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Is a Bulging Disc the Source of Your Holiday Back Pain?
Holiday routines aren’t exactly spine-friendly. You sit longer on planes and in cars, lift heavier boxes, sleep on unfamiliar beds, and rush through crowded stores. If your back pain shows up right when the festivities begin, there’s a good chance extra strain has irritated a spinal disc.
At McNulty Spine in Las Vegas, Nevada, award-winning, double-board-certified orthopedic surgeon Patrick S. McNulty, MD, helps patients uncover the root cause of seasonal flare-ups — including those caused by a bulging disc — and return to the activities they love.
Why holidays can unmask a disc problem
Discs are cushiony pads between your vertebrae. They absorb shock and help your spine move.
Repetitive lifting, prolonged sitting, twisting while carrying bags, and poor sleep posture can cause a disc to be loaded unevenly.
When the disc’s outer ring (annulus) bulges outward, it can crowd nearby nerves and trigger pain down your back, buttock, or leg. Add winter cold and stress, and a smoldering issue can suddenly feel urgent.
Bulging, herniated, ruptured: what the terms actually mean
It’s easy to get lost in the vocabulary, so here’s a quick, clear guide.
Bulging disc
When a spinal disc’s outer wall stays intact but pushes outward like a tire with too much air, it’s called a bulging disc. This can narrow the space for nerves and cause localized back pain or sciatica-type symptoms.
Herniated disc
When a crack in the outer ring lets the soft inner gel (nucleus pulposus) protrude, you’ve got a herniated disc. That material can inflame or compress a nerve root, often causing sharper leg pain, numbness, or weakness in the affected area.
Ruptured or extruded disc
When the inner material breaks through the outer wall more dramatically and migrates, you’re looking at a ruptured or extruded disc. The symptoms can be more intense, but many still improve with targeted, nonsurgical treatments.
Why a disc problem hurts
Two things drive your symptoms: inflammation and pressure.
Chemicals released from a stressed or herniated disc irritate nearby nerves, and the bulge itself can mechanically compress them. Your body responds with muscle guarding, which adds stiffness and spasms.
The result is sharp or aching low back pain, shooting pain down one leg, tingling, or weakness.
How we pinpoint the source
Dr. McNulty begins with a detailed history and physical examination to map your pain pattern and assess nerve function. When necessary, he utilizes advanced imaging techniques (MRI, occasionally CT) to confirm which level is involved and whether nerve compression is present. The goal is precision — treat the true pain generator, not just the symptom.
What we can do to help
Most bulging disc flare-ups improve without surgery when you have the right plan. We build yours around your goals, exam findings, and imaging.
First-line relief you can feel
We combine activity modification, a short course of anti-inflammatory medication (when appropriate), and a guided physical therapy plan that restores core stability and hip mobility. You’ll learn smarter mechanics for lifting, driving, and sleeping so the holidays don’t keep setting you back.
Image-guided spinal injections for stubborn pain
If inflammation persistently irritates the nerve, Dr. McNulty may recommend an epidural steroid injection or a selective nerve root block to calm the hot spot and create a window for therapy to be effective. Many patients experience significant relief from one to three targeted injections administered over time.
When a surgical solution makes sense
If you have progressive weakness, severe unrelenting pain, or symptoms that persist despite comprehensive conservative care, Dr. McNulty discusses minimally invasive options that match your anatomy and goals.
Depending on the level and severity, that may include decompression (such as a laminotomy/laminectomy to free a pinched nerve) or, when there’s instability, a fusion reconstruction to restore alignment and protect the nerve.
Expect a candid conversation about benefits, risks, and recovery — so you can make an informed choice.
Holiday-smart habits for your spine
You can lower the risk of a disc flare-up with a few strategic tweaks.
- Break up sitting every 30-45 minutes with a brief walk and gentle back extension.
- Keep heavy items close to your body, hinge at your hips, and avoid twisting while lifting.
- Use a small lumbar roll in cars and airplanes to maintain a neutral spine.
- Prioritize sleep — a supportive pillow between or under your knees can reduce strain.
Small changes add up, especially when travel and gatherings stretch your routine.
When to call us
Seek prompt care if you notice red flags, such as new or worsening leg weakness, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, loss of bowel or bladder control, or severe night pain. Otherwise, if your “holiday back” isn’t improving after a week of smart self-care — or it keeps boomeranging back every year — it’s time for an expert evaluation.
You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through the season. Call or request an appointment online with McNulty Spine in Las Vegas, and let’s create a plan that alleviates your symptoms now and safeguards your back for the long term.
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