Intervertebral hernia: symptoms and treatment

An extremely common disease to date is the intervertebral hernia, the symptoms of which, unfortunately, are familiar to very many. It, in fact, is a deformation of the fibrous ring of the disc - a rupture is formed, which causes a small amount of gelatinous nucleus to bulge out because of strong pressure. Most often, this ailment is diagnosed in people aged 25-45 years, less often in childhood. This disease is recognized as the most complex form of osteochondrosis, which often causes loss for the time of work ability, as well as sometimes disability.

Intervertebral hernia: symptoms

The main danger of such ailment is connected with the probability of narrowing of the spinal canal, which can cause inflammation of the spinal cord and nerve roots. The result is the appearance of painful radicular syndrome, accompanied by muscle paresis and paralysis of the legs, a violation of the functions of the organs located in the pelvis, and sensitivity disorders. If you are diagnosed with an "intervertebral hernia," the symptoms of which have long been manifested, treatment should be started as soon as possible.

The main sign of this disease is pain, often it manifests itself in youth, usually associated with certain stresses, uncomfortable position in bed or at the table during work. Often the symptoms are confused with signs of osteochondrosis (weakness or pain in the leg, lack of sensitivity or a feeling of "running goosebumps"). With an intervertebral hernia, very intense pain can often be observed, which often simply entraps a person to bed.

All signs of the disease conditionally divided into two varieties, which are typical for a particular stage of the disease. At the first stage of hernia development, degenerative-dystrophic processes occur in a certain department of the spine. Thus, the strength of the intervertebral disc decreases and cracks appear. Gradually, in this area there is a disturbance of blood circulation, pain, swelling, muscle tension, which leads to curvature of the spine. Most often people do not even imagine that they develop an intervertebral hernia, the symptoms of which are gradually manifested. In this situation, treatment at home can be ineffective and even harmful, because of it, a second stage may very soon come.

At the second stage, there are characteristic changes in the pain syndrome. The tension and compression of the root cause the radicular syndrome. The patient feels severe pain, weakness of the muscles, some loss of sensitivity of those zones for which the affected root meets. In this zone, there may be some dryness of the skin, a noticeable violation of sweating. Treatment at this stage should be performed on an outpatient basis or in a hospital, but certainly under the supervision of specialists.

Diagnosis of this disease can be carried out by one of several methods. First, it's radiography. Now most often used computer and magnetic resonance imaging. The symptomatology of this disease depends on the location of the formation.

The intervertebral hernia of the cervical region is characterized by numbness of the fingers on the hands, pain in the arm and shoulder, a combination of headaches and dizziness, pressure spikes. It is important to be careful if one or more symptoms appear.

The intervertebral hernia of the thoracic region is characterized by constant pain in the thoracic region, as well as a combination of pain and scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis.

When there are various symptoms associated with hernia, you should immediately contact a specialist for diagnosis.