Yes, a degenerate bulging disc can sometimes rupture and develop into a herniated disc . Although bulging discs and herniated discs both affect discs in your spine, they are different conditions: Bulging discs are usually caused by age-related degeneration and affect multiple discs. This condition develops over time and can cause other disc degeneration-related issues, like lumbar stenosis . Herniated discs involve a complete tear of the outer shell of the disc, herniation of part of the centre of the disc into the spinal canal and compression of the nerves there.