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Lumbar disc herniation
Is it good to apply heat to a herniated lumbar disc?
For lumbar disc herniation, heat therapy can be used as a treatment, mainly during the symptom relief phase. By applying heat, the temperature of the lumbar muscles and skin can be increased, relaxing the blood vessels within the muscles and accelerating blood flow, which can reduce irritation to the dura mater and nerve roots, easing clinical symptoms. Heat therapy can be applied using a hot towel, traditional Chinese medicine herbal fumigation, or devices like an infrared spectrum heater, microwave therapy, or infrared therapy device. In addition, other treatments should be combined, such as lying flat on a hard bed, applying traction to the lumbar area, using acupuncture and moxibustion, and strengthening lumbar exercises to help alleviate symptoms. Patients should avoid vigorous activities and keep the lower back warm.
How to perform traction for lumbar disc herniation?
In clinical practice, patients with lumbar disc herniation undergo traction as a common treatment method. During traction, patients should be instructed to lie on their back and then use a pelvic belt for traction. By pulling the lumbar vertebrae, this can reduce the pressure within the spinal canal, alleviate nerve root bleeding and edema, and allow the lumbar muscles and muscle groups to fully relax, thereby relieving the clinical symptoms of the patient. The specific traction weight should be determined according to the patient's body weight and the correct direction of traction should be chosen. For mild lumbar disc herniation, traction can be performed twice a day. For severe cases, continuous traction should be adopted, along with lumbar electrotherapy, physiotherapy, the external application of plasters that activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and the intravenous administration of drugs with dehydrating and blood pressure lowering effects.
Which department is for lumbar disc herniation?
The meaning is which department to visit for lumbar disc herniation. If going to a hospital for lumbar disc herniation and if there is a spinal surgery department, the first choice should be the spinal surgery department. If there is no spinal surgery department, then you can visit the general orthopedics department. If it's an acute episode of severe pain due to lumbar disc herniation, and you want to address the pain issue, you can visit the pain management department. The pain management department has unique methods for treating sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation, and the treatment results are very good. If it's a chronic lumbar disc herniation, and you need some rehabilitative treatment or physiotherapy, you can also visit the rehabilitation department or the physiotherapy department. In summary, for lumbar disc herniation, you should first visit the spinal surgery department, then the general orthopedics, visit the pain management department if addressing pain, and go to rehabilitation if seeking recovery.
Is hot compress useful for lumbar disc herniation?
Herniated lumbar discs causing back pain have very limited benefits from heat application during the acute phase, and in some cases, it may even exacerbate pain symptoms. Therefore, it is not recommended to apply heat early on. For the acute phase of a lumbar disc herniation, the first approach is to wear a lumbar support to stabilize and reduce the load on the lumbar spine. The second approach is to sleep on a firm mattress. The third is to undergo relevant imaging studies, such as CT or MRI, to determine the type of herniation. If it is a mild protrusion, physical therapies such as massage, manual therapy, or spinal traction can be considered for treatment.
Lumbar disc herniation X-ray manifestations
For auxiliary examination of lumbar disc herniation, it is recommended to perform CT or MRI of the lumbar spine. Currently, X-ray films are only suitable for examining fractures or abnormal bone structures. Lumbar disc herniation is currently diagnosed based on lumbar spine CT or MRI, which can provide a clearer understanding of the extent of the lesion and its relative position to surrounding tissues. Therefore, lumbar disc herniation should not be examined or diagnosed using X-rays, so do not use X-ray films for the relevant examinations.
Non-surgical treatment methods for lumbar disc herniation
Methods for non-surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation currently include the following in clinical practice: The first is traction therapy, which can relieve pain and numbness in the lower back, though the effectiveness in alleviating numbness may not be very significant; The second is massage, which can also relieve symptoms of pain in the lower back; The third involves the use of topical plasters, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic plasters, as well as plasters that activate blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis, to relieve localized pain; The fourth can be achieved through electrotherapy or magnetotherapy; The fifth is acupuncture. Currently, the application of acupuncture to relieve symptoms of lumbar disc herniation in clinical practice is quite evident; it has a better effect than traction. Additionally, oral medications that nourish the nerves are required because patients with lumbar disc herniation might have a protruded disc compressing the nerve roots, possibly causing nerve root damage. Therefore, it is also necessary to take certain nerve-nourishing medications orally to alleviate these symptoms.
Is it okay to swim every day with lumbar disc herniation?
Patients with lumbar disc herniation can swim because swimming is a non-weight-bearing exercise. While swimming, it appropriately exercises the muscles in the lower back area, thereby alleviating symptoms of lower back pain caused by lumbar disc herniation. It is crucial for all patients with lumbar disc herniation to avoid exercises that load the lower back, such as playing ball, running, marathon running, and weightlifting in the gym. These activities create vertical pressure that can exacerbate lumbar disc herniation, leading to nerve root damage and eventually requiring surgical intervention to alleviate the pain.
Can you run after lumbar disc herniation fusion surgery?
Lumbar disc herniation is a common clinical disease, with a high incidence rate mainly between the ages of 40 and 60, particularly among the younger adult population. If the lumbar disc herniation is severe, and procedures such as nucleotomy, laminotomy, and lumbar fusion surgery have been performed, one might wonder what type of exercise is advisable post-surgery, and whether running is appropriate. Regarding lumbar fusion surgery for disc herniation, running is not contraindicated. After a good recovery, one can engage in jogging. However, it is advised to avoid high-intensity running and instead opt for short-distance, slow-paced jogging. This can be completely acceptable post-surgery for those with lumbar herniation fusion.
What should I do if a herniated lumbar disc is compressing a nerve?
Lumbar disc herniation compressing the nerve initially requires bed rest, preferably on a hard bed, and avoiding exposure to cold. In cases where the herniation compresses nerves in one or both legs, lumbar traction can be considered. This traction therapy should primarily be guided by a doctor, based on the severity and characteristics shown on imaging studies, as part of further conservative treatment. For some cases of lumbar disc herniation that compress nerves, minimally invasive surgery may be appropriate depending on the stage of the condition. If the condition is multi-stage and the patient is older, and the compression of the nerve by the herniated disc prevents them from getting up and moving on their own, corresponding surgical treatment can be given.
How to diagnose a lumbar disc herniation?
Lumbar disc herniation often occurs due to degeneration of the lumbar spine, where the nucleus of the disc protrudes through the ruptured annulus fibrosus backward, compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots. This results in pain in the lower back, limited mobility of the lumbar region, and symptoms such as numbness, pain, and weakness in the lower limbs. For lumbar disc herniation, it is recommended to visit the orthopedic or spine surgery clinic of a standard hospital. Diagnosis should be confirmed with a physical examination by a doctor, along with imaging tests such as CT or MRI. These tests help determine the presence and extent of the disc herniation, and the affected segments. The treatment approach should be chosen based on the severity of the herniation.