Back pain protrusion treatment. Lower back pain? How a protrusion turns into a hernia. Basic principles of treatment

Among the numerous questions from patients, there are similar groups related to their concerns about their future condition. Can protrusion lead to disability and increase in size if measures are not taken for effective treatment? Can protrusions hurt in principle, or do these pathologies occur without pronounced symptoms? Can a headache occur during protrusion and why does this happen? How is spinal health and high blood pressure related? Can intervertebral disc damage be cured? All this is just the tip of the iceberg of the questions and doubts that we constantly receive from patients.

The excitement is understandable. After all, what is at stake is an active and fulfilling life, half a day of free and happy movements. Therefore, we will try to clarify all the difficult points and provide a choice to everyone.

Can protrusion go unnoticed?

When pain in the spine appears in the initial stages, this symptom is “written off” as due to excessive physical activity, fatigue, performing unusual work, etc. In fact, only about 5% of people with this condition see a GP for evaluation. This is not surprising, since at the initial stage osteochondrosis does not disrupt the usual rhythm of life and does not interfere with the performance of daily routine duties.

Subsequently, as the intervertebral disc is destroyed, it transforms, flattens, and decreases in height. Accordingly, the pain syndrome intensifies. But the patient has already become accustomed to the presence of constant cutting, pulling, or aching pain in the back. It seems to him that this is a completely normal state.

And when he asks the question of whether protrusion may not produce any symptoms at all and remain unnoticed by subjective sensations, he immediately wants to ask a response question. Do you really not feel stiffness of movement, limited flexibility of the spine and the presence of constant pain?

So, let’s give an intermediate summary as to whether protrusion can be without symptoms:

no, it cannot, since there is a permanent focus of inflammation in the affected area;
the prolonged presence of pain dulls the severity of its perception and the data become subjective and not always reliable;
even if the patient says that there is no pain, it is worth conducting an examination, since many people have a low pain threshold and high expectations for this manifestation of disease;
a pronounced clinical picture of protrusion can be detected during diagnostic tests, during which the patient will discover a significant decrease in the flexibility and endurance of the spinal column.

If we talk about the data obtained during specialized instrumental examinations, disc protrusion is always clearly visible on the most ordinary x-ray. Another thing is that not every therapist will understand that this is a protrusion and will not prescribe a CT scan.

Can protrusion hurt?

Another common question is whether protrusion can hurt and what signs can be used to determine that it is the one that hurts. We have already discussed above the fact that this condition cannot occur without symptoms. The protrusion itself, of course, cannot hurt. But severe pain occurs due to the fact that as a result of changes in the anatomical structure of the intervertebral disc, compression of the radicular nerves and surrounding soft tissues is observed. It is this factor that causes pain.

Inflammation is a protective compensatory reaction of the body. After all, what happens during protrusion? First of all, this is a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. As a result, the vertebral bodies begin to touch. This causes microscopic cracks to appear on their surfaces.

Subsequently, they can provoke the development of growths from salt deposits. At the initial stage, the convergence of the vertebral bodies leads to compression of the soft tissues. There is a threat of compression of the radicular nerves. And this is fraught with disruption of innervation in the parts of the body subordinate to them. The body launches a compensation mechanism. To do this, inflammatory reaction factors are sent to the troubled zone. They provoke severe swelling in the soft tissues, accumulation of lactic acid and blocking of muscles in order to increase the spaces between the vertebrae.

The patient experiences sharp muscle tension in the area of damage to the intervertebral disc, pain and limited mobility. The body fixed the vertebrae due to swelling and muscle tension. Recovery in this state is impossible, since cartilage tissue has the ability to replenish its reserves of fluid and nutrients only through diffuse exchange with actively working muscle fibers.

Roughly speaking, if you want chondroprotectors to work perfectly, then first do an injection, and then go to do therapeutic exercises with the obligatory work of the desired muscle group, or for a massage from an experienced specialist.

Can protrusion cause headaches?

The answer to the question of whether a headache can occur with protrusion depends on the location of this pathology. Most often, migraine occurs with upper localization of intervertebral disc damage. This is either the cervical or cervicothoracic spine. When the protrusion is located in the thoracic and lumbosacral spine, the occurrence of headaches is difficult to associate with pathological changes in the spinal column.

