating it with platelets, and then injecting it into the affected area. In this case, the taken blood is injected into the bulging disc. Why? To promote the natural healing of your body. When the platelets go into the bulging disc, they stimulate growth and provide healing. Also, they play a very crucial role in protecting your whole spine from inflammation.
Conclusion
Overall, the benefits of platelet-rich plasma injection to treat bulging discs are numerous. As it follows the natural healing mechanism of the human body, it’s minimally invasive, safe, and provides long-term relief. If you have or know someone who has a bulging disc, reach out to Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic to cure your condition with the help of PRP.
