Overweight, sedentary life, smoking, repetition of movements that are not suitable for spinal physiology, and performing professions that require heavy lifting... If you have these risk factors, my dear patients, I can say that you have suitable conditions for the onset of a herniated disc.
Back pain is a health problem that can affect people of all ages and, depending on its severity, turns daily life into a nightmare, so to speak. Low back pain, which sometimes feels short-term as a result of movements that are not suitable for spinal physiology, can sometimes become chronic. When the causes of low back pain are examined, we can conclude that various factors cause pain.
One of the most important and most feared factors causing low back pain is undoubtedly a herniated disc. A herniated disc is a health problem that can affect a person's daily life, reduce the quality of life, and also cause loss of employment. It cannot be generalized that everyone who complains of lower back pain will have a herniated disc. However, since I think it is important to have information about the onset of a herniated disc, I wanted to prepare an article for you about the "initiation of a herniated disc."
What is a herniated disc?
Yes, my dear patients, before giving information about the symptoms of the beginning of a herniated disc, "what is a herniated disc?" I would like to give a short answer to the question.
Our waist area carries the entire weight of our body and distributes its load first to the hips and then to the legs, thus distributing the load in a balanced way. There are five vertebrae in our waist and cartilage pads (discs), joints and soft tissues containing a gel-like fluid that connect these five vertebrae but prevent them from coming into contact with each other.
Discs, which act as a buffer between our vertebrae, prevent our vertebrae from overlapping and thus prevent our vertebrae from rubbing against each other. In addition to these important functions, they distribute the load on the waist area equally across the bones, muscles and cartilages.
Everything is normal so far, but "waist What is herniation?
Here, my dear patients, when these discs located between the lumbar vertebrae are exposed to more load for various reasons and the change in the structure of the disc as a result of the decrease in the fluid inside the discs, it is called "lumbar herniation". .
In herniated disc patients, the structures of the discs between the vertebrae are damaged and the discs can no longer perform their functions. In this case, the deformed discs may contact the nerves and cause complaints such as back pain and leg pain.
What Causes a Herniated Disc?
I can list the risk factors for herniated disc as follows;
-
Being overweight
-
Living a sedentary life
-
Having an accident or being exposed to trauma
-
Suddenly making movements
-
Pregnancy
-
Smoking
-
Requiring constant sitting having a profession
WARNING: It is not possible to say that everyone who has the risk factors for herniated disc that I listed above will get a herniated disc. However, it is very important to be informed about the symptoms of a herniated disc and to be able to read the complaints correctly. While we are at it, I would like to talk about the symptoms of the beginning of a herniated disc.
It may vary depending on where the hernia occurs and whether the hernia puts pressure on the nerves. It is not correct to generalize that every patient with a herniated disc will experience symptoms of the onset of a herniated disc. Symptoms of a herniated disc may become severe at certain times and may ease at other times.
The most common symptom of the onset of a herniated disc is lower back pain. However, as I repeat at every opportunity, not every back pain should be considered as a symptom of herniated disc disease. If there is pain in the legs in addition to lower back pain, the suspicion of a herniated disc becomes a little more realistic.
WARNING: A herniated disc may occur. The beginning may not always cause back pain. If the disc contacts the nerve areas due to the damage it receives, pain may be observed in different parts of the body in line with the nerve it contacts. For this reason, patients who experience the symptoms that I will list shortly, even if they do not experience low back pain, should not neglect to seek expert opinion.
Except for waist and leg pain;
-
Numbness in the legs
-
Difficulty walking
-
Difficulty sitting
-
Restriction of movement
-
Decreased reflexes in the legs
-
Symptoms such as numbness in the nerve areas in case the hernia contacts the nerves may make its effects felt in the initial period of the herniated disc.
These symptoms in the initial stages of a herniated disc may worsen if the hernia progresses and patients may experience additional health problems.
As the herniated disc progresses, complaints such as inability to control the excretory system muscles and erectile dysfunction in men may occur.
WARNING: Dear patients, if you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms of the onset of a herniated disc that I mentioned above, I recommend you to have the necessary health checks without wasting time. By applying early herniated disc treatment options, you can stop the progression of the disease and improve your health condition before the herniated disc problem progresses.
Initial Disc Herniation Treatment Methods
After the initial diagnosis of a herniated disc is made, treatment alternatives appropriate to the person's age, general health condition and even profession should be evaluated. As I always say, “there is no disease, there is only a patient.” philosophy should always be kept in mind.
Herniated disc is in the initial stage;
-
Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve inflammation that causes pain,
-
To control the pain and improve the person's life. Painkillers may be recommended to increase comfort.
Rest is important…
Patients Resting is also a necessary process within the scope of the treatment of the onset of a herniated disc. Patients who are advised to rest should clearly learn from their doctors how long they should lie down.
Exercises should be determined specifically for you…
If the herniated disc is in the initial stage, the person should do exercises appropriate to his general health condition and age and/or physical exercises. You may also be asked to go to treatment.
Each of the treatments for the onset of a herniated disc is to stop the progression of the disease and enable patients to live a more comfortable life. This is why steroid injections are used when necessary.
How Should We Be Protected From Disc Herniation?
My dear patients, herniated disc is mostly a preventable health problem. is the problem. You can reduce the risk of herniated disc by following the things you need to pay attention to for a healthy life.
-
If you are overweight, get rid of your excess weight by moving and eating healthy. Remember that not only the risk of herniated disc but also various types of cancer, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular diseases that can be triggered by excess weight will threaten your life.
-
Avoid sudden movements, even though your skeletal system is strong, sudden adverse movements can harm your body.
-
If you work at a desk or in a job where you have to sit all the time, pay attention to your posture. Don't wait in the same position all the time!
-
Stop smoking and alcohol consumption. Smoking prevents oxygen transportation to cells, while alcohol reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. Both habits are very harmful for you!
-
Be aware of your physical capacity, please do not try to lift very heavy items.
-
Try when choosing your bed, a bed that will support the natural curvature of your back and not sink into it is very important for you to have quality sleep.
You can protect your skeletal system health by making a few small but effective changes! With love…
Read: 0
