Bulging and herniation are both types of pathologic changes in lumbar disc herniation. The main difference between bulging and herniation lies in the different severity, symptom manifestation and treatment. 1. Different severity: bulging is the nucleus pulposus tissue breaks through the surrounding annulus fibrosus, but does not destroy the outer annulus fibrosus, this situation is relatively speaking, the symptoms are relatively light; and herniation is the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc completely protrudes out of the annulus fibrosus and other intervertebral disc tissues, so that the spinal nerves have been significantly compressed, and the seriousness is greater than the bulging. 2. Symptoms are different: bulging is mainly manifested as occasional pain and activity limitation, but it is relatively mild; whereas herniation will have severe localized pain and persistent radiating pain in the limbs, accompanied by clinical symptoms such as limb weakness and numbness of the limbs. 3. Different treatments: intervertebral bulging is a physiological degeneration, generally no obvious clinical symptoms, no treatment; while the herniated disc, generally accompanied by typical nerve root compression symptoms, can be given to bed, traction and other conservative treatment, but easy to recur. Surgical treatment needs to be considered for serious conditions. If a patient has a bulging or herniated lumbar disc, it is recommended to consult a doctor in time to make a clear diagnosis and follow the doctor’s instructions for treatment.