The lumbar region of our body is subject to significant physical exertion, as a result of which a hernia of the lumbosacral spine can develop . The treatment of such a pathology is categorically impossible to postpone, because it can lead to serious complications, the worst of which is complete insensibility and immobility of the legs.
The causes of the disease
The disease always develops as a result of improper and excessively heavy loads that complement metabolic disturbances in the tissues of the disk and spine. Representatives of the male are more susceptible to this pathology.
An ailment may occur due to:
It is also believed that malnutrition in a certain way contributes to the development of intervertebral hernia, since the discs do not get the right amount of necessary nutrients.
How is a hernia of the lumbosacral spine manifested?
Symptoms of the disease at the initial stage may be completely absent. The first manifestations of pathology are:
dull pain that occurs periodically and worsen with coughing or active movement;
different temperature of the lower extremities;
the muscles of one limb noticeably decrease in volume and weaken;
sensitivity of the affected area of the back is lost, burning sensation and shooting pains appear;
the patient, not even noticing this, tries to take a pose that does not cause pain.
The back in the lumbar region after a certain period of time will cease to bend, which will affect the position of the spine. If you do not take appropriate measures at this stage, constant pain will appear that will aggravate when you try to lift something or when walking fast.
Diagnostics
In order to be diagnosed with a hernia of the lumbosacral spine, the symptoms must be confirmed by a specialist after a thorough medical examination. A preliminary diagnosis is made using x-rays. To obtain more detailed information about the size of the hernia, it is necessary to undergo an MRI.
Conservative treatment
If a hernia of the lumbosacral spine is diagnosed, treatment should be started immediately. Therapy can be carried out by conservative and surgical methods. Are prescribed for a disease such as a hernia of the lumbosacral spine, injections, drugs that relieve inflammation, exposure to ultraviolet light, currents, exercise therapy. With very severe pain, the patient is advised not to get out of bed for some time. For less displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other on the bed you need to put a board. In the early days of exacerbation, ice lotions are recommended, then they should be replaced with warming creams.
For severe pain, pain medication is often prescribed. However, in this case, the patient, without feeling any discomfort, begins to make more active movements, and this is strictly prohibited.
Also, in order to improve the condition of the discs, such medications as chondroprotectors are used, muscle relaxants are used to relax the muscles.
Gymnastics
With such a phenomenon as a hernia of the lumbosacral spine, gymnastics is the main method of treating the disease at an early stage. Exercises are performed with the aim of strengthening the muscles of the back, stretching and relaxing the clamped muscles, stretching the spinal column.
Traction can be carried out using special equipment or simply by performing certain exercises. This will help to expand the vertebrae, reduce pressure on the nerves, and relieve pain.
The stretching procedure lasts about 15 minutes, it should be carried out daily. It is very convenient for these purposes to use special equipment with which the pulling force can be adjusted.
Effective exercises
To correct such an ailment as a hernia of the lumbosacral spine, exercises are recommended to be performed as follows:
Lie on your stomach, put your palms under your chest. Fix the lower part of the body, lift the upper one without leaning on your hands. Stay at the highest point, count to 8 and slowly descend. Then fix the upper body and raise legs, hold it in this position for 8 seconds and lower it. Make 4 approaches.
Get on all fours, upper limbs should remain straight. Keep your back straight without bending. To be in that position.
Take the previous pose. Raise the left leg and right arm, stretch well, hold this position for 5 seconds, after changing the leg and arm. It is recommended to do 7 approaches.
Surgical intervention
Sometimes conservative methods of treatment do not help to eliminate a disease such as a hernia of the lumbosacral spine. Surgical treatment in this case becomes a necessity.
An operation is shown if:
there are signs of nerve pinching;
impaired function of the sphincter of the excretory system;
the diameter of the hernia is more than 7 mm, the patient feels acute pain.
Manipulation is carried out using microscopic instruments under the control of an x-ray or endoscope, an incision for their introduction is made very short, the vertebrae are not damaged. During the operation, a section of the disk is cut, which compresses the nerve and causes pain, and also pumps out the inflammatory exudate.
Timely and professionally performed operation completely solves the problem. However, if the patient is older than 50 years, the likelihood of relapse still exists. Unfortunately, some patients (about 10%) may need surgery again after a certain time.
Hernia of the lumbosacral spine: how to treat folk remedies?
With this pathology, alternative medicine methods are also effective, the most popular of them are the following:
Mummy (1 tablet) and honey (½ cup) are mixed. The affected area of the spine is treated with fir oil mixed with base oil. The resulting honey mixture massage the skin for 5 minutes. After the procedure, the skin is wiped, treated with an alcoholic preparation of Cinquefoil and covered with a woolen cloth.
Three times a day, before meals, a pre-diluted alcoholic preparation of saberfish is diluted with water.
Rub the lower back with hypericum oil. The glass container is filled to half with freshly cut St. John's wort grass, topped up with vegetable oil. Cover and leave in a dark place for 14 days. After passing through cheesecloth and store the resulting composition in a cool place.
Combine 50 g of saberfish roots (finely chopped) with 500 ml of vodka, mix and put in a dark place for 21 days. Three times a day, 30 minutes before a meal, take 15 ml of the received product.
Combine 1 liter of vodka and 60 g of comfrey roots, leave for 3 weeks in a cool dark place, mixing 1 time per day. After the specified time, infusion pass through cheesecloth. Take 3 drops daily before meals, 10 drops diluted with water. This tincture can be used for massages and compresses.
Preventive actions
In such a condition as a hernia of the lumbosacral spine, massage, gymnastics, and physiotherapy are very important. However, any disease is always easier to prevent than to cure for a long time. Prevention of this disease is as follows:
Conclusion
After reading this article, you learned more about such a pathological condition as a hernia of the lumbosacral spine (treatment, causes, symptoms). In no case do not ignore the manifestations of the disease and do not self-medicate! The first signs of the disease are an occasion to contact an experienced specialist and subsequent treatment. Be healthy!