What can and cannot be done with an intervertebral hernia?
Herniated disc is a protrusion of the intervertebral disc between the vertebral bodies. Most often, hernias are formed in the lumbar spine, less often in the cervical and thoracic spine. The age of patients who are usually diagnosed with herniated discs ranges from 30 to 50 years. Pathology is manifested by pain, which contributes to the limitation of mobility in the damaged area.
The disease can lead to serious consequences, so it is important to treat it in a timely manner and to have as much information as possible regarding what can and cannot be done with an intervertebral hernia.
What can and what can not be done with an intervertebral hernia?
If you have an intervertebral hernia, then you are probably asking many questions. What can and cannot be done with such a disease?
Content:
- Can a lumbar hernia be treated without surgery?
- What loads are allowed in case of an intervertebral hernia?
- Is it possible to warm an intervertebral hernia, take a steam bath?
- Can I run with a herniated disc?
- Is it possible to correct an intervertebral hernia?
- Can CABG be done for herniated discs?
- Can my stomach or leg hurt with a hernia of the spine?
- Is it possible to hang on a horizontal bar with a herniated disc?
- Is it possible to massage with a hernia of the lumbar spine?
- Can you ski with a lumbar hernia?
- Is it possible to go to the bathhouse with a hernia of the spine?
- Is a spinal hernia visible on x-ray?
- Is it possible to warm the lower back and back with a hernia of the spine?
- Can a lumbar hernia be treated without surgery?
- Can a herniated disc heal itself?
- Is it possible to swing the press with a hernia of the lumbar spine?
- Is profuse sweating possible with an intervertebral hernia?
- Can a spinal hernia turn into cancer?
- Can Almag be used for spinal hernias?
- Can I swim with a hernia of the lumbar spine?
- Can the pain of a hernia of the spine radiate to the lower abdomen?
- Are there lumbar hernias at 60?
- Does a herniated disc affect the skin of the body?
Can a lumbar hernia be treated without surgery?
Yes, a lumbar hernia can be healed without surgery. In Russia and the CIS countries, there is an unofficially established medical practice: everyone who has an intervertebral hernia is recommended to undergo surgical treatment. Meanwhile, this is an absolutely illiterate and unprofessional approach. Surgery is a last resort. This is the most radical way. In Europe and the USA, there is only a small list of absolute indications for surgery. Basically, they are associated with the threat of loss of motor function or the lack of effectiveness of conservative treatment.
When agreeing to an operation, you need to be aware of all the risks:
- Any operation is associated with significant stress on the body - anesthesia, postoperative period;
- Surgery to remove herniated discs is very difficult. It all depends on the professionalism of the surgeon. If the doctor does not have sufficient qualifications and experience, there is always a risk of unforeseen consequences: for example, spinal cord injuries and complete loss of motor function.
Therefore, it is necessary to agree to the operation only if all previous treatment did not give an effect.
According to the statistics of German medicine, it is for the above reasons that no more than 10% of patients benefit from the operation.
The main thing is not to neglect the methods of conservative treatment: there are a lot of medicines, methods of physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises. If you take up the treatment on time, when the process has not reached its peak, you can take control of the hernia. After that, it remains only to adhere to a number of recommendations. Then you will be able to forget about the hernia once and for all.
What loads are allowed in case of an intervertebral hernia?
Unfortunately, the presence of a herniated disc imposes significant restrictions on the patient in terms of physical activity. Of course, you don't need to give it up at all.
It is worth knowing which types of workload pose the greatest threat:
- Activity associated with axial load on the spine. It is necessary to exclude lifting weights, training in the gym with equipment (lifting dumbbells, barbells, etc.);
- Activities associated with a long stay of the body in an upright position (running, playing football, hockey, skiing).
It is better to give preference for hernia to water aerobics, swimming, water sports. It is also recommended to perform a set of specialized exercises of physiotherapy exercises. Such a load will have a beneficial effect on the body: the back muscles will be strengthened, and with an increase in muscle tone, the stability of the hernia can be guaranteed.
Is it possible to warm an intervertebral hernia?
It is strictly forbidden to warm up strongly with a hernia, not to mention the use of therapeutic warming procedures. At the same time, the muscles of the back weaken, the muscle corset holding the damaged intervertebral disc loses its tone. As a result, a displacement of the hernia and its further protrusion with all the ensuing adverse health consequences: pinching of the nerves and spinal cord is possible. This is extremely dangerous.
Can you run with a hernia of the lumbar spine?
Running involves a lot of stress on the spine. As already mentioned, it is best to eliminate the loads associated with a long stay of the body in an upright position. It is better to replace running with swimming.
