Deciding whether or not you need to pursue bulging disc surgery can be a confusing process as a result of all of the conflicting information that is out there.

The discs of the spine are cushions that separate each set of vertebrae in the spine. Their main function is to act as shock absorbers, protecting the vertebrae from excessive wear and tear with motion. In the case of a bulging disc, the outer covering becomes weak and tears. This causes the jelly to shift from the center of the disc into the area of weakness, which causes the disc to bulge.

There are only a couple of circumstances that actually require bulging disc surgery immediately. The first is if you have a bulging disc in your low back, and you are losing control of your bowel and or bladder. This is very serious and usually calls for surgery right away. The other circumstance that often requires surgery is when a person begins to have weakness in either their arms or legs. This is a sign that the nerves have enough pressure on them that they are beginning to fall asleep. This is also a very serious sign that you may need to begin your search for a spinal surgeon.

There are a few different types of bulging disc surgery commonly used today. Even though there is a lot of new research in this field, the two most commonly used types of surgery involve either removing the bulging part of the disc to remove the pressure from the nerve, or removing the entire disc and using cervical fusion to fuse the vertebrae above and below the disc together. There are generally no such things as a minimally invasive spine surgery , and the success rate is very low. Despite surgery or herniated disc treatment, there is a high likelihood of the issue returning after only 5 years.

If you are debating cervical spine surgery, or bulging disc surgery, you may want to see a specialist first, to consult on whether or not the treatment would be effective. There are a variety of alternatives to full blown surgery, so properly research the options that are right for you.