If symptoms develop, a bulging disc can affect nearly every part of your life, making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep, get through a day of work or accomplish household chores. This condition occurs when a portion of the tough outer wall of a spinal disc is forced out of its normal boundary, often as a result of natural age-related breakdown.

Bulging discs don’t always cause symptoms unless they come into contact with the spinal cord or an adjacent nerve root. When this happens and symptoms arise, your doctor will likely begin treatment with conservative treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy and spinal injections.

Tips for performing household chores

While doctors will typically advise to get as much rest as possible and avoid strenuous activities, there are still household chores that most of us need to get done, even if we have a bulging disc. The good news is that there are practical ways to lessen the strain activities like doing the dishes or sweeping can have on the spine. When performing household chores with a bulging disc, try to do the following:

• Practice good posture
• Don’t overdo it and take frequent breaks
• Try using a back brace
• Use tools such as a grabber or extenders to avoid bending and stooping
• Many people find relief from putting one foot up slightly on a small stool while standing at the sink to cook or clean

As with any potentially strenuous activity, speak with your doctor to get an idea of what your recommended activity level should be.

When conservative treatment is not enough

If chronic symptoms from a bulging disc still prevent you from performing household tasks after several weeks or months of conservative treatment, contact USA Spine Care. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons+ perform minimally invasive outpatient spine surgery that has helped thousands of patients with neck or back pain find relief.

We can help you receive a free MRI review* to determine if you are a potential candidate for one of our procedures.