Treatment of intervertebral hernia

Treatment of intervertebral hernia should first of all be aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease in order to normalize metabolic processes, improve blood microcirculation in damaged tissues, reduce the load on the joints, and relieve muscle tension.

In order to know what treatment is needed, doctors must determine the causes of the disease and its location.

Thus, immediately after an attack, it is advisable to take the patient to the hospital or call a doctor to the house. In order for the condition of the person experiencing pain not to worsen, first of all, it is necessary to do the following:

• Place the patient on some hard surface;
• Cover the affected area with a warm heating pad, you can even use mustard plasters;
• Bandage the lower back or apply a corset.

The patient's path with this disease in the hospital begins with diagnostics. Before the doctor knows what treatment to apply, he will try to collect all the information he needs: about the nature of the pain, possible injuries, lifestyle, the presence of similar problems in the family. After that, various modern diagnostic methods can be used, allowing to detect almost any disease:

• Computed tomography is a scanning technique using three-dimensional models;
• X-ray is a classic method used in almost all hospitals;
• Magnetic resonance imaging is a relatively new diagnostic method, but it is becoming increasingly popular because it can provide a fairly large amount of information about a specific case of the disease.

Treatment of intervertebral hernia is conventionally divided into three key areas:

• etiotropic treatment of intervertebral hernia - therapy is aimed at identifying and eliminating the cause of the disease. It is a fairly effective method of treatment, allowing not only to minimize the manifestations of the disease, but also to prevent its development. The main principles of etiotropic therapy are a healthy lifestyle, a complete balanced diet, uniform feasible physical activity, therapeutic exercises aimed at restoring the normal functioning of the joints of the spine and intervertebral discs.
• Pathogenetic treatment of intervertebral hernia – therapeutic influence on the mechanisms of disease progression. One of the methods of pathogenetic therapy for intervertebral hernia is acupuncture. This method is based on the effect on general strengthening active points in the area of the pathological focus with a needle specially designed for this purpose.
• Symptomatic treatment of intervertebral hernia is aimed at neutralizing the external signs of the disease.

Treatment of intervertebral hernia by conservative methods

This method is used in the early stages of the disease and includes a set of measures that help restore tissue and the spine. Basically, non-surgical measures consist of the following procedures:

• Therapeutic massage. However, it is not recommended to do it in the first days of the disease, as it can have a detrimental effect on the spine;
• Physiotherapeutic procedures (magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, etc.);
• Physiotherapy;

The full recovery period can take up to six months, so spare yourself from intense physical activity during this period. Sanatorium treatment will help to consolidate the results obtained as a result of various procedures.

Drug treatment

Medicines used as a basic treatment for intervertebral hernia include chondroprotectors - these are drugs that accelerate the healing process and slow down the degeneration of cartilage tissue (glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate). It is most advisable to use chondroprotectors during the recovery period, when the acute stage of the disease has already passed.

Analgesic treatment of intervertebral hernia includes the use of analgin, no-shpa, reopyrin with novocaine. The basis of anti-inflammatory therapy is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - movalis, voltaren, diclofenac, piroxicam, indomethacin, etc. It is recommended to make applications with dimexide, novocaine and hydrocortisone. To relieve muscle spasm, it is advisable to use sirdalud, baclofen, miolastan, etc. To improve microcirculation, drugs such as trental, actovegin can be prescribed. Vitamin preparations (B, C, E), thioctic acid are widely used. Vitamins of group B reduce the manifestations of neurological disorders caused by this disease, restore tissue sensitivity, and reduce pain.

Physiotherapy treatment of intervertebral hernia

Massage procedures should be done with extreme caution. Too active actions can cause serious complications, sharply worsen the condition. Massage should be soft, gentle, not causing pain.

Hirudotherapy - treatment with medicinal leeches - is quite an effective remedy, it complements the complex treatment of intervertebral hernia. During the procedure, leeches saturate the body with biologically active substances that have a positive effect on the course of the disease. All procedures should be carried out strictly under the control and supervision of a doctor.

Cryotherapy (treatment of intervertebral hernia with cold using liquid nitrogen) improves blood circulation in the affected segment of the spine, reduces swelling of the nerve root and increases the likelihood of tissue regeneration. It is used as an auxiliary method.

Laser treatment of intervertebral hernia is performed by small punctures on the skin. The main goal of this procedure is to relieve swelling of surrounding tissues and their compression on nerve endings. With a correctly performed laser therapy session, pain syndrome and accompanying signs of the disease are significantly reduced. This method of treatment is a good alternative to surgery. Before the procedure, local anesthesia of the spinal disc is performed with a special needle through which a laser cable is passed. The procedure is controlled using an endoscope, which displays the image on the screen. The rehabilitation process after this type of treatment is short, lasting several hours.

Enzyme preparations form the basis of enzyme therapy. Enzyme preparations (karipain and karipazim) are administered using electrophoresis. Enzyme therapy has a general beneficial effect on cartilage restoration due to its systemic anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, fibrinolytic and anti-edematous effects.

Surgical treatment of intervertebral hernia

Surgical treatment of intervertebral hernia is indicated in cases where the size of the hernial protrusion is more than seven millimeters and there is a risk of formation of a segment of dead bone tissue and its subsequent rejection from the healthy bone, as well as in cases of paralysis of the limbs, in the presence of signs of muscle atrophy. Indication for surgical treatment is also the ineffectiveness of conservative therapy for three or more months.