1. Is low back pain a common complaint?
Low back pain is a more common complaint than is thought. Data abroad show that eight out of every 10 people suffer from low back pain at least once. However, the rate of low back pain is higher in societies like ours, where sports and exercise are not widely practiced.
2. Is every low back pain a herniated disc?
Herniated disc is only one of the causes of low back pain. Back pain can be caused by various causes such as adverse movements and cold-related muscle spasm, stress, lumbar slippage, calcification in the lumbar spine, rheumatic diseases, infections and tumors of the spine, and vertebral fractures.
3. What is a herniated disc?
Our spine can be functionally likened to the columns in the building. In other words, our spine carries the load of our body, just as the load-bearing columns carry the load in the building. The difference is that our spine is not one piece and consists of 33 vertebrae. There is a disc pad between the two vertebrae. Disc pads absorb the load on the one hand, and allow us to lean in different directions on the other. However, with overload from middle age, this system malfunctions and the cartilage part in the disc cushion can come out (herniate). We call a herniated disc herniation when the jelly-like cartilage comes out and presses on the nerves.
4. How does a herniated disc occur?
All activities that increase the pressure in the intervertebral disc space predispose the pad to come out and herniate. Heavy lifting is the most important cause of herniated disc. In addition, falling, traffic accidents, making reverse movements, long and uncomfortable journeys, sports such as tennis, wrestling, weightlifting that force the waist can also cause herniated disc. Sometimes in individuals with long-term low back pain, herniated disc may occur even after sneezing, straining or even laughing.
5. What are the symptoms of lumbar hernia?
The main symptom of lumbar hernia is low back and leg pain. Complaints usually start with low back pain. Back pain recurs from time to time. However, following heavy lifting or a difficult movement, lower back pain becomes worse and within days the pain spreads to the hip and leg. The pain is usually in the leg. It is on the back of the front and spreads from the hip to the heel and even to the toes. In many patients, foot numbness and loss of strength may develop.
6. Who is in the risk group for lumbar hernia?
Men working in heavy work and women doing heavy work at home are more at risk of lumbar hernia. Apart from this, individuals with poor muscle structure, overweight and belly, professional staff such as secretary, banker, and teachers are at risk of lumbar hernia.
7. At what ages is hernia seen more?
A hernia can occur at any age. However, it usually occurs in the 30s, when a sedentary life begins and sports are not practiced.
8. Does herniated disc cause only low back and leg pain?
While there is only low back and leg pain at the beginning of hernia, as the hernia grows and the pressure on the nerves increases, the symptoms of compression of the nerves become more evident. In this case, numbness and loss of strength occur in the foot. This causes difficulties in walking. In very large hernias, it can cause serious problems such as loss of strength and paralysis in both legs, and urinary and stool incontinence.
9. Does pregnancy herniation increase? In addition, improper postures and sittings due to loading also cause strain on the lower back muscles. Especially in patients with previous lumbar hernia, there may be an increase in hernia. However, this rarely leads to serious problems. 10. Is every low back pain an indication of a hernia?
It is not. Many diseases, especially inflammations affecting the spine, tumors, problems of the facet joints in the waist and hip joint problems can cause low back pain. In some of these diseases, leg pain may also occur, just like in herniated disc. Therefore, symptoms may be confused.
11. Which doctor should be consulted for low back pain?
Since low back pain has more than one cause, it can be included in the field of many different specialties. However, it is very important to evaluate lumbar hernia in a healthy way and to distinguish it from other conditions that mimic this situation. It is important. Delays and errors in diagnosis sometimes lead to serious problems and losses. Therefore, since a careful neurological examination is mandatory in the initial evaluation, it is beneficial to see the patients by a neurosurgeon. In patients who do not require surgery, cooperation is made with other branches to regulate the medical or physical treatment of the patient.
12. Does every lumbar hernia require surgery?
Most patients diagnosed with lumbar hernia may not need surgery. However, if there are certain signs and symptoms, surgery is recommended. If these criteria do not exist, rest and drug therapy, if necessary, physical therapy or special injections are applied. Surgery may be required in patients who have no pain relief and reduced quality of life, imaging findings consistent with examination findings, and loss of sensation and strength.
13. What does closed and open surgery mean?
Today, hernia is removed under the microscope and the patient's pain is relieved. This is open surgery. After this type of surgery, patients usually stay in the hospital overnight. The patient is carried out the next day and then discharged. Sometimes, endoscopic lumbar hernia surgery is performed if the features such as the size, location of the hernia and the height of the intervertebral space are suitable. In such surgeries, the patient is discharged on the same day by standing up.
14. Is there a risk of herniated disc surgery?
As with any surgery, herniated disc surgery also has risks. The main of these risks are bleeding at the operation site, inflammation, fluid leakage due to the opening of the membrane surrounding the nerves, and nerve damage.
15. Will there be a recurrence after lumbar hernia surgery?
After lumbar hernia surgery, diseased cartilage parts are removed. These residues actually continue to function. Relapse may occur in 4-5% of patients as a result of patients not paying attention to their spine health and lifting heavy.
16. What is Nucleoplasty (Vaporation treatment)?
In this method, it is aimed to decrease the volume of the intervertebral pad and thus to reduce the pressure on the nerve. For this purpose, a needle is inserted into the disc and a radiofrequency electrode is passed through the needle. The e given by this electrode With the energy of the cartilage, it is ensured that the cartilage is broken down and evaporated. As a result, the volume of the disk can be reduced by 5%. The process takes about 10 minutes in total. It is inconvenient to apply it in large and free hernia fragments protruding beyond the vertebra.
17. How does sports affect herniated disc?
Different sports have different effects on the body and spine. Sports such as tennis, table tennis, basketball, which cause excessive rotation and sprain in the lumbar spine, with weightlifting on the spine, and also sports such as wrestling that force the waist can damage the spine and prepare the ground for herniated disc. On the other hand, swimming, which works the lumbar muscles, is ideal for the lumbar spine. On the other hand, short walks not exceeding 20-30 minutes also benefit the spine.
18. What should be considered in order to prevent low back pain?
Individuals who sit for a long time should pay attention to the seat they sit in, the way they sit and stand. For this purpose, pillows supporting the waist should be used. Exercises to strengthen the waist and hip muscles should be done intermittently throughout the day. Deep and soft seats should be avoided, and hard chairs that support the waist should be preferred. When getting up from the chair, it is necessary to get up with support by pressing the arms of the chair. Learn how to lift and carry heavy objects. You should get rid of excess weight and strengthen the waist muscles. It should always be kept in mind that the main enemies of the spine are smoking, excess weight, wrong posture - sitting and sedentary life.
Read: 0
