If you’ve been diagnosed with a bulging disc as the cause of your muscle spasms in your neck, back or extremities, there are treatment options available. Bulging disc-induced muscle spasms can be quick and intermittent or dull and long-lasting. Each patient’s experience depends on the severity and location of the bulging disc.

At USA Spine Care we want to help patients dealing with a bulging disc find the relief necessary for a good quality of life, and educating yourself is a great first step. If you’ve been diagnosed with a bulging disc as the cause of symptoms like muscle spasms, the following information can help you work more closely with your doctor to develop an effective treatment plan. We also welcome you to contact our dedicated team to learn more about your condition and the treatment options available.

Controlling bulging disc-related muscle spasms

Although muscle spasms are painful and inconvenient, they don’t have to be a disruptive part of your life. There are many conservative treatment options available to help control these symptoms.
Bulging disc symptoms, such as muscle spasms and pain, can be relieved by a series of conservative treatments. These spasms develop when the bulging disc presses against a nerve in the spine, causing the nerve root to send sudden signals of pain and muscle tension to other parts of the body, such as the arm or leg.

Common options your doctor may suggest for controlling muscle spasms include:

• Muscle relaxants
• Anti-inflammatory medications, either prescription or over-the-counter
• Hot or cold compression therapy
• Therapeutic massage
• Bracing

Additionally, patients may explore stretching and targeted exercises as part of a physical therapy plan. Options such as light strength training and low-impact cardiovascular exercise can play a key role in managing a bulging disc causing muscle spasms.

However, because certain activities do have the potential to worsen a spine condition, it’s important for you to only participate in an exercise-based treatment plan under the guidance of your doctor or a trained physical therapist.

When to consider spine surgery for persistent muscle spasms

For patients who do not respond to conservative treatments, it may be helpful to surgically remove part of the bulging disc if it does not heal on its own over time.

For patients who are recommended for spine surgery, minimally invasive procedures are often the clinically appropriate first choice compared to traditional open back surgery.^ The minimally invasive procedures performed at USA Spine Care have several advantages compared to traditional open spine operations. For example, the risk of complication is lower compared to traditional open neck or back surgery because of our use of muscle-sparing techniques that allow for a streamlined outpatient procedure.

If you are ready to find out if you are a potential candidate for our minimally invasive spine surgery, contact USA Spine Care for a no-cost MRI review.* We can help you determine your available treatment options so you can make an informed decision about your spine care needs.