A bulging disc represents a disc injury and may be painful. Using a jelly-filled analogy I will explain. If the disc is injured and bulges, then the jelly-like nucleus is displaced to the outer doughnut rim where it is contained by the annulus.This bulging disc either statically or dynamically impinges on the adjacent nerve roots and may cause pain.

Most bulging discs can be treated naturally with time, NSAIDs, chiropractic therapy and/or epidural steroid injection. For those refractory to conservative treatment,consideration for discography and minimally invasive discectomy is an option.