@anr Hello and welcome to Connect. Having a bulging disc isn't always a problem nor does it always need surgery. That all depends on what other symptoms it may be causing, loss of nerve function, or if it has been several years and the bulging has progressed to a herniation and spilled the jelly like contents of the disc outward. That is when a disc begins to loose height and vertebrae bones get closer together, and the inflammation from that spilled jelly causes bone spurs to grow next to it. That is when you can get into trouble by closing down the space where nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae, or by impinging on the spinal cord if the disc has ruptured into the central canal. That is what happened to me, and only surgery could fix that. It took about 20 years for my bulging disc to herniate. A bulging disc represents an injury, and it can have small cracks in the outer fibrous layer of the disc. Over time and with aging, discs naturally dry out a little bit, and the cracks can open up weakening the outer layer and leading to a herniation.

Bulging discs can change the direction of the curve in your spine throwing it off or by straightening a curve that is supposed to be there. The neck should have a graceful backward curve and often it becomes straight like a pole when cervical discs are bad.

I am a believer in physical therapy because it can correct postural and functional issues of weakness. Posture is very important to maintain a healthy spine and to prevent spine injury. My spine surgeon told me maintaining core strength is the best way that I can keep myself from needing his services again. Physical therapy can help people avoid surgery. Will you pose this question to your physical therapist? That is a conversation they would want to have with you and to better your chances for normal functions and to help avoid surgery. They should be asking you how you feel and what symptoms are improving and sometimes measuring movement ranges with their tools are charting your progress.

Hello @anr and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that @jenniferhunter has joined you already.

You will notice I have moved your post into an existing discussion on bulging disks that you can find here:
- MRI results show bulging discs: what are my options?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mri-results/

How long have you been doing physical therapy?

I was diagnosed with a herniated disc and disc bulges years ago, and was told by 2 surgeons I needed back surgery.
By some miracle I found John Sarno's books, Healing Back Pain and The Mind Body Prescription. I worked with the recommendations in the books for a couple months and I've been pretty much pain free ever since. When I do have an occasional flare-up, I get his books out and within a few days the pain subsides.
There are many amazing stories like mine on amazon.com under Healing Back Pain.