What is a Herniated Disc?

The discs located between the vertebrae act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae in the back and support our upper body. It also has important effects on our ability to move widely. If the structure of a disc is disrupted, its location changes, or it creates pressure on the spinal cord, we define this situation as a herniated disc. Dear patients, in this article, I will tell you what you need to know about herniated disc. What are the symptoms of a herniated disc? How is a herniated disc treated? What is good for a herniated disc? While answering questions such as these, I will also give important information about ways to prevent herniated disc in this process.

Be Careful: Studies show that approximately 4% of lower back pain is a symptom of a herniated disc. For this reason, people with back pain should evaluate other possibilities before suspecting a herniated disc and go to a specialist accordingly. In short, not all back pain is a herniated disc.

What are the Symptoms of a Herniated Disc?

Common symptoms of a herniated disc include low back pain, but in cases where low back pain is accompanied by the other symptoms I will mention below, an expert opinion should be sought.

>

If I had to talk about the common symptoms of a herniated disc;

 

Low back pain: Low back pain symptoms may not always be seen in a herniated disc, but the general description of patients experiencing pain due to hernia is that this pain is in the form of throbbing.

Pain in one or both legs: Leg pain caused by a herniated disc is more severe and challenging than lower back pain. Pain radiating along the large sciatic nerve at the back of the leg indicates a herniated disc.

Numbness, loss of sensation and tingling in the feet: Numbness and loss of sensation in the feet and legs may occur as a result of the herniated disc that causes a herniated disc pressing on the nerves.

Fatigue easily: Difficulty walking for long periods of time and increased desire to sit after walks longer than 500 meters should be examined as symptoms of a herniated disc.

Urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence. Incontinence:A herniated disc can cause disorders in the function of the bladder muscles.

Impotence in men: Sexual dysfunctions can be considered as a symptom of herniated disc in some cases.

In addition, symptoms such as loss of strength in the legs and loss of balance while moving may indicate a herniated disc.

 

How is a Herniated Disc Treated?

 

Dear patients, surgery is the last treatment method in the treatment of herniated disc. If a herniated disc is diagnosed at an early stage, it is possible to keep the process under comfortable control with some changes in the person's daily routine and supportive treatments.

 

Initial Disc Herniation Treatment

 

People with early diagnosed herniated disc problems need to take various precautions in their lives. I would like to talk about these measures in some detail.

 

• People with a herniated disc should definitely not lift heavy items.

• It is very important for patients not to lean forward or to the side, as well as to avoid sudden movements.

• Using lumbar support and taking short walks every 20 minutes in situations where sitting for long periods of time is required are very effective in terms of the progression of the hernia.

• Movements of reaching up or to the side should be avoided.

• Avoiding stress is also important in terms of herniated disc.

 

Pay Attention: My dear patients, people with lumbar disc herniation problems are recommended to lie on hard ground. However, this is quite wrong information. Disc herniation patients should sleep on an orthopedic bed.

 

Progressive Disc Herniation Treatment Treatment planning is made to stop the progression of the problem using different methods. Dear patients, surgery is always seen as the last option in the treatment of herniated disc. Surgery for herniated disc Edavi has a low percentage of 2-3% compared to other treatment methods. For this reason, you should not consider surgery as the first option when you have a herniated disc problem.

 

Medication Treatment 

 

Drugs are used in the treatment of herniated disc to improve the person's quality of life. It is possible for people with progressive herniated disc problems to have a more comfortable life with muscle relaxants, painkillers and medications that will solve this problem if there is inflammation in the area. However, in advanced cases of herniated disc, especially if there is loss of movement; The progress must be controlled with additional treatments such as physical therapy and injections, and the person must make significant changes in his/her lifestyle that will relieve the waist area.

 

Physical Therapy

 

If complaints continue and progress after medication and rest in the treatment of herniated disc The choice of physical therapy should be evaluated. It is very important that the person follows all the recommendations in these treatments, which must be performed by physical therapists. It is important to remember that the amount of pain may increase in the first few days of treatment, but the effects of the treatment will appear in the following periods. Within the scope of physical therapy, a treatment called nucleoplasty, which is based on administering radiofrequency waves to the herniated disc through a needle, may also be required.

 

Injection

 

Injection applications reduce the effects of herniated disc, provide relief to the area and eliminate inflammation, if any. They are preferred for removal.

 

Surgery

 

Despite all treatments, the decrease in the person's quality of life continues, causing thinning of the legs and serious If advanced problems such as loss of strength or the possibility of the person being bedridden occur, surgery for herniated disc treatment may be considered.

 

Be Careful: A herniated disc is not a problem that needs to be solved by surgery. Surgery should be seen as a last resort and should be performed at the point where it is determined that there is no real intervention to be made. should.

 

What is Good for Lumbar Herniation?

 

Dear patients, one of the questions I frequently hear from you is "what is good for herniated disc?" I want to answer the question in this article. If you have a herniated disc problem and want to prevent this problem from progressing, you should be careful to follow the advice I give.

 

• Avoid sleeping face down.

• If you are going to drive long distances or sit, choose lumbar support.

• Take care to do exercises that will strengthen the waist area.

• If you are overweight, lose weight to reduce the weight on the spine.

• Reduce smoking and alcohol use. Try quitting smoking completely.

• Do not forget to bend over instead of reaching forward, sideways and backwards.

• When it is necessary to lift weights from the ground, bend your knees and squat down and transfer the weight to your knees. give.

• If you are an office worker, take 1-2 minute walks at 20 minute intervals.

• If you have a job that requires muscle power, do not forget to rest your back, perform the carrying movements in the ways I recommended above.

_{Read: 0}