Hernia of the lumbar spine is a pathological condition when, due to a violation of the integrity of the fibrous ring of the spinal disc, its central part is squeezed out of the intervertebral space. Men are more susceptible to this disease than women. The peak incidence occurs between the ages of 30 and 50 (the period of physical activity). If treatment is not started in time, the patient may become disabled for a long time.
In this article we will talk in detail about this disease, consider all possible methods of treatment, answer the frequently asked question about whether the treatment of folk remedies for a hernia of the lumbar spine is effective.
How it developspathology?
The intervertebral disc is a small cylinder of cartilage. It is protected by a fibrous ring from the outside, and inside it is the nucleus pulposus - an elastic substance that turns our spine into a "spring". When, as a result of injury or constant negative impact, deformation of the intervertebral disc occurs, the fibrous ring becomes brittle, and often cracks. The pulp, which is inside, through the crack goes outside the fiber. This is a herniated disc.
If the affected disc is located in the lumbosacral region of the spine, then this pathology is called a lumbar hernia.
Stages of disease
At different stages of the disease, a herniated disc of the lumbar spine manifests itself in different ways. With early treatment of the disease, you can stop its development.
- Prolapse. The disc changes position slightly. With a decrease in the impact of negative factors, he can again take a natural position.
- Protrusion. The disc significantly changes its position, but does not go beyond the limits indicated by the vertebrae.
- Extrusion. The core goes beyond the spine and is in limbo.
- Sequestration. Tears and fissures of the annulus appear, the pulp comes out.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this disease begin to appear due to the deformity of the nerves. The muscles of the buttocks and legs atrophy. The patient feels cold, "goosebumps", light, but extremely unpleasant tingling sensations, numbness in the limbs. It becomes difficult for a person to climbsteps, squat or lift something from the floor. This is due to the weakening of the muscles.
The patient holds the body differently - asymmetrically. In the area for which the affected nerves are responsible, the process of sweating changes - the skin either dries or sweats excessively. If the hernia is directed inside the spinal column, then it puts pressure on the spine in the lumbar region. This makes it virtually impossible for the patient to move their legs.
Hernia of the lumbar spine may be accompanied by a deterioration in the activity of the pelvic organs. The patient may lose control of bowel movements and urination. Men suffering from lumbar hernia have impaired libido, and women develop a frigid state.
Hernia pain
One of the main symptoms of this disease is pain. With a hernia of the lumbar spine, they have a aching character, do not allow the patient to sit, stand, cough. Some relief comes only when the patient lies down.
Debilitating pains do not go away on their own, they can torment for years. That is why thinking about how to treat a hernia of the lumbar spine should be as early as possible. The fact is that over time, the hernia grows, compresses more and more nerve endings of the spinal cord, provoking the development of sciatica. The pains increase significantly, they radiate more and more sharply to the buttocks and legs. Pain pierces the lower back with a change of position or the slightest effort. Doctors call this condition sciatica.
When the fifthvertebra hurts the big toe. If the disease is localized between the first sacral and fifth lumbar vertebrae, pain is felt in the sacrum, in the little finger and in the back of the leg. Doctors are very sorry that only very severe pain forces patients to seek help from a doctor.
Reasons
The impetus for the development of the disease can be:
- injuries from hits or falls;
- osteochondrosis;
- congenital pathology of the hip joint;
- curvature of the spine;
- excessive loads;
- overweight;
- smoking worsens the trophism of the intervertebral discs, creating a lack of oxygen;
- constantly driving a car leads to an incorrect distribution of the load on the back;
- age (after thirty);
- chronic diseases of the spine.
And also genetic predisposition.
Diagnosis
To understand how to treat a hernia of the lumbar spine, it is necessary to accurately diagnose the disease and detect a deformed disc. Only an experienced and highly qualified specialist can cope with this task.
The doctor makes the initial diagnosis after examining the patient, during which he conducts a test, raising the patient's straight leg, examines the surface of the legs, lower abdomen, lumbar zone, paying attention to the temperature and vibration sensitivity of the skin.
