Sometimes a person has a displacement of the vertebral discs, causing a rupture of the fibrous ring. The most common hernia is the lumbar spine. Less often, it is localized in the cervical region, even less often - in the thoracic region. The functions of the disc are to create depreciation between the vertebrae. The health of the ridge is largely determined by them.
Reasons for the appearance
The main reason for the appearance of a hernia of the spine is its overstrain, which may be due to the following reasons:
- improper posture with the creation of excessive load on a certain part of the spine;
- its curvature as a result of sedentary work;
- lifting heavy objects;
- sprains and bruises of this organ;
- neglected osteochondrosis;
- pathology of connective tissue;
- excess weight;
- underdevelopment of the spinal muscles.
They also believe that a hereditary predisposition can lead to a similar pathology.
Concept of the disease
The composition of the spine includes bones that are interconnected using intervertebral discs, consisting of a soft inner and hard outer rings. This allows you to ease the load on this body, making it more mobile. When certain events occur, the outer ring breaks, and the inner ring passes in some part to the spinal cord, which causes the appearance of a hernia of the spine, which should be immediately treated.
It is the most severe form of osteochondrosis, in which the cartilage is gradually replaced by bone, the disc decreases and becomes harder. Because of this, the pressure on the nerve endings increases, because of which they get pinched, which leads to the appearance of pain syndromes in the area where the lesion is noted.
The disease is most common in people over the age of 30 years. As a result, a person temporarily loses his ability to work, and in severe cases, he may receive disability. In some situations, a hernia of the spine is asymptomatic and is detected only during an MRI. But in the vast majority of cases, the main symptom is pain. As a rule, pain is localized in a certain department, which allows you to make the correct diagnosis.
Signs
Symptoms of a hernia of the spine depend on its size and location. The following are observed:
- with lumbar hernia, numbness of the toes is felt, pain syndromes in the foot or lower leg are noted, inguinal numbness, chronic pain in the examined spine can occur, which lasts more than 3 months;
- a hernia of the cervical spine can lead to dizziness, the appearance of headaches, to the observation of the same syndromes in the hands (numbness of the fingers in them), hypertension;
- in the presence of pathology in the thoracic region, pain occurs in it, and it is often the result of various forms of scoliosis.
The following types of hernias are distinguished by size:
- small - up to 2 mm in the cervical and up to 5 mm in the lumbar and thoracic regions;
- middle - in the last two departments - 8 mm;
- large - up to 6 mm in the cervical and 12 mm in the lumbar and thoracic.
If its size exceeds 12 mm, then it is called sequestered.
Common symptoms
General weakness and numbness of the limbs. The first can be expressed in the fact that it is impossible for a person to climb the stairs or pull up his leg. Numbness can manifest itself in any limbs up to the impossibility of a sensation of touch. Some people feel "goosebumps" moving on the skin.
The pain is aching in nature. It intensifies when making sudden movements or sneezing. Sometimes pain syndromes are observed even when lying down. The range of discomfort is large enough, which makes it difficult to correctly diagnose. In this regard, a hernia can be confused with arthrosis, especially if syndromes are noted in the limbs.
Diagnostics
For the correct detection of the disease, it is necessary to conduct an examination of the spine using MRI and CT. All sections of the spine are examined. A hernia is detected by studying the intervertebral discs, assessing their condition, identifying the degree of the disease, which allows you to prescribe the optimal treatment. Diagnosis can also be performed using post-myelo-CT scan and epidurography.
In those clinics where it is not possible to conduct such examinations, the study of the spine is carried out using an x-ray.
When diagnosed with MRI, the condition of the spinal nerves is determined. With its help, you can recognize the disease in the initial stages, which will facilitate its treatment.
