What causes a bulging disk in the neck?

A bulging disk, usually called a herniated disk, occurs when part of the nucleus, the soft center of the disk, pushes through a crack in the exterior called the annulus, according to the Mayo Clinic. A person will experience pain if the bulging part of the disk pushes down on a nerve.

If a herniated disk pushes on a nerve, symptoms may include back, leg or arm pain, weakness in the muscles and tingling or numbness. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the herniation. A herniated disk in the neck typically causes pain in the shoulders or arms, and a disk in the lower back may cause pain in the thigh, calf or buttocks muscles.