Why is that? Let's try to explain:

large cerebral blood vessels pass through the cervical spine - when they are damaged due to the transformation of the discs, there is a deficiency in the supply of oxygen and glucose to the structures of the brain;
This is also where the radicular nerves originate, which regulate the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, which is also responsible for the tone of blood vessels and blood pressure level - with pathological changes, this function is disrupted and hypertensive crises can occur and vegetative-vascular dystonia develops;
muscle tension headache occurs with prolonged spastic tension of certain groups of neck muscles, blocking the normal blood supply to the structures of the brain;
pressure on the spinal cord can cause sympathetic vasospasm.

This is not a complete list of reasons why a headache may occur with protrusion in the cervical spine. It is worth knowing that 65% of ischemic strokes of the posterior lobes of the brain are caused by cervical osteochondrosis and its complications, such as protrusions. Therefore, you should not delay treatment.

Can protrusion disappear completely?

It often happens that patients who just a few weeks ago came to us with severe symptoms and characteristic radiographic images come back again. And they ask the question whether the protrusion will disappear forever or is it a defect in the film used for their re-examination. The answer is yes, protrusion can be easily treated using manual therapy techniques. Yes, she may disappear. As for whether it is permanent or not, we find it difficult to answer, since much will depend on the patient himself.

In our manual therapy clinic, doctors do everything necessary to fully restore the health of the spinal column. For this purpose, the most advanced techniques are used and an individual course is developed. During traction traction, osteopathy sessions, massage and reflexology, we create conditions for the complete restoration of the intervertebral disc. Then, by carrying out kinesitherapy and therapeutic exercises, we strengthen the muscular frame of the back and create conditions to prevent destruction of the cartilage tissue of the fibrous ring in the future.

Well, in order to maintain his health, the patient must follow the recommendations that are individually given to him by the chiropractor, who monitors the process of his treatment.

And disc protrusion - it’s not that it can, it should disappear with a properly developed and carried out course of treatment. This is exactly what our work is aimed at.

Very often, patients complain that their back constantly hurts in the lumbar region, and believe that this is due to.

Of course, the disease provokes pain, but many patients with this diagnosis live without pain. So how can you remove the pain that has arisen and make sure that it does not occur again?

Why does my lower back hurt?

Before figuring out how to relieve lower back pain due to protrusion, it is worth considering the mechanism of development of the disease and the causes of the pain syndrome.

Schematically, the development of the disease proceeds as follows:

The intervertebral disc becomes thinner and can no longer fully perform its shock-absorbing function. This stage of cartilaginous changes can be painless or accompanied by moderate pain. If at this moment a person seeks medical help, he will be diagnosed.
Next, the cartilage tissue gradually deforms, and part of it begins to protrude beyond the spinal column - a protrusion occurs. Bulging can occur both outside and inside the spinal column.

It is this protruding part of the vertebral cartilage that causes pain. The mechanism of pain syndrome can be described as follows:

Due to the influence of unfavorable factors, the cartilaginous bulge causes compression of the nearby nerve process, irritating the nerve endings and causing pain in the affected area of the lumbar region.
In response to this stimulus, a reflex myospasm occurs, which compresses the vessels and increases the compression of the nerve.
A vicious circle of pain arises - a spasm, which in severe cases can be broken only by using medications.

Having figured out how protrusion and lower back pain are related, you can select remedies to treat the painful manifestations of the disease.

How to treat

There are several ways to relieve pain from lumbar protrusion. Conventionally, they can be divided into two groups:

drug therapy;
non-drug treatment methods.

Drug therapy

To relieve severe pain and relieve muscle spasms, antispasmodics and muscle relaxants are used.

Depending on how much your back hurts due to lumbar protrusion, the method of administering the drug may be:

Injection (injections, droppers). This method is used only in outpatient settings, all procedures are carried out by medical professionals.
Tableted. is also possible at home, but their dosage should be selected by a doctor individually, taking into account the characteristics of the disease.
Local (use of various and). Local administration of drugs is allowed independently, as an “ambulance” for a pinched nerve.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments, such as Ortofen. The use of this group of drugs not only reduces pain, but also serves to prevent the occurrence of inflammation in the area of myospasm. In addition to non-steroidal drugs, you can use ointments with a warming and irritating effect, such as Apizartron or Finalgon.
Orthopedic patches, such as Nanoplast, Voltaren, or Nano Patch. Orthopedic patches are convenient because when they are glued to a diseased area of the skin, the medicine is slowly absorbed and a long-lasting analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect is provided.

