--- title: "Bulging Disk vs. Herniated Disk | Sutter Health" description: "What is the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk?" url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109" --- 1. Home / 2. Bulging Disk vs. Herniated Disk # Bulging Disk vs. Herniated Disk * * * Medically reviewed by - Joshua C. Richards, M.D. ## Question What is the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk? ## Answer There is no real difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc. The discs are the cushions which allow motion between the vertebrae in your spine. As time goes on, or from an injury, the discs can weaken and bulge out (or herniate) into other spaces. When they push against the spinal nerves or spinal cord, this can cause pain, weakness, numbness and tingling. Most people have bouts of back pain and 90 percent of back pain resolves on its own in six weeks. Rest and anti-inflammatories are helpful in the beginning stages. After that, good physical therapy can be helpful in the recovery phases. Overall, preventing recurrence is possible through weight loss, core strengthening, and maintaining good posture and flexibility. However, for some, the symptoms don't respond to conservative management and then injections, and possibly surgery, may be necessary for relief. ## Explore related topics Back and spine health ## Meet our care team Joshua C. Richards, M.D. Orthopedic Surgery Hand Surgery ## Related questions View all questions - Health Q&A ### Chronic Back Pain Tests and Treatment I've been suffering from lower back pain for two years. I've had an MRI, ultrasounds and x-rays, but they can't find anything wrong. However I still have constant pain. What other tests can be done to find the reason for my pain? - Health Q&A ### Sciatic Nerve: Irritation and Pain Where exactly is the sciatic nerve? I've had a pain under my right buttocks that runs down the back of my leg to about the knee and hasn't gotten any better in over three weeks. Am I on the right track in suspecting sciatica? - Health Q&A ### Sciatica and Spinal Stenosis What's the difference between sciatica and spinal stenosis? What steps should be taken to get the correct diagnosis? - Health Q&A ### Nerve Damage Symptoms and Treatment I have pain and numbness across my upper back, in my shoulders, down my arms and through my elbows, wrists and hands. I know I have ulnar nerve damage of some kind. How do I start to ease the pain and numbness so I can sleep and work comfortably? - Health Q&A ### Can Vitamin D Help Reduce Back Pain? I have been dealing with chronic pain from a back injury for a number of years. I read recently that vitamin D can help reduce pain. Is this true, and if so should I start taking a supplement? View all questions ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Bulging Disk vs. Herniated Disk"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109#medicalwebpage","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109","name":"Bulging Disk vs. Herniated Disk","description":"There is no real difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc.","inLanguage":"en-US","medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"Patient"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109#breadcrumblist"},"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109#question","name":"Bulging Disk vs. Herniated Disk","text":"What is the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109#answer","text":"There is no real difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc. The discs are the cushions which allow motion between the vertebrae in your spine. As time goes on, or from an injury, the discs can weaken and bulge out (or herniate) into other spaces. When they push against the spinal nerves or spinal cord, this can cause pain, weakness, numbness and tingling. Most people have bouts of back pain and 90 percent of back pain resolves on its own in six weeks. Rest and anti-inflammatories are helpful in the beginning stages. After that, good physical therapy can be helpful in the recovery phases. Overall, preventing recurrence is possible through weight loss, core strengthening, and maintaining good posture and flexibility. However, for some, the symptoms don't respond to conservative management and then injections, and possibly surgery, may be necessary for relief.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109","author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109#expert"}}},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"reviewedBy":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109#expert"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/bulging-disk-vs-herniated-disk-1051061109#expert","name":"Joshua C. Richards","honorificSuffix":"M.D."} ```