High-fructose corn syrup is a common sweetener in sodas and fruit-flavored drinks. As use of high-fructose corn syrup has increased, so have levels of obesity and related health problems. Some wonder if there's a connection. Research has shown that high-fructose corn syrup is chemically similar to table sugar.
Because the bulging disc is constantly pressing against the nerve or is at least in close proximity to the nerve, patients also often experience constant pain. Most bulging discs occur in the lumbar (low back) or cervical (neck) region.
In the lower back, the damaged disc can cause pain to travel to the hips, buttocks, legs and feet. In the cervical spine, pain can radiate from the neck, down the arm and to the fingers. Approximately 90 percent of bulging discs occur in the lower back, or lumbar area, of the spine.