Non-drug treatment

For lower back pain caused by protrusion, drug treatment is used only in the acute stage to relieve myospasm and reduce the patient's pain.

In the subacute and remission stages, to reduce pain or to prevent its occurrence, the patient is prescribed:

. Reflex action on certain areas allows you to relax the muscles in the area of pathology and increase blood supply to the tissues.
. With its help, muscle relaxation occurs in the pain area and, as a result, the intensity of the pain syndrome decreases.
. An individually selected therapeutic complex helps to increase the elasticity of ligaments and muscles, and increases blood supply to the vertebral cartilage.
(UHF, laser and other hardware methods) eliminates spasms and swelling, reduces pain.

How to prevent it from getting sick again

Despite the fact that medications have a good analgesic effect, it is better to prevent painful manifestations from occurring.

How to do it? To do this, it is enough to prevent the nerve from being squeezed by the protruding part of the cartilage. As preventive measures it is recommended:

Do a set of therapeutic exercises regularly. Their implementation helps to increase blood supply to the spine and build up a natural muscle corset.
During heavy physical activity, wear a lumbar corset, which will prevent displacement of the vertebrae.

These methods will help to cope with back pain due to protrusion, and taking preventive measures will prevent the pain from reoccurring.

Denial of responsibility

The information in the articles is for general information purposes only and should not be used for self-diagnosis of health problems or for therapeutic purposes. This article is not a substitute for medical advice from a doctor (neurologist, therapist). Please consult your doctor first to know the exact cause of your health problem.

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Protrusion of the lumbar spine is a disease that can lead to serious complications. Already symptoms include pain, loss of mobility and performance. But if the pathology is in an advanced state, you can easily get hernias, complete or partial paralysis. To avoid surgery, modern medicine offers medications, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage and physical therapy.

The protrusion of the lumbar discs itself does not manifest itself in any way, but protrusion of the nucleus pulposus will somehow cause pinching or compression of nerves and nerve bundles. Otherwise it will cause compression of the spinal cord. And in these situations we see the following symptoms:

Stitching pain syndrome. It can torment constantly, or it can occur in attacks. Shoots in the lumbar region when sneezing, coughing, laughing, or sudden movements. Pain from protrusion of the discs of the lumbar spine begins to radiate to the pelvis, hips, legs and heels;
The lower limbs and fingers on them become numb;
The skin of the legs and feet turns pale or red, and their sweating is impaired;
Weakness appears in the legs;
Sitting or standing for a long time causes nagging pain, which disappears after changing position;
At the moment of lifting something heavy, a sharp pain in the lower back radiates to the pelvis and hips;
Sometimes the patient has difficulty urinating.

Symptoms of intervertebral disc protrusion can easily be confused with lumbar radiculitis. Symptoms vary due to the different location of the protrusion and which nerves were deformed.

If you begin to suffer from any of these manifestations, you need to visit a neurologist or vertebrologist and be examined for protrusion of the lumbar intervertebral discs. If the symptoms are recognized in time and treatment is prompt, the patient will avoid the following complications:

Complete or partial paralysis;
Rupture of the cartilaginous border of the disc and the development of intervertebral hernia.

Causes

Modern lifestyle negatively affects the vertebrae and discs, and especially in the lumbar region. Those who:

Works at a computer and moves little (the metabolism of the lumbar region worsens, supporting muscles weaken, and the lumbar region suffers during long periods of sitting);
Has excess body weight (unnecessary kilograms constantly place stress on the lower back, plus the metabolic processes of cartilage tissue again suffer);
Chasing sports records, especially in sports with weights (exercises with a barbell place enormous stress on the lower back - the intervertebral discs are not designed for them);
Already suffers from pathologies of the lumbosacral spine (osteochondrosis, scoliosis);
Works hard physically, constantly subjecting the lumbar muscles to excessive tension;
Celebrated his 50th birthday (metabolic processes of cartilage tissue deteriorate with age).

