Lumbar disc herniation


Lumbar disc herniation

Lumbar disc herniation is still considered one of the most ambiguous diseases that scares people when mentioned, and that’s because of our lack of knowledge about it and its effects on our health. Upon hearing that they have a prolapse most people think that they will stop doing their daily activities and must remain in bed, others think of surgery and most people refuse to go to the doctor and just take some pain killers with all of their side effects thinking that the pain will just go away after a while. So, to delete this wrong image from our brains we must know more about lumbar disc prolapse and the right ways to deal with it if it turns out that we have it.


 

What is a disc?

A Disc is this rubbery cushion positioned between each vertebra, it is formed of a jellylike center (nucleus) encased with an outer tougher rubbery exterior (annulus) it functions as a cushion for stress absorption and gives the vertebral column the extensibility to do all kinds of movements.

 

what is a lumbar herniated disc?

It is the protrusion of the inner gelatinous structure through its tougher outer structure, and this may happen due to a sudden movement, a trauma or a cumulation of repetitive wrong movements.

This leads to nerve compression by this bulging disc which may cause tingling, numbness, or pain in lower limbs that may progress to muscle weakness in muscles supplied by this nerve.

but some people may not feel anything with the herniation.


 

The causes of a disc herniation:

 

  1. Increased body weight causes increased stresses on the disc.

  2. A sedentary lifestyle which includes sitting for prolonged periods and not working out.

  3. Unsafe lifting techniques.

  4. Repeated twisting or bending movements.

  5. Driving often.

  6. Smoking that decreases blood supply to the disc. 

 

Signs and symptoms of herniated lumbar disk:

  1. Low back pain.

  2. Pain in lower limbs in the form of tingling\ numbness in the back of thighs and may reach back of the foot.

  3. Increased pain with coughing and sneezing.

  4. Pain with bending forward or backward.

  5. Muscle weakness.

 

Is having low back pain always means having a herniated disc?

 

There are many causes for low back pain so we can’t limit back pain in disc herniation. From the causes of low back pain loss of the normal curvature of the spine due to muscle spasm, degeneration of the spine, etc. 

To find out the causes of your back pain you must go to a specialist doctor to perform a thorough examination to treat your problem correctly.

 

Treatment of lumbar disc herniation:

  1. Rest.

  2. Physiotherapy.

  3. Surgery if needed.

 

Role of physical therapy in treating lumbar disc herniation:

  1. A complete examination of the patient.

  2. Putting a treatment program specialized for the patient’s problem which may include
      1. Different manual physical therapy techniques.
       2. Teaching the patient some therapeutic exercises to strengthen the core muscles.
       3. Teaching the patient correct body postures during sitting and standing and correct lifting techniques.


 

Prevention:

  1. Exercising.

  2. Keeping good body posture.

  3. keeping good body weight.

  4. stop smoking.

References:

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/herniated-disk/symptoms-causes/syc-20354095


 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/191979#Risk-factors


 

Written By:

Dr. Hagar Sayed