Which Is More Serious, A Herniated Disc Or A Bulging Disc?

A herniated disc is more serious because it means the inner disc material has broken through the outer layer and is pressing directly on the nerve. A bulging disc, by comparison, is still contained and often easier to correct. Both can cause pain, numbness, or weakness if ignored. The key is early treatment, chiropractic care and decompression can often prevent a bulge from progressing into a herniation.