Displacement of the intervertebral discs in the lumbar region or neck is considered a serious disease, which is associated with the fact that several vertebrae change their position. Such a deviation in the body can be observed in people of different ages. The development of this disease can be promoted by various factors, ranging from elevated body temperature to age-related changes that are directly related to changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs. Consider what are the symptoms of displacement of the discs in the lumbar region, and what treatment is required.
Causes of vertebral displacement
Before proceeding with the treatment of the disease, it is necessary to establish its causes. Displacement of the intervertebral discs can occur for the following reasons:
- The disease is primarily associated with overstrain in the lumbar region. When there is a large load on the disks, the vertebra gradually begins to shift, while narrowing the spinal canal.
- Vertebrae can move even at a very young age. In this case, it will be most correct to talk about pathology, which is associated with a weak bone structure of the intervertebral column. In a sick person, it will be possible to note not only the curvature of the spine, but also the displacement of the hip joint.
- With age, changes can also occur in intervertebral tissues. As a rule, this leads to pinching of the nerve process and, with untimely assistance, can even lead to paralysis of the limbs.
Naturally, these are not all the reasons that can contribute to the displacement of the intervertebral discs, but they are considered to be the main ones.
How to recognize vertebral displacement?
Recognizing the displacement of the intervertebral discs in the lumbar is not so difficult, just pay attention to such signs:
- A person will experience discomfort in the lumbar during any movement.
- Particular attention should be paid to pain, it can be acute, or it can be aching.
- After minor exertion, leg pain appears.
- The muscles become weak.
- Numbness is felt in the limbs.
- The gait changes over time.
It is the pain syndrome that can be attributed to the very first signs of the disease. At a young age, the child may complain of pain not only in the lower back, but also in the legs. Adults, on the contrary, will complain of pain in the chest and cervical regions. If the nerve roots are squeezed, then a radicular syndrome develops, which is given in pain almost throughout the body.
Stages of the disease
The displacement of the intervertebral discs in the lumbar can be divided into five main stages, each of which indicates how much the spine has shifted:
- If the deviations are insignificant, make up only 25%, then the disease can be recognized only with the help of x-rays. The patient will be able to feel slight pain, all other symptoms will be absent.
- An offset of more than 30% is recognized faster, since a sick person will suffer from constant pain in the vertebral region. Especially the pain will be strongly manifested after the slightest physical exertion.
- A sharp and prolonged pain indicates that a shift in the vertebrae could occur by all 50%. A person will experience stiffness in movements, in addition, there are violations in the process of urination.
- When abnormalities occur at 75%, this means that the disease is greatly progressing. Irreversible changes begin in the spine.
- In the last stage, weakness appears in the limbs, the gait changes, and with the slightest movement, acute pain appears, which accompanies the patient almost constantly.
Treatment must be started at the first stage, but since it is recognized only when an x-ray is taken, any symptom should not be ignored, this is an occasion to consult a doctor.
Symptoms
Displacement of the intervertebral discs in the lumbar can be completely asymptomatic, for example, if there is no pressure on the vertebrae. Therefore, some people can find out about their disease only after they pass the diagnosis. It should be noted that all the symptoms can be divided into general and particular, it all depends on the location of the disease.
- General: most often there are paresthesias, when a person feels a run of goosebumps under the skin, a slight tingling in the lower back, passing into the legs. Tendon reflexes can also change with common symptoms, for example, a person may complain of muscle weakness.
- Particular symptoms can only be associated with the place in which they occur. For such cases, a violation of the sensitivity and function of the pelvic organs becomes characteristic.
Symptoms of displacement of the intervertebral disc can be very diverse, for example, in children, such a disease occurs most often in a mild form, but adults suffer much more.
Diagnosis
Only a doctor can determine exactly whether there is a displacement of the vertebral discs or not. As a rule, with such pathologies, it is most correct to seek the help of an orthopedist or chiropractor. A complete diagnosis of the disease includes the following points:
- If there is a suspicion of displacement of the intervertebral discs, the doctor should carefully examine the patient. The patient must report reliable facts about his condition, tell about all his symptoms and their duration.
- After collecting an anamnesis, the doctor examines the patient. First of all, feeling the back and limbs of the patient is carried out. Also, the therapist may ask you to make different movements that will help determine the location of the disease.
- In order to accurately diagnose, hardware studies are prescribed. Such studies include x-rays, on which you can see the angle of displacement. It is most often prescribed for displacement of the intervertebral discs of MRI, with the help of this procedure you can identify the exact level of damage to the nerve roots and spinal cord.
- Many specialists, at the first suspicion of spinal displacement, prescribe anterior spondylogram for their patients. It consists in the fact that an x-ray is taken, but no contrast agent is added. Using this diagnostic method, you can clearly see the condition of the tissues.
As soon as the doctor can get all the diagnostic data, he prescribes the necessary treatment.
Treatment
Treatment of displacement of the intervertebral discs can be carried out in two ways: by the conservative method and surgical intervention. Conservative treatment is to remove unpleasant symptoms as soon as possible, so doctors prescribe this therapy:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory substances.
