“How do you spell bulging disc (disk)?”
By Tommy Hoffman, Licensed Physical Therapist
Is it a bulging disc or a bulging disk? Ever wonder why some people spell them slightly different? I have pondered this question even for myself, and can tell you as you are seeking information on one or the other, it can make a substantial difference. That is, at least in terms of search engine results and the quality of information that has been made available via the World Wide Web (WWW).
For most of the medical community, it is without question a “BULGING DISC”. As a healthcare professional for over 12 years, it seems to me that this condition was almost always termed “disc” rather than “disk” in just about every text book we ever read. One of the first times I actually saw the word “disk” was in reference to a “floppy disk” which was used years ago with my very first computer (not to date myself).
Even Google renders almost three times as much in search engine results for bulging “disc” over that of bulging “disk”. Not that Google is the absolute authority on such matters, and one must take into account its relevance as part of the bigger picture. That is to say, most people are searching for the term “bulging disc” with far greater frequency than “bulging disk”.
Technical Definition of a Bulging Disc
Either way you spell it, the basic meaning is meant for the same medical condition. The more technical definition of the “disc” or “disk” as it were is as follows:
The intervertebral disc consists of a fibro-gelatinous material called the nucleus pulposus surrounded by an outer ring of fibro-cartilage, called the annulus fibrosis. Each disc functions as a sort of shock absorber and stabilizer between adjacent vertebral bodies.
When there is an insult or trauma to the intervertebral disc, such as in a motor vehicle accident, the annulus fibrosis can weaken thus allowing the “gelatinous” material to bulge. Sometimes, this can cause a spinal nerve root to become pinched in the epidural space. This is often referred to as sciatica or a pinched nerve. And it happens most often in the neck and lower back regions.
Of this you can be sure, those individuals suffering from a bulging “disc” are not as concerned about how to spell it as much as they are to how to cure it. Finding relief for bulging disc pain can be a challenge and requires due diligence.
Now that you know a little bit more about a bulging disc, and how to properly spell it, you may just be a little more successful in your quest for a “quick fix”. I think using the proper terminology can only lead to better results that are not only more refined but infinitely more accurate.
For the proper diagnosis and treatment of your condition seek the help of a trained professional.
Good Luck,
Tommy Hoffman, P.T.Tommy Hoffman
