Intervertebral hernia develops when long heavy loads on the spine, trauma, metabolic cartilage in intervertebral discs. The illness can be very painful. Sometimes the treatment of a herniated disc surgical treatment.

Causes of herniated disc

Intervertebral hernia is the result of rupture of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc. Intervertebral disc - a cartilage pad between the vertebral bodies, which acts as a shock absorber. The disc is a fibrous ring, inside of which is the nucleus pulposus. With a herniated disc fibrous ring is broken and part of the nucleus pulposus pressure goes outside and forming a painful protrusion of the spine.

More often than not it is the result of a herniated disc high load on the spine, so they develop mainly in young men. After 45-50 years, the risk of a herniated disc is somewhat reduced, so it reduces the elasticity of the nucleus pulposus. However, in the elderly and may cause disc herniation on the background of degenerative metabolic disorders - osteoarthritis.

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with herniated disc destroyed by compression of the nerve roots and spinal cord membranes. Squeezing causes inflammation and edema in the affected area, which accompanied by severe pain in the hernia and the nerves extending from the spinal cord. Pain is transmitted and innervated by nerve entrapment area. In addition, damage to a peripheral nerve can cause a violation of the motor function and decreased muscle strength.

Intervertebral hernia often develops in the lumbar spine. Signs of herniation in this area include numbness in the groin, lower back pain Back pain: Causes of chronic low back pain Extending to the rear surface of the femur and tibia, numb toes.

In the cervical spine intervertebral hernia is uncommon, but can be severe. Pain in the neck, extending to the arm, dizziness, sudden increase or decrease in blood pressure (sometimes to the point of collapse), numbness of fingers.

Diagnostics

On examination, the patient can detect painful protrusion of the spine. To confirm the diagnosis radiography of the spine. On X-rays can see bone changes in the spine. Diagnosis can also be confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - in this case, the pictures will be visible to all changes in the tissues of the spine.

Conservative treatment

Treatment of a herniated disc can be carried out by conservative and surgical methods. Begin treatment always with conservative treatment, resorting to surgery only in case of inefficiency.

The purpose of conservative treatment is the removal of a herniated disc pain and swelling of tissue located in the infringement, the restoration of spinal movement and sensation in the affected areas.

To relieve the spine and prevent further destruction of the drive is performed fixation and spinal traction. Inflammation, tissue swelling and pain are removed using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs - diclofenac Diclofenac , Nimesulide, ibuprofen and others). Also help reduce pain medications, muscle spasms in the spine, such as Mydocalmum.

After removing the strong pains join complexes of medical gymnastics, massage, courses of manual therapy, reflexology Reflexology: restoring the body's bio-energy , Physiotherapy. This allows you to remove the muscle spasm in the area of ​​the spine, the increased load on the spine, restore the normal functioning of the whole spine.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment of a herniated disc is held when:

• Conservative treatment, carried out within three months, does not lead to the removal of severe pain;
• herniation size of more than 7 mm, and there is a risk of separation of part of its drive from the main mass (sequestration);
• against the backdrop of herniated develop paresis and paralysis of the vital organs (sphincters of the rectum and bladder) or limb;
• there are signs of atrophy (reduction in volume) of the limbs.

During the operation, the affected area of ​​the intervertebral disc is removed.

It is very important to the prevention of intervertebral hernia. To that end, appoint a complex of medical gymnastics and massage, help strengthen the back muscles and the formation of correct posture. Prevention of herniated discs - it is also a fight against a sedentary lifestyle.

Intervertebral hernia - a disease that requires moderate benign load on the spine.

Galina Romanenko

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