Can I take calcium tablets for lumbar disc herniation?

Written by Wang Fei

Orthopedics

Updated on February 22, 2025

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Lumbar disc herniation is a very common clinical disease, often affecting the lower back and causing discomfort. It frequently presents with numbness, swelling, pain, and even muscle atrophy in one leg. In the elderly, lumbar disc herniation may be associated with osteoporosis, as bone changes following osteoporosis can lead to poor vertebral stability, ultimately causing disc herniation. Elderly patients with both lumbar disc herniation and osteoporosis should take calcium supplements. However, for young and middle-aged adults who do not have accompanying osteoporosis, taking calcium supplements is not particularly beneficial.

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Written by Cheng Bin

Orthopedics

55sec

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What sleeping position should be used for lumbar disc herniation?

If the patient simply presents primarily with symptoms of back pain, it is advisable to lie on the back and sleep on a firm mattress. It is best to wear a lumbar support belt to protect the lumbar spine. If the patient's lumbar disc herniation is quite severe, causing sciatic nerve pain, it is better to sleep in a lateral position during sleep. When lying on the side, actively flexing the knees and hips can reduce the traction on the sciatic nerve, thereby effectively alleviating the patient's leg pain symptoms. Additionally, for patients with disc herniation, it is necessary to avoid prolonged sitting or standing, avoid excessive bending to lift heavy objects, and avoid lifting heavy items. Actively cooperating with acupuncture, electric therapy, cupping, traction, massage, and other physical therapy methods can further improve the patient’s clinical symptoms.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 4sec

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Where to apply moxibustion for lumbar disc herniation

If moxibustion is used to treat a lumbar disc herniation, the main acupoint is the Jiaji acupoint located on both sides of the herniated disc, along with the Jiaji acupoints immediately above and below it. For example, if you have a herniation between the 3rd and 4th lumbar discs, you should moxibust the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Jiaji acupoints, and so on. In addition to the main acupoint, there are auxiliary acupoints chosen based on the different symptoms of different patients. Generally, if there is significant back pain, the acupoint on the affected side is the Yaoyan. If there is muscle tension and tenderness in the buttocks, match with Huanjiao and Yibian. If there is muscle tension on the back of the thigh, match with Chengfu, Yinmen, and Weizhong. If there is numbness on the outer side of the thigh, match with Fengshi, and for calf numbness, match with Weiyang, Chengshan, and Yanglingquan. If there is numbness on the top of the foot, followed by weakness in the foot or toe region, match with Taixi, Jiexi, and Xiexi.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua

Orthopedic Surgery

1min 1sec

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Contraindications of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Patients with lumbar disc herniation mainly exhibit symptoms such as discomfort in the lower back, numbness in the lower limbs, and pain. These are primarily symptoms of sciatica, such as numbness and pain along the back and outer sides of the thighs, calves, and dorsum of the foot. Patients may find it difficult to put on shoes and socks in the morning, and sometimes they may feel as if their tendons are short when walking. It is generally recommended that patients strictly rest on a hard bed and warm up the lumbar region. They can also take some blood-activating and pain-relieving medications. The main precautions include avoiding bending over to lift heavy objects, carrying heavy items, and bearing heavy loads. Patients should avoid sitting or squatting for long periods and should try to lie flat or walk upright instead. If conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation is ineffective, interventional surgical treatment may be sought.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao

Orthopedics

36sec

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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.

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Written by Su Zhen Bo

Orthopedics

53sec

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Can lumbar disc herniation heal itself?

In clinical practice, patients with lumbar disc herniation often cannot heal on their own. It requires early diagnosis and the correct treatment methods. Patients may lie flat on a hard bed, use lumbar traction, and combine this with heat therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and moxibustion. Regularly using orthopedic herbal fumigation to treat the waist area can unblock the muscle meridians, accelerate metabolism within the muscles, enhance the strength of the waist muscles, stabilize the lumbar spine, and reduce irritation to the dural sac and nerve roots, which can alleviate clinical symptoms. After conservative treatment, if the condition recurs, the next step can involve minimally invasive surgery at the lumbar region, using techniques like discoscopy or foraminoscopy to perform simple nucleotomy. Post-surgery, functional exercises for the waist can be performed.