Is it possible to correct an intervertebral hernia?
The practice of reducing intervertebral hernias was widespread 10-20 years ago. Now this method of treatment is reasonably recognized as dangerous. The fact is that the nucleus pulposus, along with the entire structure of the affected intervertebral disc, can be deformed or displaced under physical influence. Displacement with a high degree of probability will entail pinching of the nerve roots of the spinal cord.
In order to exclude the development of complications, in no case should one resort to forcible repositioning of the hernia.
Can CABG be done for herniated discs?
There are no obvious contraindications to coronary artery bypass grafting in case of intervertebral hernia. However, surgeons performing the operation should take into account the presence of this pathology of the spine.
If the doctor has sufficient qualifications and experience, CABG can be performed safely.
Can my stomach or leg hurt with a hernia of the spine?
With an intervertebral hernia in the lumbosacral region, pain radiating to the leg (or radiating to this area) may not just be. In 95% of cases, they are part of a specific symptomatic complex. Moreover, the leg can not only hurt, it can literally burn. The intensity of the pain syndrome depends on the degree of development of the pathology and the individual pain threshold. The cause of the manifestations is the entrapment of the nerve roots and the sciatic nerve.
Abdominal pain is not specific to a hernia, but it can still occur. To exclude diseases of the abdominal organs, additional diagnostics should be carried out. It is possible that abdominal pains accompany an independent disease: gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, etc.
Is it possible to hang on a horizontal bar with a herniated disc?
In no case. Any axial load is strictly prohibited. It can cause mixing hernia and damage to the spinal cord. (Spinal traction - is it effective? What are the consequences?)
Is it possible to massage with a hernia of the lumbar spine?
Massage for a hernia of the lumbar spine can be done. However, it should be prescribed by a doctor, and only a qualified massage therapist-rehabilitation therapist can carry out such a procedure.
Massage is not prescribed during an exacerbation of a hernia. At the stage of remission, massage, especially in combination with physiotherapy complexes, will help to improve the trophism of the spinal column, and will allow you to quickly build up the muscle frame, which will reliably hold the spine in the correct position. Thus, massage is one of the methods for treating herniated discs, thanks to which further disc protrusion can be prevented.
Can you ski with a lumbar hernia?
In principle, skiing with any hernia of the spine is impossible. The fact is that while skiing, the entire human body experiences strong vibrations. Even when it comes to straight distances, flat surfaces for skiing cannot be found. During shaking, in any case, there will be a dynamic compression of the existing protrusion. As a result, the disease will begin to progress, and the person's condition will only worsen.
In addition, while skiing, very often a person falls, gets bruises, sprains and other injuries. If for an absolutely healthy skier such injuries are insignificant, then for a patient with a hernia, any spinal injury can result in serious problems, up to and including paralysis. Therefore, you should abandon skiing if an intervertebral hernia of any part has been diagnosed.
Is it possible to go to the bathhouse with a hernia of the spine?
You can visit the bath with a hernia, but this must be done with caution. First of all, this concerns the temperature regime. You should not warm your spine above 45 ° C Celsius. To prevent this, you need to leave the steam room after 5-10 minutes and douse yourself with warm water (about 38 ° C). This will avoid muscle spasm and will not lead to increased tissue edema around the strangulated nerve roots.
Contraindications to visiting a bath with a hernia of the spine are the following conditions:
- Exacerbation of inflammation;
- Hernia sequestration;
- Infringement of the spinal membranes by hernias;
- Increased body temperature;
- Lumbar pain.
Thus, it is possible to go to the bath with a hernia, but at the same time it is necessary to observe the measure: do not overheat in the steam room and do not pour ice water after the body has been warmed up.
Is a spinal hernia visible on x-ray?
The hernia of the spine is not visible on the x-ray. Therefore, an X-ray examination is only an auxiliary method that allows one to suspect a displacement of the vertebrae.
Conducting an X-ray of the spinal column makes it possible to detect signs of an existing osteochondrosis, a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, and possible deformities of the spinal column. However, X-ray does not allow to see soft tissue formations, which include an intervertebral hernia. To detect a protrusion of the intervertebral disc, an MRI or CT scan is necessary.
Is it possible to warm the lower back and back with a hernia of the spine?
As mentioned above, it is strictly forbidden to purposefully warm the lower back and back with a hernia of the spine. If the muscles of the back are heated, this contributes to the weakening of its skeleton, the muscle corset softens, and the spinal disc can protrude even more.
