Why is dorsal diffuse disc protrusion dangerous?
The proliferation of computers in the modern human environment has led to the fact that spending a long time in a forced position negatively affects the health of the spinal column. Prolonged stay in a bent position, poor posture causes pain in the back and neck. The consequence of this is the protrusion of the vertebral disc.
Content:
- What is disc protrusion?
- Causes of the disease
- Disc protrusion symptoms
- Types of posterior protrusions
- Diagnostics
- Protrusion treatment methods
What is disc protrusion?
Protrusion of the spinal disc is its bulging into the spinal canal, while the annulus fibrosus remains intact. Degenerative changes in the disc can lead to serious consequences for human health. The protrusion is divided into upper and lower.
The location of pain depends on the location of the degenerated disc. Mechanical impact on the disc that has gone beyond the vertebra, leads to the appearance of acute pain of a non-permanent nature. The most commonly diagnosed type of dorsal protrusion.
Dorsal (synonyms: posterior, dorsal) protrusion - an increase in the intervertebral disc in the posterior direction. This type of pathology is the most dangerous, since there is a high risk of pinching the "cauda equina" - an extensive bundle of nerve endings. Most often, such a danger arises when the first sacral and fifth lumbar discs are pinched - this is the dorsal protrusion L5-S1.
Causes of the disease
Dorsal disc protrusion is not considered an independent disease. This is one of the stages of osteochondrosis or the initial stage of the development of an intervertebral hernia. Pathology most often appears in the lumbar or cervical spine, although it can occur in any segment. The intervertebral disc is designed for uniform compression by the vertebrae. Frequent convergence of adjacent vertebrae with each other leads to an asymmetric load on the intervertebral disc. Protrusion is the extrusion of a disc by an uneven load of the vertebrae on it.
Reasons for the appearance:
- Neuroinfection of the central nervous system, including the spinal cord;
- Inflammation or allergic process that affects the spine;
- Hereditary pathologies of the formation of the spine;
- Injuries and circulatory disorders of the spinal column and spinal cord.
Disc protrusion symptoms
A bulging disc is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Acute pain radiating to the limb, shoulder, buttock;
- Headaches of unclear etiology, dizziness;
- Disruption of the full functioning of internal organs.
At the first manifestation of symptoms, a clarification of the diagnosis is required. Most often, this is done by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). This method will allow for differential diagnosis from other pathologies of the spine, to detect even minimal changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs.
Types of posterior protrusions
Two types of dorsal protrusion are diagnosed:
- Circular,
- Diffuse.
Both types of the disease have serious consequences, require complex diagnosis and long-term treatment.
Circular
Circular-dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral disc is characterized by uniform protrusion of the disc body beyond the spinal canal. Each segment of the spine with a similar pathology increases the load on its other parts and thus provokes the appearance of new lesions.
Even the smallest protrusions of the L5-S1 spinal disc are accompanied by severe pain. Additional symptoms are limb numbness and paralysis. Late diagnosis and treatment of pathology leads to the development of a vertebral hernia and an increase in negative manifestations.
Diffuse
Diffuse protrusion is an uneven bulging of the spinal disc in several places. It is characterized by numerous complications. If treatment is started untimely, the compressed nerve endings become inflamed, and the conduction of nerve impulses decreases.
The protrusion of the L4-L5 disc is often asymptomatic, which causes untimely diagnosis. If diffuse protrusion is suspected, the degree of disc involvement should be clarified and treatment initiated to avoid severe complications.
The main symptom of diffuse protrusion is a kind of clicking or crunching sound, the appearance of severe pain.
Dorsal medial protrusion is one of the varieties of this pathology. It is characterized by disc protrusion along the median (exactly in the middle). Since the disc protrudes into the lumen of the spinal cord canal, it becomes more and more irritating as the disease progresses.
Diagnostics
Determination of the complete picture of protrusion is carried out by a neurologist. He examines the patient's history, symptoms of the disease, the results of x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). Based on the diagnostic results, the type of protrusion, the degree of damage to the intervertebral disc is determined.
To get an objective picture of the state of the spine, the examination is carried out in a complex. CT alone does not provide objective information.
If the resolution of the tomograph is insufficient, the hardware examination will inaccurately determine the degree of damage to the spinal cord and the size of the protrusion. The most complete picture of the pathology will show MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
What can be seen from the MRI results:
- The dimensions of the spinal canal;
- The degree of disc change;
- The size and location of disc bulging (protrusion);
- Concomitant pathologies.
In most cases of timely referral to a specialist after treatment, patients can count on the reverse development or suspension of pathological processes.
Protrusion treatment methods
Therapy for dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral disc takes time and considerable effort.
Conservative treatment is quite laborious, it includes a set of measures:
- Several courses of specialized massage;
- Acupuncture;
- Physiotherapy exercises (LFK);
- The help of a chiropractor;
- Physiotherapy procedures;
- Hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches);
- Vacuum therapy.
Treatment algorithm for dorsal protrusion therapy:
- Therapeutic measures at the first stage are aimed at relieving the pain symptom.
- The second stage of treatment is aimed at stretching and developing flexibility of the spine, stimulating the blood supply to the spinal cord.
- At the third stage, complex therapy helps to relieve tissue swelling, reduce pressure on nerve endings, and increase the tone of the back and abdominal muscles.
The treatment regimen is determined by the attending physician, any self-treatment can result in severe complications, up to the development of disability.
Medical treatment is aimed at relieving pain and improving blood supply to the spinal cord. It is only part of a set of measures and solves only part of the patient's problems. An important condition for successful treatment is limiting the stress on the spine at the site of the lesion.
Physiotherapy is used to eliminate tissue edema and inflammation. Physiotherapy helps to improve metabolic processes at the site of injury, to control pain.
Diet, physiotherapy exercises, massage complement and consolidate the positive effect. These events take place simultaneously.
Massage regulates muscle tone, with excessive tension, massage movements relax them, with weakening and inactivity of muscle groups, massage brings them into tone.
The goal of the diet in the treatment of dorsal protrusion is to maximize the saturation of the body with nutrients and trace elements for the successful regeneration of damaged tissues. A timely course of treatment will help to avoid complications and surgery.
To prevent the appearance of dorsal protrusion of the intervertebral disc, to avoid long-term treatment, preventive measures are used. A specially selected corset will relieve the spine during static loads.
Measures to prevent protrusion:
- Performing exercises to strengthen the muscle corset;
- Swimming lessons;
- Quitting alcohol and smoking;
- Performing a yoga complex aimed at correcting posture;
- When working at the computer for a long time, it is recommended to take a break to warm up, monitor posture, and change body position.
With an increased risk of protrusion, it is advisable to change the type of activity in order to eliminate the static load on the spine.
Author of the article: Sokov Andrey Vladimirovich | Neurologist
Education: In 2005 completed an internship at the IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and received a diploma in Neurology. In 2009, completed postgraduate studies in the specialty "Nervous diseases".
