Hernia sacral spine: symptoms and treatment

Disc herniation of the lumbosacral spine is the most common of all types of hernias. On the lower vertebrae and the sacrum bears a great part of the load. With a healthy and mobile lifestyle without any increased stress on your back, a hernia in the lumbar-sacral spine will pass man party.

What is a

Hernia of the lumbar spine is a protrusion of a deformed intervertebral disc in the cavity of the spinal canal. The result is pressure on the spinal nerves. This development provokes a pronounced pain syndrome.

The severity of pain depends on the size hernias: a person can not feel significant pain; with dimensions of about 1 cm can occur lameness, difficulty walking and sitting.

In the zone of maximum risk are people from 25 to 50 years old, leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Types

Hernia of the lumbar spine is one of the most dangerous types of herniated discs. This spine is exposed to the greatest load. There is a division of lumbar hernias more characteristic features:

• Posterolateral – the protrusion occurs in the direction of the spinal canal is pinched nerves and violated many of the processes of life. This is the most dangerous form of this disease.
• Side – intervertebral disc bulges to the right or left relative to the spine. The danger is only in strong progression.
• Hernia protrusion forward special are not dangerous.
• Classic – the intervertebral disc acts on the entire area of the vertebrae in all directions. In identifying necessary comprehensive treatment.

See also: types of hernias of the spine.

Classification of intervertebral hernias of the lumbar and sacral, according to their dimensions:

• Small size – up to 5 mm, with detection it is necessary to begin a comprehensive treatment, surgical intervention is not required.
• Medium size – to 8 mm, the treatment is complex, the patient, surgical intervention is not required.
• Large size – up to 12 mm, treatment is complex and at the hospital. Sometimes the neurosurgeon can schedule the surgery if there is severe complications in the spine.
• Very large – greater than 12 mm, rarely used complex treatment, mostly surgical.

Reasons

Lumbosacral hernia is manifested under the influence of two major factors – the combination of a sedentary lifestyle with increased physical load on the spine. But there are several reasons influencing the formation of hernias.

The progression of osteoarthritis

Low back pain is one of the main reasons for the appearance of intervertebral hernia in any Department, including lumbosacral. For this pathology there is a change in the structure of the intervertebral disc, the cartilage tissue is destroyed and loses its elasticity.

Adverse working conditions

If a person every day for extended periods of time sitting or lift weights, or spend time in an uncomfortable back position, sooner or later the spine will not stand. Increased risk to earn a herniated disc as a slipped disc, which is surrounded by the 4-th vertebra and the sacrum, subjected to the greatest load.

Spinal injury

When there is mechanical injury to the vertebral column, the fibrous ring can not withstand the sudden load burst in this case, the hernia appears suddenly and is accompanied by very strong and sharp pain.

Curvature of the spine

Scoliosis is a redistribution of the load on the partsspine. The disks in this place are subjected to accelerated wear, be worn out and there is protrusion.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system

In this disease, like hip dysplasia, mixed load on the individual vertebrae, it causes the breakdown of cartilage and protrusion of the intervertebral disc over time.

Excess weight and underdeveloped muscles

If a person has a spot, keeps himself in shape, still the load is increased. Often athletes with large body mass, complain of back pain. What to speak about a person overweight which is the fatty tissue? Of course, the load will be excessive and the intervertebral discs wear out. The appearance of hernias in this situation can be banal when lifting a sack of potatoes.

And compressed by the bulging intervertebral disc, which surround the 4-th vertebra and the sacrum. In this area the load is greatest.

Symptoms

When a person has a hernia of the lumbosacral spine, symptoms may vary, depending on the age of the hernia. The main symptom – pain. Symptoms of a herniated lumbosacral in the early stages:

• There is pain in the lower back and not subside for an extended period of time;
• Making sudden movements, spending long time sitting, or lifting weights, the pain becomes stronger;
• The pain is localized;

When a hernia in the lumbosacral already reached an impressive size and condition worsened, the symptoms are as follows:

• The pain may occur very abruptly, "prostrelivaya" the affected area;
• A pain able to radiate to the limbs ( legs) and adjacent to the hernia areas of the body;
• Have difficulty with walking and any movements, the man is lame;
• Attacks of pain can occur when you sneeze or cough;
• Gradually, the spine a little bent, trying to ease the pain syndrome;
• The localization of intervertebral hernia occurs a small swelling, the muscles of the lower back and abdominal muscles become tight, and less mobile.

