Medications

• Take over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen to reduce pain. Avoid overuse of these products as they may cause liver damage. Take aspirin to reduce inflammation. Do not take more than the recommended dosage as it can irritate the stomach. Muscle relaxants relax stiff back muscles, reducing inflammation around the bulging disc. Your doctor may prescribe pain killers for short-term treatment only, because of their risk of dependence. You may also receive injections of corticosteroids. Your doctor gives these injections in the painful area to quickly relieve pain and inflammation. You can receive injections only a few times a year because of their severe side effects.
  
  

Therapy

• Rest back muscles for several days after pain symptoms begin to allow the inflammation to subside. Use hot and cold therapy for a bulging disc. Apply a heating pad to the painful area for 20 minutes several times a day to promote blood flow and loosen stiff muscles. Apply cold packs several times a week for 5 to 10 minutes to reduce swelling and pain.
  
  Stop activity that irritates the back such as bending, lifting, sitting for long periods and reaching improperly. Work with a physical therapist to learn proper ways to lift and reach. A physical therapist develops an exercise program geared toward strengthening back muscles so they may support the spine and help reduce pain from the bulging disc. Therapy also includes exercises to improve range of motion and flexibility. Do these exercises as your physical therapist instructs to avoid injury.
  
  Therapy may also involve ultrasound and electrical stimulation treatments. Ultrasound treatments involve a gel-like substance applied to the painful area with a wand from an ultrasound machine running over the gel. The machine emits sound waves through the wand into your back, loosening stiff muscles.
  
  Electrical stimulation through a TENS machine uses small electrical pulses administered to the painful area through electrodes to block pain signals being sent to the brain.
  
  Discuss with your doctor bulging disc pain symptoms and together you can develop a pain management plan best suited for your needs.