Dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral discs is the exit of their cartilage into the area of the spinal canal. This type of protrusion is especially dangerous, since it can hurt the spinal cord, as well as pinch nerve bundles and roots. Not everyone knows what protrusion is. It occurs because the spinal muscles cannot cope with their load. As a result, the vertebrae squeeze and deform the disc cartilage. The patient loses mobility, feels chronic aching pain or temporary acute attacks.
Protrusion develops due to a modern lifestyle, as people move very little, excess weight appears, and muscles weaken. The spine has to constantly cope with the load. Another risk group is professional athletes who excessively strain their backs.
Dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral discs is particularly dangerous because it does not show symptoms in the early stages of development. If the patient loses working capacity and goes to the doctor, then, as a rule, preventive measures can no longer help. It will take a long treatment, if you are lucky, you will be able to avoid surgery and rehabilitation.
It should be noted that protrusion is not an independent disease. This is a consequence of another pathological process in the spine, occurring mainly in the cervical or lumbar region.
Formation Features
What is protrusion and how is it formed? The intervertebral discs include cartilaginous plant tissue. It forms a dense fibrous ring from the outside; a softened pulpous nucleus is located inside. With excess body weight or with sharp loads, the spinal muscles will not be able to cope with the protection of the intervertebral discs from vertebral pressure. The same thing happens with severely weakened back muscles. Due to the strong pressure, the fibrous ring is deformed.
When the pulpous nucleus is compressed and extends beyond the vertebral limits, dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral discs occurs.
Cartilage tissue becomes not so elastic, dries. Cracks appear in the dense ring. There is a sharp stabbing pain due to compression of the nerve roots by a flattened disk. There is pain after lifting weights, physical labor, sudden movements or prolonged sitting. At the beginning of a pain attack, a crunch sounds in the area of the disturbed spine.
After this, the tissues go even further and stretch from the inside. Prolapse or protrusion is manifested. The pain intensifies, especially in the field of localization of pathology. Unpleasant sensations can radiate to the legs.
The pain appears after coughing, sneezing, laughing, abrupt movements or a strong breath. A tingling sensation in the fingers of the upper or lower extremities, goosebumps. From which zone of innervation of impaired nerves is noted, the upper or lower limbs can become very numb or weaken.
With a stronger protrusion of the disk, the fibrous ring does not stand up, it breaks. A soft core emerges through the fissure and forms an intervertebral hernia. Absolute rupture of the fibrous ring can paralyze the entire body of the patient.
The essence of dorsal protrusion
In the process of dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral discs towards the spinal cord tissue protrudes. The spinal cord feels pressure, severe pains are felt. Disk dorsal protrusions are more dangerous than others, they can easily pinch nerves or nerve bundles in general.
In this case, damage to any area of the back is possible, however, the neck and the sacral zone are most often affected.
Causes of dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral disc
Dorsal protrusion can occur for the following reasons:
- Weak back muscles.
- Injuries.
- Constant work at the computer, a sedentary lifestyle.
- Sudden movements.
- Professional sport.
- Lifting weights with the wrong technique.
- Osteochondrosis.
- Elderly age.
- Constant back tension.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Disruption of disk circulation.
- Vertebral infections.
- Cartilage metabolism defects.
Symptomatology
Protrusion often passes without obvious symptoms and signs: protrusion of the ring up to three millimeters may not contribute to sufficient irritation of the nerve endings. Also, the presence of pathological symptoms of dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral disc is determined by the location of the disorder and the level of the protrusion of the disc into the spinal canal.
The localization of protrusion in the cervical vertebrae is the most dangerous for the state of human health.
Soreness can also occur in the intercostal zone, occiput, neck, and also radiate to the lower and upper extremities (this depends on which particular nerve is compressed).
Loss of sensation may occur in certain areas of the limbs, that is, numbness, muscle weakness, pulling pain along the muscle course, defects in the sciatic nerve. Often there is also stiffness in the amplitude of movement of the neck and limbs, burning pains in the affected area.
How obvious certain symptoms will be depends on the primary disease, which has become the source of protrusion. In addition, the level of compression of the endings of the nerves is important.
Pathological manifestations often have an individual character, in some cases, soreness can appear only when bending, long sitting or standing, sudden movements.
Kinds
The dorsal circular protrusion of the intervertebral discs is uneven. This is a dangerous category of this pathology. The load on the back is not distributed correctly, which is why new hernias and protrusions appear. In this case, the following symptoms occur: stitching pain, numbness, the patient in advanced situations can partially paralyze. This option is especially common. Protrusion can be in the range of 3 to 12 millimeters, and the difference in disk protrusion can be no more than one millimeter. Such a pathology is characterized by a chronic course, if there is no appropriate treatment, usually neurological symptoms increase, disability occurs.
Diffuse protrusions are a pathology in which tissues exit in different places, and prolapses of various sizes are formed. Such protrusion of the intervertebral disc is especially dangerous with complications. Perhaps the initiation of diffuse protrusion into the inflammatory process. The consequence is pinching of the nerves, and the appearance of severe pain.