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Treatment

If you detect the development of pathology in time and begin treatment for protrusion of the lumbar spinal disc, you will be able to avoid surgical intervention. How effectively a protrusion of the lumbosacral spine will be treated depends on its size and area of localization. And also from following all treatment recommendations.

Treatment of lumbar spine protrusion includes conservative methods and surgery. The latter is carried out only in extreme cases, when treatment of the spine does not produce results over a long period of time, but on the contrary, the disease progresses and threatens complications.

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At the same time, the overwhelming number of neurologists are not sure whether the disease can be completely cured without surgery. But conservative methods can also restore the patient’s ability to work and save him from complications. This article will tell you how to treat lumbar disc protrusions to avoid surgery.

Important information:

Medicines

Before treating lumbar protrusion, it is necessary to save the patient from pain, so painkillers (Ketonal, Ketanov) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Ibuprofen) are prescribed. The latter fight pain by eliminating its cause – the inflammatory process. The inflammation no longer irritates the nerves, and the attacks go away.

To exclude further development of degenerative-dystrophic processes of the intervertebral discs, the attending physician will prescribe chondrotectors (Chondromyx, Rumalon). These drugs have a positive effect on cartilage tissue, regenerating it. Compressive vertebrae will have a more difficult time compromising the integrity of the lumbar discs.

If the patient is suffering from spasms, muscle relaxants (Sirdalud, Mydocalm) will help. The muscles will relax, the pain will go away, and mobility will return.

Vitamin and mineral complexes containing B vitamins and calcium will improve the metabolism of cartilage tissue, strengthen bones, relax muscles and help get rid of inflammation.

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Physiotherapy

These methods have many positive effects:

Electrophoresis. Electricity slowly evaporates medications directly onto the affected areas of the lower back. It is good because it reduces the effect of side effects;
Shock wave treatment of protrusions. Deformed lumbar discs are affected by a sound that a person cannot hear. As a result, metabolism in cartilage tissue is stabilized, salt accumulations become thinner, and pain goes away;
Laser treatment. The laser beam is adjusted to the diseased area, and the biochemistry of the tissues improves, their regeneration begins;
Magnetic therapy. The magnetic field restores the lumbar discs, soothes deformed and pinched nerves;
Mud procedures. Compresses made from natural clay are good when the acute period is over. They also have a regenerating effect on tissues and improve blood circulation.

Massage

Lumbar back massage can only be used when the crisis is over. The patient should not be in danger of an imminent attack. Massage is an auxiliary but effective remedy. It will restore former reflexes, improve blood circulation, and relieve muscle spasms. Tissue nutrition will improve, and as a result, residual pain will go away, and the risk of relapse will be reduced.

Lumbar protrusion requires an experienced massage therapist and a gentle approach. You should not trust an unverified specialist or conduct self-massage sessions.

Standard techniques of stroking, rubbing, kneading and vibration are quite suitable for massage. You need to be especially careful in the area of the affected intervertebral disc. Under no circumstances should you influence it; you need to pay attention to nearby tissues.

Strong, intense movements are unacceptable. You cannot twist, pull, or perform striking techniques - they can only aggravate the pathology.

For lumbar hernia, vacuum massage will be useful. It can only be done in those massage rooms where there are special devices - aspirators or cups. Such procedures have a powerful positive effect on blood flow in the affected area. They also prevent protrusion of the lumbar region from developing. To save the patient from pain and relieve muscle spasms, the massage therapist can use acupressure techniques.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is an effective, but also risky method. Please note the contraindications for such procedures. A specialist will be able to partially or completely restore the previous position of the damaged disk. It is especially useful to combine manual therapy with drug treatment. This way you will have a comprehensive effect on inflammatory processes and restore mobility to the body. And muscles and joints returning to a stable position will reduce the risk of relapse. Manual therapy and regular massage for lumbar protrusion are unacceptable if infectious skin diseases, cardiac pathologies, thrombosis are observed, or the patient is pregnant.