Drug therapy
It is aimed at relieving pain, muscle spasm, reducing the intensity of pressure on the cartilage and reducing swelling. The drugs are selected by the doctor. In general cases, the following are prescribed:
- painkillers: NSAIDs - Ketarol, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Movalis and others; with a slight positive reaction or its absence - anesthetics "Diprospan", "Trimikain", "Novocain";
- chondroprotectors that prevent further destruction of the intervertebral disc; their reception provides a suspension of hernia development, inflammatory processes are also reduced;
- herbal tinctures and fees: "Relanium", "Feonozipan" - with persistent severe pain;
- antidepressants for nervous conditions: "Fluvomaxamine", "Trimipramine", "Amoxapine" and others;
- muscle relaxants taken simultaneously with diuretics and venotonics to relieve tension and have a beneficial effect on edematous tissues: Venoruton, Midoclam, Lasix, Pentoxifylline - admission for a week;
- B vitamins. They are used to restore compressed nerve tissue. At the same time, vitamins B 1 and B 12 are taken every other day;
- combined preparations (Neurovitan, Neuromultivit).
Traction
Treatment of a hernia of the spine can be performed by stretching it. In this case, the patient may be on inclined surfaces, the procedure is carried out due to body weight. Or, computerized devices that are programmed to carry out this procedure can be used.
As a result of traction, the distance between adjacent vertebrae increases by 1-2 mm. This contributes to the partial retraction of a hernia of the spine, both lumbar and other departments. Swelling and pain syndromes are eliminated.
The actions taken must be careful. If the patient feels pain, traction ends. After the procedure, the spine is fixed with a corset, in which it must remain for several hours.
Exercise therapy
She is prescribed during the period of remission. They can not make sudden movements. Initial exercises should provide a minimum load. These classes are prescribed, first of all, to those patients in whom the muscles were inactive for a long time. The load on damaged discs is reduced compared to the passive position, the chances of recovery are increased.
Physiotherapeutic procedures
For the treatment of lumbar hernia of the spine, like any other, these methods can be used. The main ones are the following:
- diadynamic currents that have a positive effect on blood circulation, anesthetize, contribute to the relaxation of nervous tissue;
- drug electrophoresis, with the help of which anesthetics, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal drugs are injected into the tissues, and in some clinics - papain, which is an enzyme that breaks down a hernia and reduces its size.
Operational Methods
Treatment of hernia of the spine is sometimes impossible to carry out therapeutic methods. With exacerbations, severe discomfort from pain, surgical intervention may be required. It must be used when dangerous conditions for human life occur.
The main ones are the following:
- endoscopy, consisting of a cut or puncture of the skin up to 2 cm, into which an endoscope is inserted under local anesthesia - a hernia of the cervical spine takes 15 minutes, the maximum duration is surgery on the lumbar - 45 minutes, it is performed with a small hernia; after a few hours, the patient begins to move independently and after 2-3 days is discharged;
- laser exposure - by introducing laser fiber with a thick needle or endoscope, which reduces the size of the hernia and disk volume; cold plasma (nucleoplasm) can be used instead of this device;
- laminectomy - produce when a large hernia occurs; an incision is made on the back through which part of the vertebra is removed, a fragment of the disk is excised with an increase in intervertebral space; rarely prescribed;
- microdiscectomy is the most common type of surgery, prescribed if the conservative method of treatment did not give the expected effect for 3 months. Part of the hernia formation is removed, and, if necessary, part of the vertebra is excised by 4-6 cm of skin. Surgical intervention is performed under a microscope. The patient can return to light work, not associated with physical work after 3-5 days, and to previous loads after 2-3 weeks. Within a month they wear a medium-hard corset and do not lift weights.
Folk remedies
Treatment of lumbar hernia of the spine can be performed by them to relieve pain syndromes and reduce the inflammatory process. In particular, alcohol tincture can be used. To prepare it, one of the following herbs can be taken:
- clover;
- comfrey;
- sagebrush;
- saber
- St. John's wort
- Birch tree;
- mint;
- garlic.
Raw materials are crushed and filled with alcohol. Then it is infused in a dark, cool place, after which it is filtered and used as a raster. They are made until the epidermis is dry. The course of treatment with one herb is 10 days, after which you can switch to another plant and so on until the symptoms disappear.
There are other methods: garlic compresses, applying gruel from Kalanchoe, horse fat compresses, turpentine baths, decoctions of dandelion. With a lumbar hernia, massage is also done.
Finally
A hernia of the spine occurs in its various departments. The most common is its intervertebral lumbar variety. All of them require timely treatment. Therapeutic methods are mainly used. In complicated cases, resort to surgical intervention. Exercise therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures are also prescribed.