What is herniated disc disease? Causes, signs and prevention

Nowadays, many people suffer from herniated disc disease, even in young people. Degenerative disc disease causes uncomfortable pain, interferes with daily activities and reduces quality of life. So, let’s find out the cause and treatment of this disease with lassho.edu.vn!

What is herniated disc disease?

What is herniated disc disease?

A herniated disc is a condition in which the nucleus pulposus of the spinal disc breaks out of the annulus, causing compression on the spinal canal and nerve roots. This causes the patient to feel pain in the spine. Lumbar spinal disc and cervical disc are two places prone to herniation due to many influences from daily living habits.

Disc herniation is divided into 4 stages:

• Stage 1: The disc is deformed but the annulus has not been torn. At this stage, the disease is not clear, so the patient only occasionally has numbness in the hands and feet, no pain, so most people do not realize they have the disease.
• Stage 2: At this stage, the annulus is partially torn, the mucous nucleus shows signs of escaping where the annulus is weakened, and the disc is enlarged. However, the pain is not clear.
• Stage 3: The annulus is completely torn, the nucleus pulposus protrudes out, causing compression of the nerve roots. At this stage, the patient will feel more uncomfortable pain.
• Stage 4: At this stage, the disease is more severe, most patients will feel pain and discomfort for a long time. Some cases even lead to dangerous complications, even loss of normal mobility.

Causes of disc degeneration and herniation

Causes of disc degeneration and herniation

There are many causes of disc degeneration and herniation. Here are some of the main causes:

• Movement, movement and sitting in the wrong position: Carrying heavy objects, exercising or sitting in the wrong position will cause spinal injuries and herniated discs.
• Trauma: Injuries caused by falls, sports or traffic accidents can change the structure and position of the disc causing degeneration.
• Natural degeneration: In the elderly (age 35-50), the spine weakens, the outer cartilage ring becomes fibrous, the elasticity inside the mucus nucleus decreases gradually, making the elderly often susceptible to this disease. .

Symptoms of herniated disc

According to Dr. Wade Brackenbury – Director of the ACC Clinic – Chiropractic Specialist , the symptoms of a herniated disc will vary depending on the location of the herniated disc. Pain is felt when the nucleus pulposus comes out, causing the nerve to be pinched.

In other cases, the convex nucleus reacts with the surrounding system causing irritation and inflammation. Here are some symptoms of disc herniation in some specific locations:

Lumbar disc herniation

• Low back pain is sudden and severe or dull, sharp, intermittent.
• Difficulty arching or bending low, difficulty moving.
• Low back pain and sciatica, pain radiates in an arc to the front of the chest and along the intercostal space.
• Numbness or weakness in the extremities, insteps, and buttocks. The big toe is hard to move.
• When sitting, lying on your side, coughing, sneezing or having a bowel movement, the pain will increase. Patients tend to stand crooked to one side to reduce pain.

Symptoms of herniated disc

Symptoms of herniated disc in the cervical spine

• Stiff pain in the neck and shoulders, spreading to the shoulder blades.
• Neck pain, numbness in the thumb and wrist.
• The pain is increased when turning the neck, arching the neck, doing heavy work or driving.
• In some cases the patient will feel headache, headache or dizziness.
• Arm movements are less flexible due to loss of strength, weakened hand muscles, making it difficult to grasp objects.
• Dull or intermittent back pain. Neck pain when tilting, turning, bending, tilting the neck or when sneezing, coughing.

Dangerous complications of disc degeneration

Herniated discs cause pain, affecting daily life . In addition, if not treated in time, degenerative disc disease can also cause many dangerous complications to health such as:

• Loss of ability to work, difficulty moving limbs.
• The brachial nerve is damaged, and the limbs are often numb.
• Causes sensory disturbances, loss of sensation of heat and cold.
• Unable to lift the nose and heels, for a long time, there may be atrophy of the leg muscles, damage to the sciatic nerve.
• Bladder and bowel dysfunction, urinary and bowel incontinence.
• Paralyzed, disabled.

Subjects prone to herniated discs

Subjects prone to herniated discs

Herniated discs are commonly encountered in some subjects as follows:

• People often have to do hard labor and carry heavy things.
• People with congenital diseases of the spine such as spina bifida, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis.
• People who have unscientific living habits , study and work in the wrong posture, put pillows too high when sleeping.
• Dancers, sports athletes,… people who do jobs that require constant posture changes.
• Office workers, tailors, drivers, etc., due to the nature of their work, have to sit a lot or stand for too long.
• In the elderly, discs gradually degenerate over time.
• People with diabetes, polyarthritis, gout, etc. are all at high risk of disc herniation.

