What should be done to avoid lumbar hernia? Ways to prevent herniated disc...

As a result of the hustle and bustle of daily life, strenuous work hours, high technology use and inactivity, there is an increase in herniated disc cases. However, you can prevent lumbar hernia, which occurs in every age group, with a few simple changes in your life. Memorial Service and Bahçelievler Hospitals Brain, Nerve, Spinal Cord and Spine Surgery Specialist Assoc. Dr. Onur Yaman gave information about the causes and treatment methods of herniated disc.

DO NOT LIFT HEAVY LOADS, DO NOT MOVE UNCONTROLLED

The disc between the vertebrae has important functions. The disc meets the loads on the waist, keeps the upper part of the body upright, and allows the waist to move in all directions. The inside of the disc is more watery and the outside consists of a harder structure. With the advancement of age, the inner nucleus pulposus loses its water structure and the disc distance height, which should be flexible, decreases. The disc distance cannot carry the loads it is exposed to and it starts to come out with the tear that appears on the outer part of the disc. Lifting heavy loads, an uncontrolled movement, traffic accidents or sudden forces exposed in cases of falling from a height cause disc rupture.

STAY AWAY FROM OVER WEIGHT AND CIGARETTES TO AVOID A HERNIA

Although lumbar hernia is generally a disease of middle-aged people, it can occur in any age group. We can list the risk factors of the disease, which has a higher risk of being seen in those with a family history of herniated disc as follows;

• Obesity: Discs that provide spine flexibility are deformed due to the pressure of excess weight and cause herniated disc. You can minimize the risk of herniated disc by losing your excess weight.

• Immobility: The neck, back, waist and abdominal muscles are the most important helpers of the spine, which carries the weight of the body. A sedentary life away from exercise weakens the auxiliary muscles, causing the entire load to remain on the spine. The overload placed on the spine causes herniation in the discs.

• Lifting heavy loads: People who work in jobs that require heavy physical activity and have to lift heavy loads cause herniation. For this reason, the person should do the work that requires heavy physical activity by protecting his back.

• Smoking: Smoking should be avoided so that it does not increase disc degeneration.

MAY CAUSE LOSS OF STRENGTH IN YOUR LEG

The ruptured disc compresses the nerve root and causes back and leg pain. Lower back pain, which increases when moving and sitting, usually decreases when resting. Leg pains, which are described as sharp and electric shock by the patients, can be seen at different levels of the leg depending on the affected nerve root. With the progression of the disease, numbness and tingling in the legs of the patients, weakness or loss of function in the legs occur. In addition, the compression of the last part of the spinal cord causes the patient's urinary incontinence problem.

IF REST DOESN'T GIVE YOU WAIST LEG PAIN...

Physical therapy is applied to patients diagnosed with lumbar hernia, if their complaints do not go away despite the use of rest and pain medication. If the patient's pain continues despite the treatments, the patient should be examined with advanced imaging method. If the patient's complaints, examination and imaging methods overlap, surgery is recommended to the patient. By removing the mechanical pressure on the nerves coming out of the spinal cord, the patient is provided to continue his life in a healthy way.