What is a herniated disc? Treatment, diagnostics

Back pain can cause a herniated disc. This is a condition in which the sheath of the intervertebral disc is destroyed, and its contents enter the spinal canal. It is not so simple this disc hernia. Treatment need to pass necessarily, because otherwise there may be swelling, squeezing nerve endings, detachment of ligaments between vertebrae, impaired mobility of the vertebrae, various inflammatory phenomena. The possible complications include paralysis of the lower body.

Causes of the disease

Hernia can appear both in adults and in children. People older than 40 years usually develop a protrusion of the disc, which is equated to a hernia.

The disease manifests itself at significant loads, falling from height to buttocks or legs, improper lifting of weights. If the fibrous ring has been damaged before and its fibers have weakened, then even minor loads are dangerous.

The released pulpous nucleus affects the nerve endings and causes not only their mechanical, but also chemical irritation. As a result, there is pain, numbness in the part of the body, crawling, muscle weakness, lack or decline of reflexes.

Diagnosis of a herniated disc

Proper diagnosis is quickly determined by herniated disc. Treatment will depend on the degree of its severity. First the doctor asks the patient about the injuries, the kind of pain, weakness, and others. Based on the answers, the diagnostic method is selected.

1. Radiography. It provides information on the severity of degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine, excludes diseases with similar symptoms. An indirect sign of a hernia is a decrease in the height of the disc.
2. Magnetic resonance imaging. An informative, painless method that does not cause side effects.
3. CT scan. To present the full picture, the doctor issues a direction for contrast myelography, which is combined with computed tomography. These methods are designed to distinguish a hernia from stenosis of the spinal canal and other diseases of the spine.
4. Electromyography. Detects damaged nerves.

Herniated disc: treatment

Often the hernia requires only observation of the symptoms and rest. If the pain, weakness and numbness do not decrease, you need to reduce activity, take days off, try to stay alone for a few days. Then you need to gradually increase the load.

To remove the pain syndrome, the following drugs are used: diclofenac sodium, tizanidine, celecoxib, tetrazepam, ibuprofen, as well as chondoprotectors, vitamins.

Strong pain is removed by blockade - hormonal anti-inflammatory injections in combination with a local analgesic. They quickly stop pain and reduce inflammation.

Many understand the seriousness of the diagnosis of a "disc hernia". Treatment is applied both traditional and innovative. Good osteopathy, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, reflexotherapy, hirudotherapy, homeopathy, careful manual therapy. However, if the pain has passed, this does not mean that the hernia of the disc has passed. The treatment is further based on the performance of special medical exercises, alternation of exercise and rest.

In severe cases, operations are performed. Surgically, the hernia is removed, the disk is destroyed, the spinal cord and spinal nerves are released from the pressure, creating conditions for the fusion of two adjacent vertebrae.

Any pain indicates to us a malfunction in the body. Do not wait, when all by itself will pass or take place - address to the expert in time. It's your health!