- Hernia - why it is not necessary to endure the pain
- The structure of the human spine
Hernia - a disorder in which the intervertebral discs are displaced, causing the patient severe pain, numbness or weakness. In the intervertebral disc has several functions; they mitigate the burden that falls on the spine, the vertebrae are physically connected to the backbone and provide a degree of flexibility.
The outer part of the intervertebral disc is called the fibrous ring. Internal - nucleus pulposus. The annulus fibrosus consists of tightly interwoven fibers of collagen, it retains the shape of the intervertebral disk is held in place vertebrae and promotes uniform distribution of weight. Nucleus pulposus different high water content, lower density, and greater elasticity; it falls is the biggest load each time a person lifting weights. Spinal herniation occurs when the annulus can not keep the kernel, and the latter is displaced from his seat. This often occurs by a process called degeneration of intervertebral discs. These degenerative processes are more common in older people, but also observed at a young age. During this process the water volume in the disk decreases and wheels become more brittle.
Hernia can begin to develop after an injury, but it happens more often in people who are predisposed to this violation.
Risk factors for the development of spinal hernias are middle aged and elderly, overweight, physical labor, other regular and intense exercise. Hernia family history significantly increase the likelihood of developing the disease.
Symptoms
Sometimes a hernia are asymptomatic, but more often it causes severe pain in the back or neck. Hernia significantly more likely to develop in the cervical and lumbar spine than in its middle part. Symptoms of vertebral hernia, if they are largely dependent on where it has shifted vertebra.
Herniated lumbar spine causes pain, which is given in the thighs, legs and even feet. This condition is called sciatica
Sciatica - ask for help in a timely manner
and it occurs when the sciatic nerve is affected
The sciatic nerve: how to avoid the excruciating pain?
Which has a motor and sensory functions. He is responsible for sensation in the back of the thigh, in the leg below the knee, and the soles of the feet. Clamping sciatic nerve can cause pain in these areas. The pain can be sharp, shooting, stupid; its intensity can vary significantly.
Spinal herniation in the cervical spine often causes pain in the shoulders and arms. Regardless of where it was a displacement of intervertebral discs, if this clamped motor (motor) nerves, muscle weakness may occur in some parts of the body; clamping sensory nerves is often accompanied by pain.
The appearance of symptoms of vertebral hernia associated with infringement of the nerve endings close to the intervertebral disc.
The displacement of the intervertebral disc results in irritation of the nerve that causes unpleasant sensations such as back pain, tingling, numbness. The most common symptoms of vertebral hernia include:
Intervertebral disc pressure on the nerve endings can cause abnormal sensations, very similar to the pain of impact electroshock
Electroshock - medieval torture or modern medical procedure?
. If the displacement of the intervertebral disc occurs in the cervical spine, there is such a pain in the hands, with the displacement of the disc in the lower back - pain in the legs
Pain in the legs - from which they arise?
.
When vertebral hernia often observed abnormal sensations such as tingling or numbness of body parts (the region such sensations associated with a displacement of the intervertebral disc).
Because stimulation of nerves disrupted the normal signaling mechanism of the brain, resulting in abnormal muscle weakness. Irritation of the nerve endings are sometimes diagnosed when checking basic reflexes.
- Problems with bowel or bladder
These symptoms are very important because they can signal syndrome "horse's tail", dysfunction of the pelvic organs caused by the displacement of the intervertebral disc. These symptoms require immediate access to medical care.
Symptoms of spinal herniation of the lumbar spine
Pain in the legs - the most common symptom of spinal herniation of the lumbar spine. Approximately 90% of all cases of displacement of the intervertebral disc occurs in the lumbar spine, leading to irritation of the sciatic nerve. In addition to pain in the legs, a type of spinal herniation can lead to weakness and numbness of the feet (the so-called syndrome pendulous foot). Infringement of various nerve endings as a result of spinal herniation of the lumbar spine can lead to weakness when trying to get up on your toes, numbness and pain in the feet.
Symptoms of spinal herniation of the cervical spine
Spinal herniation of the cervical spine - a phenomenon less common than the displacement of intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine, because the pressure on the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine less. Disturbances caused by the displacement of the intervertebral disc in the cervical spine can cause symptoms such as:
- The weakness of the deltoid muscles of the hands without a tingling or numbness, pain in the shoulders.
- The weakness of the biceps (biceps), the extensor muscles of the wrist. Pain, numbness and tingling may occur in the hands, fingers.
- The weakness of the triceps extensor muscles of the fingers with the feeling of numbness, tingling or pain in the muscles and fingers.
Diagnostics
Hernia is diagnosed during a medical examination. Sometimes to confirm the diagnosis using medical imaging techniques. X-rays may be needed to verify the absence of cracks and fractures in the bones. Using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can determine exactly where the displaced to the intervertebral disc.
If the patient complains of extreme pain, conduct research, or nerve conduction elekromiogrammu to determine which nerves are pinched.
For patients who have spinal hernia occurs without symptoms, the treatment is to prevent further damage to the intervertebral discs.
When pain symptoms it is recommended to take non-prescription pain relievers. If they do not help, your doctor may prescribe strong opioids, such as codeine.