A disc bulge occurs when a portion of your intervertebral disc extends into your spinal canal, affecting your spinal cord or your nerve roots, which are offshoots of your spinal cord. The outer layer of disc cartilage, or annulus fibrosis, is usually the part of the disc that bulges. A bulging disc, notes MayoClinic.com, is considered by many practitioners as a normal part of the aging process. Your doctor can tell you if dietary supplements may be right for you and your condition.
Disc Bulges
Disc bulges, notes the Spine Health website, are easily seen with spine CT or MRI scans. The location and extent of a disc bulge can help rule in or rule out a diagnosis for the condition. Disc bulges that affect your spinal cord may cause symptoms on one or both sides of your body, including numbness, weakness and other abnormal sensations. In most cases, disc bulges can be treated using conservative treatment measures.
Useful Supplements
The use of dietary supplements is unlikely to reduce the size of your disc bulge, but supplements may be helpful in treating your disc bulge-related symptoms, including back pain. Numerous supplements have historically been used in treating back pain, states certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," including wood betony, kava kava, hops, wild lettuce, white willow bark, devil's claw, valerian and passionflower. Not all these supplements have been studied for this purpose using clinical research studies.
Supplement in Focus
Wood betony may be a commonly prescribed dietary supplement in the treatment of disc bulge-related back pain. In his book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," master herbalist Ed Smith states that wood betony has historically been used in treating numerous ailments, including nerve pain, headache, anxiety, nervousness, toothache, drug addiction, sleeping difficulties, bronchitis, asthma and gastrointestinal spasms. Wood betony possesses analgesic, anodyne and sedative action. Extracts of the plant's dried flowering tops and leaves are used medicinally.
Warning
A bulging disc may cause back pain and other symptoms or it may cause no symptoms at all. If you develop back pain, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider as soon as possible to have your health problem properly assessed and diagnosed. Dietary supplements may contain powerful medicinal ingredients and should be used only if you are under the care of a licensed health care professional. A clinical nutrition specialist may provide you with the most relevant supplement-related information.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Herniated Disc vs. Bulging Disc
- SpineHealth.com: What's a Herniated Disc, Pinched Nerve, Bulging Disc?; Peter F. Ullrich Jr., M.D.
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
