diffuse posterior disc bulging develops when one of the spinal discs is injured, usually from some form of traumatic injury. The discs of the spine are located between each set of spinal vertebrae (bones of the back), and their purpose is twofold. First of all, they act as ligaments, which hold the bones together. Secondly, they act as cushions or shock absorbers, preventing the bones from touching.

A spinal disc is made up of a strong outer layer (called the annulus fibrosus) and a jelly-like center (called the nucleus pulposus). I like to compare them to jelly doughnuts, because of their structure – this also makes it easier to understand what happens when diffuse posterior disc bulging develops.

A bulging disc will occur when the outer layer tears, and the jelly center starts to push through this weak area. In other words, the jelly starts to push out of the doughnut.

What’s interesting about the spinal discs is that they do not have the ability to feel pain. So, the question becomes – why is this condition so painful and debilitating?

Well, the true cause of the pain you experience with diffuse posterior disc bulging is from the nerves of the spine. The nerves of the spine control everything in the body, and they exit the spine directly behind each spinal disc.

When a disc bulges, it usually applies pressure directly on at least one of the nerves of the spine, which is very painful. The pain, however, is usually the least of your worries with a bulging disc.

Because the nerves of the spine control everything in the body, there tend to be other complications that occur in the body. For example, if an individual has a bulging disc in the neck, they may also feel arm pain, weakness or numbness, headaches, vision problems, chest pains, etc. All because the nerves of the neck control all of these other parts of the body.

It’s the same in the low back – an individual with diffuse posterior disc bulging in the low back will also tend to experience leg pain, weakness or numbness, bowel and bladder problems, problems walking, etc.

So, what can you do about this condition? Most doctors will recommend medications, pain injections (such as cortisone or epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery (as a last resort).

The success rates of these treatments are not excellent, primarily because their purpose is not to heal the disc – it is to numb the agravated nerve.

Although that sounds good at first, if the disc doesn’t heal completely, the pain will inevitably return, becoming more and more stubborn with each episode of pain.

Please click here (diffuse posterior disc bulging) to continue reading this article, where you’ll discover the top 3 things you can do at home for relief from herniated disc pain.