C5-C6 Disk Protrusion: Description
The dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral discs C5-C6 is one of the most common protrusions of the neck area, located between the fifth and sixth vertebra of the neck. May appear against the background of cervical kyphosis, hernia, lesions of other intervertebral discs. Signs of such a pathology are a feeling of numbness in the fingers, headaches, pain in the hands, weakening of the biceps and wrist muscles, pain in the neck area.
If the end of the C6 nerve is impaired, there may be symptoms such as impaired sensitivity of the index and thumb. Its causes may be trauma or osteochondrosis of the neck.
Lumbar disc protrusion
Perhaps the most vulnerable area of the spine is the lumbar region. Here is the center of gravity of the body, in connection with which it is to this area that the general physical load extends to a greater extent. Pathological symptoms are the occurrence of radiculitis, weakness, lumbar pain, numbness of the legs. In severe cases, there may be a disturbance in the functionality of the urinary system.
L2-L3 disc protrusion is a rare type of protrusion that occurs in 1% of cases. It is accompanied by lumbar shooting pains, loss of sensation of toes or feet. Significant protrusions that cause urination disorders should be treated surgically.
Protrusion of the L5 disc. Disc damage to the fifth vertebra of the lower back may be noted in the following combinations:
- L5-S1 protrusion is a violation of the fibrous ring between the sacral first and lumbar fifth vertebra. This area of damage is very common, it can be observed in half the cases of protrusion of the lumbar intervertebral discs. Often combined with intervertebral hernia, uncoarthrosis, spondylatrosis, retrospondylolisthesis, antespondylolisthesis. It can be caused mainly by changes in the osteochondrosis type. The consequence of such a lesion may be the appearance of infringement of the sacral and lumbar endings of nerves or the nerve bundle in the spinal canal.
- Dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral discs L4 L5 - a violation between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. In most cases, it is accompanied by a hernia L5-S1. Caused by protrusion of the intervertebral discs of the lumbar with traumatic injuries or constant strong physical exertion. Soreness usually occurs suddenly, with a "lumbago", that is, a crispy sound that follows after tilting or lifting heaviness.
- Disk protrusion L3-L4 - a violation between the third and fourth lumbar vertebra. It is observed not so often in 5% of cases. It is rarely isolated, and most often along with the defeat of adjacent sacral and lumbar vertebrae or discs.
What is the diagnosis of dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral discs?
Diagnostics
If the first signs appear, you need to visit a neurologist. The specialist will collect the necessary information, analyze all the symptoms, conduct an examination of the patient.
To confirm the diagnosis, the following methods are used:
- Myelography A special drug is injected into the intervertebral space, which will help determine the clinical picture more accurately.
- X-ray examination from several angles.
- MRI - allows you to get a complete picture of the pathological processes.
- Discography. A special preparation is also introduced into the space near the disk, due to which its condition is more thoroughly examined.
- Epidurography. It is the same as discography or myelography, however, the agent is administered under the protective membrane of the spinal cord.
The best method is an MRI scan, which will show:
- to what extent the intervertebral discs are deformed;
- range of protrusion of the spinal column inward, the degree of compression of the nerve roots and spinal cord;
- the development of concomitant complications and pathologies.
Treatment of dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral disc
The faster the pathology is detected, the higher the likelihood of its cure without surgical intervention. First of all, medications are prescribed - anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs and painkillers. When the inflammatory process subsides, the tissue of the nerves will be freed from squeezing and irritation. Vitamins B will have a positive effect. You can use them as complexes of vitamins and minerals, most often enriched with calcium.
Physiotherapeutic procedures such as magnet therapy or electrophoresis will be of great help in dorsal median protrusion of the intervertebral discs. They will eliminate inflammation and swelling, improve metabolism in the tissues of the cartilage. Massage is allowed, but only a specialist can do it, using gentle techniques. A professional massage therapist will relieve pressure on the nerves and relieve muscle. In the problem area, blood circulation will improve, depleted tissues will be able to get more nutrition.
Cupping vacuum massage stabilizes the intervertebral discs. Thanks to physiotherapy exercises the spine is stretched, pressure is removed from the discs. Muscles strengthen, relieve stress from the back.
An orthopedic support corset will help to relieve cartilage tissue and relieve tension.
In the absence of a result from a long conservative treatment, the disease continues to progress, a surgical operation is prescribed. In case of deformation and out-of-bounds, the tissue of the cartilage will be burned with a laser or removed by other methods.
Prevention
To prevent the formation of disk dorsal protrusion, it is necessary to ensure that the spine can cope with its load. To this end, you need to act in such directions: strengthen the muscles that support the spine, reduce sharp and constant loads.
It is necessary to play sports and not chase record achievements. The back muscles will be strengthened by swimming, yoga or moderate gymnastics. Vertebral sprain allows to increase the distance between the vertebrae and prevents the development of tissue degenerative processes. All exercises must be done with the correct technique and under the guidance of an instructor. In everyday life, you also need to lift weights correctly. You should sit down, take a load, straighten your back and hold it straight until you get rid of heaviness. With a lack of time to charge at home or going to the gym, you need to walk more often.
It is necessary to lose weight. The spinal muscles are not designed for continuous load associated with overweight.
When working at a computer or driving, you need to try to warm up periodically. Continuous sitting puts pressure on the spine. Need to give up bad habits. Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine worsen the metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs and the spine itself. If you follow these simple recommendations, you can prevent the occurrence of this pathology.