Such a displacement of the hernia will lead to pinching of the spinal cord and its nerve endings. As a result, the person will experience severe pain and his condition will worsen. Therefore, neurosurgeons are categorically against warming up the intervertebral hernia. Especially if there are signs of inflammation in the affected area. There is also evidence that the cause of disability in patients with intervertebral hernia in 30% of cases is self-medication, including warming up and non-professional massage.
Can a lumbar hernia be treated without surgery?
It is possible to cure a hernia without surgery, but if the protrusion has already formed, then by itself it will not go anywhere. With timely treatment started, conservative therapy allows you to take control of the hernia, which will allow you to abandon the operation in the future.
It is important to start treatment before complications of the disease develop. Even if the patient has a radicular syndrome, it is possible to control the condition of the hernia without surgery.
It should be borne in mind that conservative therapy is complex. The patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and metabolic drugs. Treatment is necessarily complemented by manual therapy, physiotherapy, exercise therapy complex. That is, until the intervertebral hernia has reached an impressive size, and before the development of spinal compression, you can do without surgery.
Can a herniated disc heal itself?
The intervertebral hernia itself cannot dissolve. It is a protrusion of the intervertebral disc outside the vertebral body. If a hernia appears, then it will not go anywhere and will not be able to dissolve on its own. In order for the hernia to completely disappear, conservative treatment or surgical intervention is necessary.
Is it possible to swing the press with a hernia of the lumbar spine?
You can swing the press with a hernia of the spine, but first you need to consult with a specialist. The doctor will determine whether it is possible to pump the press for a specific patient and tell you how to do it correctly.
In general, the therapeutic complex of physical exercises is selected on an individual basis.
However, there are uniform prohibitions for all patients with a hernia of the spine regarding pumping up the press, including the following points:
- You can not pull your knees to your chest and head;
- You can not make sudden movements, turns and twists;
- You can't swing the press with your hands behind your head;
- You can not swing the press with bent legs.
All of these exercises increase muscle tension in the lumbar spine, which can lead to the progression of the disease. Therefore, if it was decided to pump up the press, but at the same time there is a diagnosis of "intervertebral hernia of the lumbar spine", then a preliminary consultation with a doctor is necessary.
Is profuse sweating possible with an intervertebral hernia?
Profuse sweating with an intervertebral hernia is most often observed with the addition of such a complication as radicular syndrome. That is, the protrusion increases so much that it begins to contact the spinal root. In this case, the patient has hyperhidrosis of the extremities. Such trophic disorders are especially pronounced on the foot (with a hernia of the lumbar spine).
Can a spinal hernia turn into cancer?
A hernia of the spine cannot turn into cancer, since it is not a neoplasm, but is a protrusion of the intervertebral disc. However, this does not mean that a herniated disc can be ignored.
Can Almag be used for spinal hernias?
The Almag device for spinal hernia can be used to heal and repair the fibrous ring, which is part of the intervertebral disc and prevents its displacement. Thus, the number of exacerbations in this disease can be significantly reduced.
However, at the first symptoms of a spinal hernia, it is necessary to seek medical help, since Almag may be powerless if you do not know the true cause of the pain.
Can I swim with a hernia of the lumbar spine?
With a hernia of the lumbar spine, swimming is not only possible, but also necessary. Swimming is a firming and health-improving procedure that relieves stress on the spine. During swimming, sharp movements of the body are excluded, which makes it impossible to injure the damaged segment.
Swimming helps to normalize blood circulation, which leads to better nutrition in the inflamed area. Another positive effect that a patient with an intervertebral hernia gets during swimming is strengthening the muscle corset. During the exercise in the pool, dynamic and static movements alternate, and the load on the spine is evenly distributed in the water. Therefore, swimming is the sport that patients with herniated discs should give preference to.
Can the pain of a hernia of the spine radiate to the lower abdomen?
Pain syndrome is the leading one in spinal hernia. Most often, pain is localized in the lumbar region. However, as the disease progresses, they can radiate anywhere, including to the lower abdomen. Lower abdominal pain often occurs with a lumbar spinal hernia.
Are there lumbar hernias at 60?
Lumbar hernias occur at any age, so even at the age of 60, a similar intervertebral protrusion is quite possible.
Does a herniated disc affect the skin of the body?
Herniated discs can affect the skin of the body when it reaches a large size. If a patient has a lumbar hernia begins to squeeze the spinal root, then the leg from the affected side will gradually lose sensitivity. In addition, such a complication always leads to thinning of the limb, to dryness of the skin, or, conversely, to hyperhidrosis. Disorders of tissue trophism are more pronounced on the foot.
The author of the article: Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich | c. m. n. surgeon, phlebologist
Education: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (1996). In 2003, he received a diploma from the Educational and Scientific Medical Center of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.
