An extremely common disease today is the intervertebral hernia, the symptoms of which, unfortunately, are familiar to many. It, in fact, is a deformation of the fibrous ring of the disk - a gap forms, which causes a small amount of gelatinous nucleus to protrude due to strong pressure. Most often, this ailment is diagnosed in people aged 25-45 years, less often in childhood. This disease is recognized as the most complex form of osteochondrosis, which often causes loss of working time, and sometimes disability.
Intervertebral hernia: symptoms
The main danger of such an ailment is associated with the likelihood of a narrowing of the spinal canal, which can cause inflammation of the spinal membrane and nerve roots. The result of this is the appearance of radicular pain syndrome, accompanied by muscle paresis and paralysis of the legs, impaired function of organs located in the pelvis, and sensitivity disorders. If you have been diagnosed with an intervertebral hernia, the symptoms of which have already begun to appear, treatment should be started as soon as possible.
The main sign of this disease is pain, it often manifests itself in youth, usually associated with certain loads, uncomfortable position in bed or at the table when working. Often, symptoms are confused with signs of osteochondrosis (weakness or pain in the leg, lack of sensitivity, or a feeling of "creeping goosebumps"). With intervertebral hernia, very intense pain can be observed, which often simply puts the person to bed.
All signs of the disease are conventionally divided into two varieties that are characteristic of a particular stage of the disease. At the first stage of hernia development, degenerative-dystrophic processes occur in a certain section of the spine. So, the strength of the intervertebral disc decreases and cracks appear. Gradually, in this area there is a violation of blood circulation, pain, swelling appears, muscle tension is caused, which leads to curvature of the spine. Most often, people do not even imagine that they develop an intervertebral hernia, the symptoms of which gradually appear. In this situation, treatment at home may be ineffective and even harmful, because of it the second stage may very soon begin.
At the second stage, characteristic changes in the pain syndrome are observed. Tension and squeezing of the root causes radicular syndrome. The patient feels severe pain, muscle weakness, some loss of sensitivity in those areas for which the affected root is responsible. In this area, some dry skin may be observed, a noticeable violation of sweating. Treatment at this stage must be carried out on an outpatient basis or in a hospital, but certainly under the supervision of specialists.
Diagnosis of this disease can be carried out by one of several methods. The first is radiography. Now most often used computed and magnetic resonance imaging. Symptoms of this disease depend on the location of the formation.
The intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine is characterized by numbness of the fingers on the hands, pain in the arm and shoulder, a combination of headaches and dizziness, and pressure surges. It is important to be careful if one or more symptoms appear.
A thoracic intervertebral hernia is characterized by constant pain in the thoracic region, as well as a combination of pain and scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis.
When various symptoms associated with a hernia appear, you should immediately contact a specialist for diagnosis.