Based on the results of the preliminary examination, the doctor determines further hardware examination. In this case, toDiagnostic procedures include x-rays and MRI. Based on the results of an instrumental examination, the neurologist evaluates the condition of the damaged area of the spine, evaluating the feasibility of surgical intervention or conservative treatment.
If there is a suspicion of involvement in the pathology of the spinal cord, the doctor prescribes an additional examination - contrast myelography.
Conservative Therapy
Methods of treating the disease include conservative treatment or surgery to remove a hernia of the lumbar spine. Methods of conservative medicine are effective only at the initial stages of the development of the disease. Naturally, all patients tend to avoid spinal surgery, and doctors are well aware of the seriousness of such an intervention.
To make this possible, you need to completely change your lifestyle - as little as possible to strain physically, to move more. You should follow a diet that will stimulate the trophism of the nervous and cartilage tissue.
Corset for hernia
The tasks of non-surgical treatment include strengthening the back muscles, minimizing the load on the vertebrae. Doctors often recommend to their patients the use of an orthopedic corset for a hernia of the lumbar spine. It supports the back, reduces pulling and sharp pains.
What medicines are used?
In this disease, the use of medications is rather aimed at eliminatingsymptoms, rather than a change in the condition of a patient suffering from a hernia of the lumbar spine. What drugs will help relieve pain? Painkillers such as Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Ketonal, Indomethacin must be taken. They relieve pain, thereby preventing muscle atrophy in the future. In addition, they relieve the inflammatory process, which manifests itself in any case when the nerve roots are clamped. These drugs are used in the form of ointments for external use, and in the form of tablets for oral administration.
In a situation with a hernia of the spine in the lumbar region, the body forces certain muscle groups to support the spine in the area of pathology. The patient experiences muscle pain and stiffness of movement. Central muscle relaxants such as Sirdalud and Mydocalm help relieve muscle spasms. In this disease, novocaine blockades of problem areas are often prescribed.
Exercise therapy for hernia of the lumbar spine
This disease is difficult to treat with conservative methods. However, therapeutic exercises for a hernia of the lumbar spine prevents the further development of severe pathology. The exercise program should be compiled by the instructor individually for each patient. As a rule, it includes body tilts, careful turns and rotations. The task is to strengthen the muscles of the spine, thereby preventing future disc displacement.
Special exercises performed in a horizontal position face up or down, onside. In addition, the patient can stand with his back against the wall. In this position, he performs rotations, tilts, abductions to the sides of the arms and legs, and lifts.
Hanging on the bar or its underwater version helps to stretch the spine. Intervertebral discs feel much freer and gradually return to their natural state. In the initial stages of a hernia of the lumbosacral spine, gymnastics can completely cure the disease. If the disease is advanced, exercise will help relieve symptoms.
Exercise therapy for a hernia of the lumbar spine is acceptable and recommended only after the main symptoms of the disease (nerve pinching and pain) are eliminated. Any exercises aimed at correcting the spine should be carried out under the supervision of an experienced instructor and only as prescribed by the attending physician. Otherwise, you can get the opposite effect - aggravation of the pathology, which can have irreversible consequences.
Physiotherapy and manual therapy methods
Ease the symptoms of lumbar hernia and these treatments, which should be included in the overall program of therapy. These include:
- electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory drugs;
- warming treatments;
- underwater massage techniques;
- acupuncture;
- point reflexology.
- massage.
For intervertebral hernia during remission, massage is recommended, but only authorized by the attending physician. If permission is obtained, then the massage therapistimprove blood circulation in the lumbar spine. Nerve and cartilage tissues will receive more nutrients, and accumulations of lactic acid will leave the cells. Muscle spasms will ease and pain will decrease. The release of endorphins that occurs during the session will become a mild anesthetic and reduce tension in the lumbar region.