To successfully treat protrusion of the lumbar spine, when there is protrusion of the lumbar spine, you need to perform gymnastics to stretch and strengthen the muscles. , you will release compressed discs and pinched nerve roots. The stronger lumbar muscles will again begin to hold the vertebrae in a stable position, and restored blood circulation in the problem area will help cope with inflammation. Having chosen, monitor your feelings and avoid discomfort during execution. You need to do therapeutic exercises every day when there is protrusion of the lumbar discs, only then will the treatment have the desired effect.

Lie on your back, place your arms along your body, bend your legs slightly. Tighten your abdominals to the maximum. Relax, repeat. To regulate tension, you can put your hands on your abs. Perform 15 reps;
Lying on your back, place your arms along the line of your body, straighten your legs. Raise your body a little, controlling the initial position of your legs. Raise yourself, hold for about 10 seconds, and then slowly return to the original position. Do 15 reps, resting 10 seconds in between.

Prevention

To avoid becoming a victim of protrusion of the lumbosacral spine, follow the suggested methods of prevention. They will also help to prevent the disease from returning after successful therapy:

The right diet. Avoid salty, spicy, smoked and fatty foods, sweets, and soda. Such foods not only cause you to gain extra pounds, which puts additional stress on your lower back, but also leach calcium from your bone tissue. Eat more vegetables, fruits, fish and lean meats;
Engage in physical therapy and gentle sports. Do not chase sports records. Stretching is especially useful - thanks to it, the distance between the vertebrae increases, and the intervertebral discs of the lower back will not be pinched. Swimming is probably the best option. In the pool you simultaneously strengthen the muscular corset of the spine and stretch it;
Maintain correct posture. This is especially difficult to do in modern working conditions, when a person is forced to constantly sit in a static position and look at a computer screen. To avoid stagnant processes in the body and unnecessary tension in the spine, try to get up and warm up more often, and change position. Get into the habit of doing unobtrusive exercises;
Visit the office of a massage therapist who will carry out competent prevention of relapse, paying attention to the lumbar muscles. Massage will improve blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms and general stress.

Your feedback on the article

Protrusion is a disease associated with a degenerative-dystrophic disorder of the intervertebral disc. This condition is accompanied by pain in the lumbar region and back.

The disease can develop against the background of injury or age-related changes. In the case when a nearby nerve is not pinched, pain may be absent for a long time, so a person does not suspect for a long time that he has any disorders.

Often, protrusion causes a posterior displacement of the vertebrae, a mechanism called “retrolisthesis.”

The spinal column hides the spinal cord and many nerve roots. When a protrusion enters the area of the spinal canal, excessive pressure occurs on the spinal cord and roots, which contributes to the appearance of characteristic symptoms.

It is the lumbar spine that is most susceptible to the development of this pathology.

Stages of development of the disorder

There are several stages of development of protrusion of the discs of the lumbar spine, each of which has a specific clinical picture:

Structural changes- the disc bulges. The nucleus pulposus deviates to the side and presses on the boundaries of the annulus fibrosus. Because of this, a bulge is formed, and in some cases it reaches half the circumference of the disc. Burning pains similar to flashes may appear, but often there is no such symptom. Prolapse- the nucleus holds the fibrous ring, but the convexity increases and the pressure on the spine increases. The patient begins to experience discomfort, feels aching pain and a burning sensation in the lumbar region. Protrusion- the fibrous ring cannot cope with the load, so part of the nucleus pulposus extends beyond its boundaries. Severe pain occurs, arms and legs go numb, and tissue swelling develops.

How protrusion and hernia develop

Due to the fact that at the beginning of the disease there is usually no pain, treatment begins at more severe stages, when the situation becomes critical and requires serious intervention.

What is at the root of the problem?

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The main cause of the disease is excessive stress on the lower back. Most often, spinal disc protrusion develops under the influence of several factors, including:

sedentary lifestyle; lack of physical activity or, on the contrary, excessive stress; metabolic disorder; genetic predisposition (certain structure of the lumbar column); underdeveloped muscle corset; crooked posture (scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis); back injury; infectious diseases; osteochondrosis; excess weight; poor nutrition; age-related changes in the body.

What it looks and feels like

Symptoms in each specific case directly depend on the cause and stage at which the protrusion is located and can be as follows:

stiffness in the lower back; numbness of hands and feet; intense back pain of a burning nature; radiculitis; decreased mobility of the affected area; weakness in the leg muscles; fast fatiguability; discomfort when climbing uphill, bending the body, and sitting; bladder dysfunction (in some cases).