See also: how dangerous is a hernia of the spine?

To identify a hernia in the lumbar possible and the patient's complaints, but to ensure an accurate examination. To accurately check the location of the herniation and the size, you need to undergo a series of tests, x-ray and pass a special examination (magnetic resonance imaging).

Treatment

How to treat this type of hernia? Treatment of a hernia of a lumbar Department should be under the supervision of a highly qualified specialist. Doctor, focusing on the results of examinations, tests and complaints of a patient, prescribes a comprehensive treatment and gives advice about lifestyle.

Drug

The symptoms and treatment of herniated lumbar-sacral spine are closely interlinked. The doctor determines the pronounced manifestation of the pathology and is focusing on fixing them. Drugs that are included in comprehensive treatment:

• Chondroprotectors . Accelerate the regeneration of cartilage. Partially restores the elasticity of the intervertebral disc.
• Painkillers. Used to facilitate the life of the patient during therapy.
• Muscle relaxants. Relieve spasms in muscles near the site of localization of the hernia. Partially return mobility to the spine.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Used to relieve swelling, inflammation, alleviate the patient's condition.
• Vitamin preparations. Use helps to accelerate the restoration of damaged parts of the intervertebral disc herniation lumbosacral.

Read also: medical treatment of herniated lumbar.

Massage and physical therapy

Lumbosacral loaded the most and when herniation of the muscles trying to compensate for the insufficiency of the spine. Surge formed cramps. Massage helps to reduce pain hernia, swelling and partially restore the mobility of the lower back.

• Read: yoga with a herniated lumbosacral

Therapeutic exercise is mandatory for hernias of the lumbosacral spine. All the exercises that will help to restore mobility of the lower back, you need to consider and check if they suit you.

Avoid sudden and twisting movements, do not jerk, do not create pressure in the localization of hernia.

It is better to choose exercises whichmaybe lying on the back. You can use exercises that strengthen the abdominal muscles, it will help to remove the spasm from the muscles of the lower back.

Alternative therapies

Such therapies as: acupuncture, wearing special toning corsets, lifestyle change more beneficial, stretching the spine with special devices, folk remedies. Acupuncture helps to relieve swelling, to reduce the stress in the localization of hernia. Corsets help to reduce the pain while movement, relieve muscle spasms and ease the progression of the disease. Stretching the spine helps alleviate pain, align posture, to remove the curvature of the spine a herniated.

Will have to change their way of life more favorable for rehabilitation. To sit less, not lift heavy, keep your back straight, eat right.

• See also: the Violation of the statics of the lumbar-sacral spine.

Traditional methods of treatment include the following tools:

• Ointment and rubbing;
• Decoctions and infusions;
• Therapeutic bathtubs with herbs;

The main purpose of national treatment is to relieve the pain that accompanies a hernia.

Surgery

If the hernia affects the lumbosacral spine, treatment with surgery is rarely used, about 10% of cases. Surgery on the spine – always a big risk, it is possible to end the life of a cripple. Therefore, this method of treatment should be used only in the most extreme cases, when the hernia has a huge size and the conservative treatment does not help.

In modern medicine it is used 2 ways of operation:

• Treatment of herniated discs with a laser. The nucleus of the intervertebral disc is heated, there is a loss of liquid and the size of the hernia reduced.
• The removal of the damaged intervertebral disc and replacing it with an implant of a special material.

Prevention

In order to keep back health, you must avoid prolonged sitting. Life in motion. You need to exercise, but one that does not overload the spine. Proper nutrition – the key strength of the spine, it is impossible to prevent the deficiency of calcium and other vitamins.