I assume a bulging disk in the spine/neck. There is very little that can be done for just a bulging disk. Operation is too risky. I will assume that MRI has been taken and that the disk is not impinging the spinal cord. If no MRI's have been taken then get one ASAP - if the disk is impinging the spinal cord then surgery is needed the greater risk of serous damage to the spinal cord untreated outweighs the potential risks of having the vertebra fused. If the disk is not touching the spinal cord then surgery is too big of a risk. Understand? In many cases the disk is impinging other nerves. As you know a main trunk of nerves runs down the center of the spine (the spinal cord) between each vertebra branches of nerves extend outward - it is there that a bulging (also called herniated, sometimes even ruptured) disk is applying pressure which excites the nerve causing pain usually at the extremity of the nerve - rarely at the place the nerve is being pinched. Due to this treatment at the pain site usually does not help - you need to know where the disk is and apply cold and heat alternatively. Cold to numb and reduce swelling of surrounding tissue(usually muscle) and heat to relax the muscle to give a bit of relief from the tightness that will be around the bulge due in part to pain, and secondly due to mechanical issues since a bulging disk will cause the two vertebra it is between to be slightly unaligned. If this is in the neck then you should ask your neuro or ortho doctor about traction. Traction is not putting you in a cage 24/7 - it is a 20 minute process three times a day where you sit or stand and your head is lifted up with pullies and about 10 pounds of weight - this pulls the vertebra apart slightly taking the pinch off the nerve. If it is the back then reversed gravity might work - That is basically either on a decline bench with your head at the lowest end - causing your vertebra to pull apart slightly - or hanging by your heels. Lastly a muscle relaxant may work better than a pain pill - relaxing the muscles which tense around the damaged area could relief the pain more due to the pinched nerve. BTW I do have a herniated disk in my neck - its about 1.5 mm away from my spinal cord. It is impinging the nerve that is called the "funny bone" (the ulnar nerve). Along with that the nerve was being pinched at the elbow. In order to relieve the pain and the sensations (imaging hitting your funny bone and the electric tingle never stops) they relocated the ulnar nerve. It has helped a great deal however there is still pain every day. Due to what nerves are being bothered, I have a serious of daily exercises that move the nerves down the length of my arm - movement tends to relieve the sensations - further moving the nerve does relieve some (not all) of the impingement for short periods of time (usually while stretching the nerve). If you can, find out which exercises would help if any. Lastly, strengthening the muscle around the spine will help as well stronger muscles will hold everything in place.