How to cure herniated disc

How to cure herniated disc

To treat a herniated disc, you can apply physical therapy methods without drugs or surgery. However, the recovery time depends on whether the herniated disc is severe or mild. In addition, patients also need to persevere in treatment for a long time if they want to have positive results.

Here are some treatment methods for herniated discs that you can refer to:

• Practice exercises for people with herniated discs: Practicing appropriate therapeutic exercises will be good for people with herniated discs, increasing flexibility for joints and faster recovery.
• Practicing yoga, walking or cycling properly are subjects that people with herniated discs can refer to. Patients should not practice sports such as: Gym, golf, badminton, tennis, football, basketball, … In addition, patients should also limit vigorous exercise and avoid squatting.
• Treatment with Western medicine (Western medicine): Based on the extent of each person’s damage, the doctor will prescribe some suitable Western drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. The use of drugs only temporarily relieve pain, not treat the root of the disease. Therefore, you should not arbitrarily use and abuse drugs, but should consult your doctor before using the drug.
• Spinal Epidural Corticosteroid Injections: This is a minimally invasive method of pain relief by injecting medication into the epidural space, where the spinal nerve roots are located. Note that this method only removes the proteins that cause swelling, not cures the hernia.
• Use of Oriental Medicine: Oriental medicine remedies are safe and benign, but not everyone is suitable for them. Therefore, patients should not use it on their own but should follow the instructions of the doctor, because self-use will be very dangerous, causing unpredictable harm.
• Herniated disc surgery: People with herniated discs usually do not need surgery, just perform physical therapy and rest properly, the condition will improve after about 4 to 6 weeks. The surgery for herniated disc will depend on the nature and extent of the injury of the patient.
• Acupuncture to relieve pain: This is a method derived from Chinese Medicine, helping people with herniated discs to reduce pain and restore bone and joint function by using a technique of using a thin needle to go through the skin and affect the body. acupuncture points.

Acupuncture Methods

From a scientific perspective, acupuncture helps stimulate the body to produce endorphins – a hormone that helps relieve pain. It should also be noted that this method only relieves symptoms, cannot treat the root of herniated disc.

• Chiropractic treatment: This is the optimal method to cure the root of herniated disc. This method is capable of treating the root of a herniated disc because the doctor will correct the misaligned discs and joints, resolving the pinched nerve causing pain.
• Physiotherapy: Able to help patients improve pain. Physiotherapy will be more effective when the patient exercises with modern and specialized equipment. This method requires patience and practice of the patient.

Note when treating herniated disc

Note when treating herniated disc

Patients should pay attention to some of the following issues to avoid dangerous complications:

• Limit lying a lot: People with herniated discs lying a lot will put the joints at risk of stiffness and reduced flexibility. Therefore, patients should perform gentle exercise or walking movements to help recover faster.
• Use the right type of mattress: A mattress made of natural rubber or artificial rubber with the right hardness and thickness will be good for people with herniated discs.
• Do not squat: Squatting will make the condition worse and difficult to cure. Because, this position causes the spine and discs to be compressed, causing back pain and disc herniation.
• Sleeping in the right position : Sleeping position affects the spine and also the quality of sleep. When sleep is guaranteed, overall health is better maintained. People with herniated discs should lie on their side and knees, lie on their stomach with a pillow under their stomach, lie on their side with a pillow between their legs or lie on their back and put a pillow under their feet.
• Do not play sports with twisting movements: Playing golf, badminton, tennis, .. will cause the discs to herniate more quickly, putting pressure on cartilage and discs, stretching ligaments in the back. cause intense pain.
• Attention to living posture: Patients need to change their positions often, standing and walking properly. When lying down and want to stand up, the patient should move slowly, should not sit up suddenly because this can damage the back muscles.

How to prevent herniated disc?

How to prevent herniated disc?

Here are some effective measures to help prevent herniated discs that you can apply:

• Sit properly: After about 1-2 hours, you should get up and walk around and do a few gentle movements, avoid sitting in one place for too long.
• Scientific diet: You should add nutrients that are good for bones and joints such as calcium, vitamin D, glucosamine and chondroitin.
• Do not smoke, limit alcohol, beer and stimulants.
• Regular health check every 6 months.
• Maintain a reasonable body weight.
• Exercise: Yoga, tai chi, swimming, walking… are some effective methods to help strengthen joints and prevent herniated discs early.

The above article has introduced to you what a herniated disc is, its causes as well as methods to treat and prevent the disease effectively. Hope the above information from lassho.edu.vn will be useful to you. Wish you all the best!

Source: ACC Clinic – Chiropractic specialty

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