Herniated disk vs. bulging disk: What's the difference?

Q: What's the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk?

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Disks act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. They're composed of a tough outer layer of cartilage that surrounds a softer material in the center. It may help to think of them as miniature jelly doughnuts, exactly the right size to fit between your vertebrae.

A bulging disk simply extends outside the space it should normally occupy. The bulge typically affects a large portion of the disk, so it may look a little like a hamburger that's too big for its bun. Usually bulging is considered part of the normal aging process of the disk and is therefore common to see on MRIs.

A herniated disk, on the other hand, results when a crack in the tough outer layer of cartilage allows some of the softer material inside to protrude out of the disk. Herniated disks are also called ruptured disks or slipped disks.

Bulging disks are more common, while herniated disks are more likely to cause pain. But many people have bulging disks or herniated disks that cause no pain whatsoever.

An illustration comparing a bulging disk with a herniated disk.

A bulging disk is one in which the tough outer layers of the disk simply bulge into the spinal canal. A herniated disk is one in which the disk has cracked and some of the soft inner part has leaked ...

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