Disk protrusion is a pathological change in the human body. The disease develops when the intervertebral disc protrudes into the spinal canal. With this pathology, rupture of the fibrous ring does not occur.
Disk protrusion is not a self-developing disease. It is a certain stage of osteochondrosis of the spine. The root cause of the disease is the degenerative destruction of the
intervertebral disc.Pathology stages
The development of disk protrusion goes through three distinct stages. On the first of them, a change in the elasticity and structure of the spinal disc occurs. In this case, its height decreases. Numerous cracks appear on the fibrous ring. Destructive processes reach sixty to seventy percent. At this stage of the disease, the patient feels bouts of pain that are local in nature.
At the second stage of disk protrusion, an increase in the swelling of the intervertebral disk occurs. It reaches several millimeters. The pains that the patient complains spread beyond the lesion and are irradiating in nature.
The third stage precedes the tear of the
fibrous ring. Disk protrusion at this stage is characterized by an even larger increase in disk bulging. In this case, the severity of pain increases. She becomes unbearable. The patient complains of
numbness of the limbs. He develops a limp.
Symptoms of pathology
The disease has different localization. It can be cervical, thoracic and lumbar. The first type of pathology often leads to the most serious consequences. The patient may even become disabled. Cervical disc protrusion is characterized by subluxation of the vertebrae. Even a slight protrusion (up to three millimeters) can have serious consequences. Pathology, which has reached a size of 5 mm, is in its danger equated to a hernia. With cervical protrusion, dull and intense pain occurs in the area of the disease. Often there are dizziness and tinnitus. Headaches occur, vision deteriorates. Blood pressure becomes unstable. The pain extends to the shoulders and arms. As a result, the fingers go numb. With chest and lumbar protrusion, pain occurs in places of localization of the pathological process.
The causes of the disease
Disk protrusion is caused by sudden movements of the body to the sides during weight lifting. This greatly overloads the spinal column. Osteoporosis, scoliosis and osteochondrosis can give impetus to the development of pathology. The poorly developed muscular system of the skeleton provokes the disease. Infectious as well as viral diseases, diseases of internal organs and spinal injuries can provoke disk protrusion . Disc protrusion is possible as a result of age-related changes, as well as prolonged postural disturbances. The development of the disease is affected by heredity, poor nutrition and metabolic disorders. All these reasons contribute to the occurrence of dystrophic processes leading to a decrease in the depreciation of disk tissue, which is why protrusion of the spinal discs occurs.
Pathology treatment
When detecting the disease at an early stage, it is enough to apply conservative methods of therapy for recovery. At the same time, an integrated approach is important that allows you to get rid of not only the symptoms of the disease, but also the causes that caused it.
The course of therapy begins with the elimination of pain syndromes. The patient is provided with peace, excluding intensive movements. At this stage, analgesics are prescribed (Diclofenac, Ketanov, etc.). These drugs also relieve swelling caused by pathology. To restore blood supply and nerve root nutrition, biogenic stimulants are prescribed. It is also useful to nourish the body with vitamin complexes.