When the protective outer layer of a spinal disc in the neck weakens, the inner contents may bulge out and trespass into the spinal canal, pinching various nerve roots, and possibly even the spinal cord.
An injury to the area can also create his condition. In some cases, it can cause immense pain in the neck, back, shoulders, and arms.
The risk of a bulging disk increases at an older age as the structure of the spine weakens over time. Poor posture or being overweight are also common factors for this condition, which must be taken care of in a timely manner.
To ease the pressure in the spine, doing proper exercises and stretches will reduce the pain as well as other significant symptoms. Whether it is physical therapy, or simply spinal decompression exercises, they can both help immensely in this regard.
Anatomy of the spine
The spinal column is made out of a series of bones stacked upon each other, called vertebrae. In order to protect the flexibility of the vertebrae, a disc exists for each vertebra, which separates them from one another and act as shock absorbers, providing a cushioning effect to prevent them from rubbing against each other. The intervertebral discs themselves are made out of a hard exterior layer, and a soft, jelly-like substance on the inside, called the nucleus pulposus.
The spinal discs also protect the vertebrae from slipping away and help in the movement of the spine. However, these spinal discs sometimes dislodge. This is called a herniated disc. They can occur in any part of the spine but are most prevalent in the lumbar and cervical spine.
Causes
Some of the most common causes of a bulging disc in the neck include:
- Excess weight builds pressure on the spine and can result in the weaking of spinal discs.
- Our spine goes through changes as we advance in age, which includes wear and tear changes at the level of the spinal discs in the cervical spine, which may become weaker, as well as the weaking of the cervical vertebrae.
- Sitting for long periods of time can place strain on the neck, especially if we tend to have a forward-head posture while sitting at a desk.
Symptoms
Even though a bulging disc can occur without any sign, there is a reason where the disc presses on a spinal nerve root in the neck. This can lead to a range of symptoms such as:
- Pain and stiffness throughout the shoulders, back, and neck.
- The pain can worsen with certain activities, such as laying down or walking around.
- Reduced range of motion in the neck.
- Tingling and numbness in the shoulders, arms, or even fingers.
Treatment options
Traditional treatment options may include working with a physical therapist to help re-mobilise the spine, as well as taking pain medication to temporarily relieve the pain. Other pain management options that can be done at home include the application of hot and cold fomentation to soothe the pain. As these methods do not address the source of the pain directly, they only tend to work in the short-term.
However, an even better and natural solution is to use a spinal decompression device, called the Spinal Backrack, to decompress your spine and reduce the load that is being placed on your neck.
Backrack Spinal Decompression Device for Complete Pain Relief
How is spinal decompression beneficial for bulging discs in the neck?
Spinal decompression with the Spinal Backrack helps reverse a process called spinal compression, where the vertebrae get squashed and can push onto the spinal discs.
The pressure that results can then push out the nucleus of the disc as it doesn’t have sufficient space to stay within its protective shell. As a result, the material that bulges outside of the disc’s outer layer can impinge on other spinal structures, such as nerve roots, triggering pain.
Spinal decompression helps restore the space between the vertebrae, creating the space needed for the intervertebral discs, so that the nucleus doesn’t bulge out and impinge on nearby nerves, which is what will reduce or even completely remove the pain.
