Hernia

One of the most common diseases that provoke back pain is the vertebral hernia. Vertebral hernia is the damage to the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc and the displacement of part of the pulpous nucleus beyond its boundaries, resulting in compression on the spinal cord and blood vessels.

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What causes a vertebral hernia?

The main factor affecting the formation of vertebral hernia, is a disease like osteochondrosis. It can occur both in mature and at a young age. Inadequate motor activity, heavy physical activity, physical inactivity, spinal injuries, posture curvature, and excessive weight can be the causes of this disease.

What are the symptoms of a vertebral hernia?

In the place of the localization of the protrusion, an inflammatory process is formed, there is swelling, swelling, back pain, the patient quickly becomes fatigued, with physical exertion the pain becomes more powerful, a feeling of numbness, weakness in the muscles. Pain can irradiate in the leg, buttocks, have a shooting character; increases when a person coughs or sneezes, lifts weights, sits or stands for a long time. In the later stages, the symptoms increase significantly, the pain becomes unbearable.

Phases of development of the vertebral hernia

1. Prolapse is the first degree of lesion of the disc, in which fibrous fibers begin to separate. With timely treatment, the outcome of the disease is positive.
2. The protrusion is directly a rupture of the fibrous ring.
3. Extrusion - the penetration of the hernial bulging through the fibrous ring and the longitudinal ligament, which strengthens the vertebral column.
4. Sequestration is the process of rejecting a portion of a hernia from surrounding tissues. It leads to severe paralysis and disruption of the normal functioning of the pelvic organs.

Vertebral hernia and its types:

• Vertebral hernia of the lumbar region. With this form of the disease, the pain can irradiate in the leg, the thigh area, accompanied by numbness of the foot, pain in the groin, impaired motor activity in the lumbar region.
• Vertebral hernia of the thoracic region. This form is less common than others, it can imitate heart pain, it has a piercing character, it increases with a sharp inspiration, movements of the trunk. There is numbness in the region of the chest, pain between the shoulder blades.
• Vertebral hernia of the cervical region. This kind of disease can provoke dizziness, numbness of the upper limbs, deterioration of sleep and memory, a sudden change in pressure. Pain is felt in the scapula and shoulder.

How is the vertebral hernia recognized?

The main method used to detect the vertebral hernia is magnetic resonance imaging.

This method of examination allows you to get all the necessary information about the size of the hernia, the width of the spinal canal, inflammatory processes and concomitant diseases. A computer tomography method based on the use of X-rays can also be used for diagnosis, but it often gives insufficient information about the affected segment.

How is a spinal hernia treated?

Conservative methods of treatment

• The spinal tract (horizontal or vertical) - eliminates the pressure of the nerve roots, reduces the swelling of the surrounding tissues, reduces the tension of the muscles and tendons.
• Reflexotherapy - relieves pain, swelling, is the process of introducing special needles in bioactive points, has a sedative and regenerative effect.
• Hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches) - relieves pain, swelling, normalizes blood pressure, general condition.
• Electrophoresis is a widely known physiotherapeutic method, in which the body is simultaneously exposed to an electrocurrent and drugs.
• Vacuum therapy (treatment with vacuum cans) is a method that helps to quickly and painlessly stop pain syndrome, activates microcirculation of fluid in the body, removes toxins from the body.
• Manual therapy - is aimed at normalizing the volume of movement of the intervertebral joints, increases the elasticity of the muscular and ligamentous apparatus by applying the hands to both individual vertebrae and entire segments of the spine. This procedure should be carried out only by an experienced specialist, otherwise the body can be irreparably damaged. The interval between sessions can be from one to seven days.
• Magnetopuncture - the effect on the bioactive points of a permanent or alternating magnetic field.

It should immediately be noted that the vertebral hernia can not be cured medically, medicinal products have only an auxiliary effect to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

• Anti-inflammatory therapy (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - reduce pain, stiffness, swelling of the joints, promote an increase in the volume of movements. Drugs of this group include movalis, rheumoxicam, diclofenac, piroxicam, indomethacin, ketaprofen.
• Applications with dimexide, novocaine and hydrocortisone on the affected area.
• Drugs that relieve muscle spasm - sirdalud, baclofen, myolastane.
• Vitaminotherapy - intramuscularly prescribed the introduction of vitamin B, as well as C and E for the elimination of neurological disorders provoked by this disease, improve the sensitivity of tissues.
• Chondroprotectors - with their help the regeneration process takes place and the degeneration of the cartilaginous tissue slows down, it is possible to use glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate. Applied mainly as a recovery treatment.

Surgical intervention in vertebral hernia can be performed in the following cases: the absence of a positive result from conservative treatment, protrusion of the pulpous nucleus into the spinal canal or the growth of the nerve roots to the nucleus, traumatization of the spinal canal, extensive deformation of the vertebral disc.

How is the vertebral hernia prevented?

In order to prevent vertebral hernia in the presence of pathology of the spine, the procedure of vacuum procedures, acupuncture, recommended therapeutic gymnastics, uniform distribution of physical activity, strengthening of the dorsal muscles, healthy lifestyle.