Poor posture combined with the habitual use of incorrect body mechanics stresses the lumbar spine and affects its normal ability to carry the bulk of the body's weight. Combine these factors with the affects from daily wear and tear, injury, incorrect lifting, or twisting and it is easy to understand why a disc may herniate. A herniation may develop suddenly or gradually over weeks or months. Also called a bulge or protrusion. Locating the Cause of Pain Interestingly, not every herniated disc causes symptoms.
Some people discover they have a bulging or herniated disc after an x-ray for an unrelated reason.
Most of the time the symptoms prompt the patient to seek medical care. An x-ray may be needed to rule out other causes of back pain such as osteoarthritis or spondylolisthesis. A CT or MRI scan verifies the extent and location of disc damage. Sometimes a myelogram is necessary. Initially, the doctor may recommend some bed rest, cold therapy, and medications.