herniated disc vs. strain

[getmovin78]

I have a general question that doesnt apply to me.

Mom was recently told she strained her low back muscle lifting a box incorrectly. I wonder if indeed she has a herniation. She isnt doing an MRI, chiro doesnt think its needed, and its too expensive. She is retired and insurance sux.

Is there a major way to tell a difference between a strain and herniation?

[karky]

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in, but one sign of a herniation is pain radiating down her leg. But if she had that the chiro would probably suspect a herniation.

[karozel]

I'm no expert, but I have a couple of bulging discs. They've been that way for many years and give me trouble occasionally.

I'm pretty sure you can have back pain without bulging discs, and I know you can have bulging discs without rupturing the disk (fluid leaking), and as I have never had pain radiating down the leg, I know you can have bulging discs without that pain, although it is common.

I didn't have an MRI until after my back had bothered me off and on for a couple of years. I then had PT and the exercises do help. Unless her pain recurs, or doesn't get better with time, I don't know that I would worry about it.

From what I have read studies show that lots of people have bulging discs and some of them never have any symptoms. So, even if she does have a bulging disc, they would likely not do anything about it unless it gave her lots of problems over time.

[UConnJulie]

Pretty much what karozel said.

Disc bulges are relatively common in the healthy population (i.e. those with no lower back pain).

In my world, a strain or sprain would involve muscle and perhaps facet joint ligaments. They heal quickly often without any intervention.

Disc injuries can have leg pain/numbness ... or not. They can present like a sprain/strain ... or not.

Typically they respond to different types of exercise.
Disc injuries often respond better to backward bending exercises like McKenzie.
Strains/sprains often respond better to forward bending exercises like Williams.

[getmovin78]

THANKYOU ! Great info