Indications for surgery
Often the main indication for surgery to remove a hernia of the lumbar spine is the ineffectiveness of a long course of conservative treatment. Most patients try to try all available conventional therapies. Absolute indications for hernia removal are violations in neighboring internal organs and systems, fraught with irreversible consequences:
- Prolapse of the nucleus pulposus with acute pain syndrome, which can lead to paralysis of the lower extremities.
- Disorders of motor function, paresis of the lower extremities require urgent surgical intervention, as a month after the onset of this symptom, atrophy of muscle tissue begins.
- A particularly large hernia, which causes compression of numerous nerve endings, needs to be removed due to the risk of developing irreversible changes in the intestines, internal genital organs, and bladder.
How is the operation performed?
Choosing the optimal method of surgery, specialists take into account the amount of nerve endings infringement, the size and location of the hernia, as well as the technical capabilities of the clinic.
- Microdiscectomy. Heldremoval of the protruding part of the disc, performed using special microsurgical instruments, is the "gold standard" for the treatment of a hernia with this localization. During the operation, the surgeon gains access to the damaged disc through microscopic incisions. The process is controlled using a microscope, which ensures the highest accuracy and minimal rehabilitation period.
- Endoscopy. This technique is preferred for a small hernia of the lumbar spine. The operation is performed if the hernia is located in the area accessible to the endoscope. The endoscope is inserted through a puncture in the soft tissues and the nucleus pulposus of the affected disc is removed, which is melted with special preparations or an electrode.
- Plastic surgery. For herniated discs with recurrent characteristics, vertebroplasty is recommended. This is a minimally invasive surgical intervention, during which a plastic mass (bone cement) is injected into the vertebral body by a puncture method. Thanks to such operations, the pain syndrome is completely removed, the function of the spine is restored, and the risk of a compression fracture of the damaged vertebra is reduced.
Laser irradiation
This operation is valid if there is no disk sequestration. It can be performed in two formats: evaporation of fluid in the disc - as a result, the size of the hernia decreases; disk reconstruction - this method is based on the ability of cartilage to recover after exposure to laser beams. This method has gained in recent yearswidespread in the removal of a hernia of the lumbar spine. After the operation, the rehabilitation period is minimal, scars are completely absent.
In especially severe cases, an operation is performed to remove the intervertebral disc and replace it with a prosthesis.
Folk treatments
It's no secret that many patients really hope that the treatment of a hernia of the lumbar spine with folk remedies will save them from a serious illness. This is a delusion, which is partly fueled by unscrupulous "healers". Representatives of traditional medicine do not reject this method. Hernia treatment with folk remedies is allowed only as an addition to conservative treatment to achieve a lasting effect.
Appliques
Experts claim that clay wraps have absorbent properties. They make a small flat cake out of clay and warm it up a little. Then it is applied in the form of an application to the problem area, covered with cellophane on top. For this procedure, red clay is most effective. Healers practice the treatment of a hernia of the lumbar spine with folk remedies. To do this, they mix any melted animal fat with fresh egg yolk and a few drops of iodine.
All ingredients are thoroughly stirred, allowed to harden. Then the composition is cut into small strips, wrapped with a bandage and fixed on the affected area.
Ointment
Homemade ointment can be included in the treatment of hernia with folk remedies. For herrequired:
- bitter wormwood;
- medicinal arnica;
- crushed dry hop cones;
- comfrey;
- chestnut seeds;
- Kalanchoe juice.
The raw materials are thoroughly mixed and a small amount of olive oil, 5 drops of fir extract, tocopherol acetate are added to it. Ready ointment lubricates the sore spot. The ointment helps eliminate inflammation.
Tinctures
Comfrey tincture is a popular and quite effective remedy for vertebral hernias. The root of the plant is crushed and mixed with honey in equal proportions. Consume every day for 10 days on an empty stomach. Then the treatment is interrupted for two weeks, after which the course can be repeated two more times.
Grinding
Demonstrates good results in the treatment of a hernia of the lumbar spine with folk remedies rubbing based on honey and mummy. The components are mixed in equal proportions, and the composition is applied with light rubbing movements to the problem area, previously lubricated with a fir extract.
