Hernia of the lumbar spine: symptoms, treatment, exercises

Disc herniation of the lumbar spine occurs when pulposa core of the intervertebral disc is squeezed out of the fibrous ring. Tissue destroyed disk putting pressure on nerve endings of the spine and cause severe pain. Hernia of the lumbar spine occurs most frequently, its symptoms need to know in order to start treatment in time.

If left untreated hernia the lumbar, the patient may for a long time to lose health.

Most often deform the disk between the fourth and fifth lumbar and sacral vertebrae, pain radiates to the leg, depriving the patient of mobility, and sometimes leads to disability. To diagnose a hernia is quite easy, but to cure it without surgery is quite difficult. This can help therapeutic exercises, massage, medicines.

How is a hernia

The intervertebral disc is a small cylinder of a special cartilage tissue. Outside it is protected by a fibrous ring, and inside there is an elastic substance that turns our spine in a kind of spring – purposee core.

If the intervertebral disc is deformed due to injury or a permanent negative effect, the fibrous ring becomes brittle and cracks. Inside the pulp goes outside the fiber through a crack. This phenomenon is called intervertebral hernia. If the affected disc is in the lumbar-sacral region of the spine, this lumbar hernia.

• Suggest to read: how is the protrusion of the herniated discs?

Pain and other unpleasant symptoms because of a herniated lumbar spinal nerve is pinched the excess pulp.

Reasons

Causes of herniated discs of the lumbar spine are the following:

• The traumatic impact from bumps, falls or accidents;
• Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral part of the back;
• Malformed from birth the hip joint;
• Curvature of the spine;
• Strong pungent load;
• Overweight;
• Smoking creates a lack of oxygen, impaired blood supply of the intervertebral discs;
• Constant driving incorrectly distributes the load on the back;
• Disorders of metabolism.

What other factors will affect the occurrence of hernia in lumbar?

• Sedentary work and lack of physical activity;
• The age of thirty;
• Genetic predisposition;
• Male;
• Chronic diseases of the spine.

Diagnosis

Signs of herniated discs of the lumbar quickly begin to torment the patient, but to confidently diagnose and find the deformed disc can only be a specialist. This uses x-rays in two projections intended to provide a General picture of the disease. To make a more detailed picture of pathology using MRI.

To understand how badly damaged the nerves and areas of their innervation, the neurologist examines the patient on the tendon reflexes, sensitivity of the lower limbs and their mobility. Treatment of hernia of the lumbar spine begins only after a physician has completed a full diagnosis.

• I advise you to read: can a hernia of the spine before or decrease?

Treatment

Treatment of intervertebral hernia can include conservative or surgical lumbar. Only in the early stages of development of a hernia methods of conservative medicine are effective. Traditional methods do not answer the question how to cure the pathology.

Goal of conservative methods to relieve pain, restore patient quality of life.

To avoid surgery, people must change their way of life. Less strain,to move more. To follow a special diet, stimulating trophic nerve and cartilage tissue.

Medicines

Of a herniated lumbar spine treatment medication addresses the symptoms rather than truly changes the condition of the patient. Painkillerssuch as Diclofenac, Ibuprofen or Indometacin need to make sure. Easing pain, they save you from muscle atrophy in the future. They also eliminate the inflammatory process, which in any case appears if the pinched nerve roots. Such drugs can be used as externally in form of ointments and orally in tablet form.

In the situation of a herniated disc in the lumbar the body causes certain muscle groups to maintain the backbone in the field of pathology. The patient experiences stiffness and muscle pain. Central muscle relaxants, such as Sirdalud Mydocalm or help to cope with muscle spasms. In case of intervertebral hernia lumbar often used novocaine blockade problem areas.

Physical therapy

Difficult to cure spinal hernia with conservative methods. But physiotherapy can help to prevent further development of pathology. Physical therapy can be practiced when the main symptoms of spinal herniations of the lumbar spine such as a pinched nerve and the pain has already gone.

Exercise program must be compiled by the instructor individually. Includes the slopes of the body, careful turns and spins. The task is to strengthen the muscles of the spine, thereby allowing displacement of the disc in the future.

Special exercises are performed in a horizontal position face down on their side or face up. The patient may also stand, leaning against the wall with his back. In taking this position, he performs tilts, spins, climbs, divert to the sides of the feet and hands. Such movements of therapeutic exercises, like hanging on the bar or the submarine variant of its implementation, allows to stretch the spine. In the result, the intervertebral discs feel more relaxed and begin to return to its natural state.

• See also: can I exercise with a herniated spine.

If the disease is at an early stage, the activities will help to completely cure a hernia. If lumbar hernia running, gymnastics will ease the symptoms. Any exercises should be held under the supervision of an instructor and with the permission of the attending physician, otherwise there is a risk to aggravate the pathology.

• Read: ointment with a herniated lumbar

Physical therapy

A herniated lumbar symptoms can be removed using the therapeutic techniques of physiotherapy:

• Electrophoresis with a substance that relieves inflammation and pain;
• A warming treatment of the spine;
• Acupuncture;
• Underwater massage technique;
• Acupressure reflexology.

Massage

Intervertebral hernia is permissible to put massage in the absence of aggravation, but a herniated disc – diagnosis, in which any manipulation require the permission of the attending physician. If such approval is obtained, the therapist will help to improve blood circulation in the lumbar spine.

• Also of interest: a massage with a herniated lumbar spine.

Nerve and bone tissue will get more food and harmful accumulations of lactic acid leave the cell. Subside the muscle spasms that relieve pain and give a patient the lost mobility. And the release of endorphins that occur during the session will serve as a light anesthetic and will also reduce tension in the back.

Surgical removal

In the following situations conservative treatment of lumbar hernia has no effect:

• Happened sequestration (tear) of the intervertebral disc;
• Worsened the patency of the spinal canal;
• Inflamed sciatic nerve;
• The intervertebral disc has moved very much;
• For several months the patient's condition is not improving.

See also: endoscopic removal of hernias of a backbone.

Modern medicine prefers to use a gentle surgery.

For removal of a herniated disc of the lumbarDepartment are nowadays used:

• Reconstruction of the laser. The laser removes excess moisture from the deformed pulp. As a result, the nerve is freed from compression. This is the most soft type of intervention, having the greatest number of contraindications;
• Discectomy, removing part of the disc. The needle passes through the skin and pulls part of the nucleus pulposus;
• In the most severe cases, the disc is removed completely and replaced with a prosthesis.

See also: treatment of herniated discs with a laser.

Prevention

Spinal discs deform as a result of permanent or powerful sharp load. So the main thing is to be careful how you load your body.

Sleep only on a hard and an orthopedic mattress. If the risk of hernia is already there, try to sleep on your back.

Control the body weight. The spine is constantly under the burden of extra pounds, but his strength has limits. Exercise properly and observing safety. Don't follow sports records. Even in everyday life do not forget about a straight back when lifting weights from the floor. Follow these simple guidelines and before you do not raise the question of how to treat herniated lumbar.