The difference between lumbar disc bulge and lumbar disc herniation mainly lies in the different stages of development and different clinical symptoms, as follows. 1. Different stages of development: lumbar disc bulge is the early stage of the disease, which means the nucleus pulposus breaks through the inner annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc without breaking through the outer annulus fibrosus, while lumbar disc herniation is the middle stage of the disease, in which the nucleus pulposus breaks through the outer annulus fibrosus and squeezes the posterior dural sac or nerve root. 2. Clinical symptoms are different: because the nucleus pulposus does not squeeze the nerves at the back or is slightly compressed, patients generally have mild symptoms or no obvious symptoms. Lumbar disc herniation due to the compression of the dural sac or nerve root, patients may appear lumbar pain, lower limbs of the radiating pain, numbness and other symptoms, some patients may appear anal sensory abnormalities and urinary and fecal disorders. Lumbar disc bulge may progress to the stage of lumbar disc herniation, so it is recommended that patients with either lumbar disc bulge or lumbar disc herniation should consult a doctor in time and undergo further treatment if necessary.