Disk protrusion is a pathological change in the human body. The disease develops when the intervertebral disc bulges into the spinal canal. With this pathology, the rupture of the fibrous ring does not occur.
Disk protrusion is not a self-developing disease. It is a certain stage of osteochondrosis of the spine. The root cause of the disease is dengenerative-dystrophic destruction of the intervertebral disc.
Stages of pathology
The development of disc protrusion goes through three distinct stages. On the first of them, there is a change in the elasticity and structure of the spinal disc. At the same time, its height decreases. Numerous cracks appear on the fibrous ring. Destructive processes reach sixty-seventy percent. At this stage of the disease, the patient feels attacks of pain that are local in nature.
In the second stage of disc protrusion, there is an increase in the protrusion of the intervertebral disc. It reaches several millimeters. The pain that the patient complains about extends beyond the lesion and is radiatingcharacter.
The third stage precedes the annulus tear. Disc protrusion at this stage is characterized by an even greater increase in disc bulging. In this case, the severity of pain increases. She becomes unbearable. The patient complains of numbness of the extremities. He develops lameness.
Symptoms of pathology
The disease has different localization. It can be cervical, thoracic and lumbar. The first type of pathology often leads to the most severe consequences. The patient may even become disabled. Protrusion of the cervical discs is characterized by subluxation of the vertebrae. Even a slight protrusion (up to three millimeters) can have serious consequences. A pathology that has reached a size of 5 mm is equated to a hernia in its danger. With cervical protrusion, dull and intense pain occurs in the disease area. Often there are dizziness and tinnitus. Headaches occur, vision deteriorates. Blood pressure becomes unstable. The pain radiates to the shoulders and arms. As a result, fingers become numb. With thoracic and lumbar protrusion, pain occurs at the sites of localization of the pathological process.
Causes of illness
Disk protrusion is caused by sudden movements of the body to the side during heavy lifting. This greatly overloads the spinal column. The impetus for the development of pathology can give osteoporosis, scoliosis and osteochondrosis. Provokes the disease and poorly developed muscular system of the skeleton. Disc protrusion can be provoked by infectious, as well as viral diseases,ailments of the internal organs and injuries of the spine. Disk protrusion is possible as a result of age-related changes, as well as a long-term violation of posture. The development of the disease is influenced by heredity, malnutrition and disturbances in metabolic processes. All these reasons contribute to the occurrence of dystrophic processes, leading to a decrease in depreciation of the disc tissue, which is why the protrusion of the spinal discs occurs.
Treatment of pathology
When a disease is detected at an early stage, it is enough to apply conservative methods of therapy for recovery. At the same time, an integrated approach is important, which allows you to get rid of not only the symptoms of the disease, but also the causes that caused it.
The course of therapy begins with the elimination of pain syndromes. The patient is provided with rest, excluding intensive movements. At this stage, analgesics are prescribed ("Diclofenac", "Ketanov", etc.). These drugs also relieve swelling caused by pathology. To restore blood supply and nourish the nerve root, biogenic stimulants are prescribed. It is also useful to recharge the body with vitamin complexes.
