What is a bulging disk ?
It’s a disk whose edge is bulging into the spinal canal ,where the nerves traverse to the foramina. This can be produced by swelling of the nucleus, diminishing of the intervertebral space, etc. In most cases is asymptomatic and it is merely a radiological finding. But if this bulge is big enough it will impinge the nerves, giving the symptoms and signs of a herniated disk and for practical purposes it has to be considered as such.
A “disc” or “disk” is the gelatinous encapsulated material that lies between adjacent vertebrae in the spine. Discs function like shock absorbers for the spine. They are vulnerable to acute spine injuries, mostly in young athletes, and chronic degeneration in older people. A disc is said to herniate (“slip”) when the nucleus pulposus (the inner, gelatinous center) is extruded through a degenerating or acutely torn annulus fibrosus (outer, fibrous ring). Discs that are degenerating but have not herniated yet or have only begun to herniate may appear as “bulging” on neuroimaging studies, such as CT scan or MRI.
