What is the difference between a herniated disc, a bulging disc, an extruded disc and a disc fragment?
Many times these terms are used interchangeably in our society to describe a herniated disc. The subtleties between a herniated disc, a bulging disc, an extruded disc, and a disc fragment need to be evaluated by your spinal physician and explained to you. Each of these conditions has a slightly different treatment regimen. All can cause sciatica. A bulging disc is generally a bulge of the outer covering of the disc (the annulus fibrosis) by the inner material of the disc that results in pressure of a nerve. The difference between a bulging disc and a herniated disc is a bulging disc is contained by the outer covering. Think of a bubble in a tire. The outer covering of the tire does not rupture, but there is an obvious bulge. This may causes sciatica. A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like inner portion of the disc ruptures or breaks through the outer covering of the disc and presses on a nerve. This may cause sciatica. An extruded disc occurs when the entire inner portion of the dis