- Some steroid medications may be used orally.
- Physiotherapy in the affected area is necessarily prescribed.
- Massage is prescribed.
- Injections of certain drugs are prescribed in the epidural region.
In total, all treatment is aimed at strengthening the spinal and abdominal muscles, and instability of the spinal column is also worth eliminating. The doctor will be able to assess how often and severely a person is concerned about pain, in this case, drug therapy with various anti-inflammatory drugs is prescribed.
Conservative treatment
Conservative treatment of intervertebral discs is necessarily carried out in the complex:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation in the body. Such drugs include Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Butadion, Dimexidum. It is important to remember that "Diclofenac" is prescribed to adults in a dosage of 50 mg 3 times a day, it all depends on the severity of the disease. As for Ibuprofen, for adults the dosage is 600 mg 4 times a day.
- Individually for each person, analgesics are prescribed.
- Antispasmodics are actively used in the disease, which help to relax muscles and eliminate stiffness of movements.
- On the painful area of the spinal column can also be such actions as sessions of special fitness exercises. Such methods help to remove numbness of the lower extremities, and if there has been a displacement of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine, then physical education helps restore blood circulation.
- An effective method of dealing with vertebral displacement is considered professional massage. With it, it is possible to remove the blockade from the muscles, reduce cramping. Massage is most often an effective method of treating the disease both in the early stages and in the later stages, but it can only be prescribed as an adjunct to general therapy.
Treatment of lumbar intervertebral discs is prescribed exclusively by a specialist, depending on the severity, only a doctor can decide whether the patient needs surgical intervention or not. All recovery procedures must be performed sequentially. It is important to remember that traditional medicine cannot be considered the main treatment method. To make recovery quick, these methods should be used as a supplement.
Effective therapy
There are several methods that will help in the process of intervertebral disc restoration:
- Ultrasound therapy allows the use of alternating current, exerting an effect on the affected area using ultrasound.
- Physiotherapeutic methods are considered excellent ways to restore the body after an illness. These include many types of procedures, such as hydrotherapy and mud therapy. In some cases, electrophoresis can be used, baths with salt and radon are prepared, paraffin therapy is considered active. All events can be applied separately, but often they are taken in combination, which helps to get the best result.
- A great option for recovery from a disease such as displacement of the intervertebral discs is reflexology. For example, acupuncture or other manual procedures can be performed in parallel with medication. Such actions help strengthen the body, and the effects of the procedures themselves are on the affected area.
- Additionally, massage can be used to restore the body. It is advisable to do it after taking a bath with dried leaves of mint and birch.
For a complete recovery, completely different methods can be used, but it is important to remember that first of all you will need to consult a doctor who will prescribe the initial drug treatment.
Traditional treatment
In no case should you self-medicate, since displacement of the intervertebral discs can be completely cured exclusively in the initial stage. If the disease is in advanced form, surgery may be required. Alternative methods for the treatment of vertebral displacement:
- Baths with different oils with a calming effect are considered effective.
- An excellent folk remedy is a decoction of rice. Hot rice is placed on a cloth dressing, fixed in a place where pain has arisen.
- The vulnerable area can be rubbed with warm sunflower oil, after which you can grate raw potatoes and attach it for a while.
- After consulting with your doctor, you can use the old method using glass jars. As soon as the cans are removed, the place where they were placed must be greased.
- Additionally, thyme compresses can be used. Such a compress should be done at night. The frayed grass is applied to a gauze bandage and fixed in place where severe pain occurs.
- A wonderful folk remedy is an ointment, which is prepared from fat, oil and ground chestnut. Chestnuts must be carefully chopped, and then in equal quantities to move with camphor oil and fat.
- A radish compress will help get rid of pain. It is enough to pour 100 ml of juice and moisten gauze in it. Wet cloth needs to be wrapped around the lumbar. With such a compress, it is necessary to pass two days, but only if the sick person does not feel a burning sensation in this place.
Absolutely after all procedures, you should try not to make sudden movements, especially since you should not allow loads in the dorsal region. In the process of complete and quick recovery, an important role is played by proper nutrition.
Prevention
A person who has gone through the restoration of intervertebral discs should remember in the future about preventive measures and in every way protect their health. First of all, it is necessary to ensure sufficient physical activity, it should be moderate. If a person is busy with sedentary work, it is imperative to monitor his posture, not to lean forward or sideways. It is advisable to ensure that you do not have to stand for a long time, you cannot stay for long in one position, you can transfer the load from one leg to another.
When you have to wear weights, it is best to use a backpack for these purposes, in which case the load will be evenly distributed over the entire back. To lift something off the floor, you must carefully sit down, and not bend down.
Some people suffering from displacement of the intervertebral discs themselves begin to use special belts to support the back and corsets, but without a doctor’s prescription, such actions can only reduce the tone of the spinal muscles, thereby provoking an even greater shift to the side.