Forms of protrusion

There are several types of protrusion, each of which affects certain vertebrae:

Central. The protrusion occurs near the spinal canal. These protrusions are latent and often do not require intervention. Lateral localized on the right or left side of the spine, most often deforms the roots in the spinal cord. This form occurs in 10% of patients. Posterolateral. This pathology occurs most often. Located behind and to the side of the spine. Pinches nerve roots and other components of the spinal cord. Rear. In this case, the disc protrudes in the direction from the abdominal cavity to the back, disrupting the functions of the pelvic organs.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is established using CT or MRI procedures of the lumbar region. Using the resulting images, the doctor must determine the location of the protrusion and its size.

Only after the data obtained will it be possible to select the most effective methods of therapy.

The whole range of necessary measures

The sooner treatment begins, the greater the chance that it will be possible to get rid of protrusion of the discs of the lumbar spine using a conservative method. Goals of therapy:

pain relief; elimination of the inflammatory process in tissues; relieving muscle spasms; strengthening the back muscles; restoration of spinal functions.

Conservative therapy

Treatment of lumbar protrusions must be comprehensive:

Drug therapy. Used in the acute stage of the disease. The action of the drugs is aimed at relieving pain, relieving inflammation and relieving pressure on the nerve roots. For this purpose, drugs of the following groups are prescribed: analgesics, non-steroidal drugs, muscle relaxants, vitamin B. Sometimes, to reduce irritation of the nerve roots, injections of an anesthetic, cortisone or steroids may be required. They act more slowly and may cause a painful reaction. Manual therapy. Massage should only be performed by a specialist. At the beginning of therapy, procedures should be more gentle; later, the massage technique changes. In this case, it is very important to avoid exposure to the sore area of the back. Spinal traction. The purpose of the method is to increase the distance between the vertebrae and reduce compression of the nerve roots. Systematic procedures can remove subluxation in the intervertebral joints and reduce pressure inside the discs. Laser therapy. It is used to normalize metabolism, ensure saturation of tissues in the affected area, improve immunity, as well as biochemical processes in the body. This method has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Magnetotherapy. Effective at all stages of the disease. It also strengthens the immune system and improves the condition of the circulatory system. Acupuncture. Used as an auxiliary method of therapy to reduce pain. The treatment gives lasting results. Shock wave therapy. Used as a preventative method. Helps correct posture, reduce pressure on nerve roots, increase tone and strengthen back muscles. Mud applications and baths. Relieve inflammation, normalize blood circulation, ease muscle spasms, and promote tissue regeneration. The procedures are very effective for sexual dysfunction, as well as for other complications of protrusion. During periods of acute pain, the use of applications is prohibited.

Surgery

It is used in rare cases, because surgical intervention can lead to such a negative consequence as a hernia and generally worsen the general condition of a person. The operation is necessary in cases where:

in the first half a year after treatment, no positive results are observed; the pathology progresses rapidly, and the damage spreads to healthy areas of the spinal column; the fibrous ring has protruded so much that there is a danger of complete loss of capacity.

The operation is a partial or complete removal of the affected area of the intervertebral disc and is performed only at the last stage of the disease, when the protrusion has transformed into a hernia.

Protrusion of the lumbar spine can provoke the development of a hernia, in which the nerve endings of the spinal column are pinched. A hernia is fraught with dysfunction of the pelvic organs and lumbago in the lower back.

In some cases, the pain can be so unbearable that the patient cannot move or sit. Paralysis of the lower extremities may also develop.

Exercise therapy complex

Physical therapy is an integral part of the treatment of protrusion. Exercise helps improve motor activity and relieve inflammation. Classes can be conducted both in a specialized institution and at home.

At the beginning of the therapeutic course, the load should be minimal; the exercises should be performed while lying down with pauses of several minutes between each.

You cannot make sharp turns or bends. There should be no pain during the session!

Exercises that are effective for protrusion of the lumbar spine and that can be done independently at home:

Lie on your back with your arms extended along your body and your knees slightly bent. Then tighten your abdominal muscles, lower your legs, relax and repeat the movement. Lie in the same position, but slightly raise your upper back and keep your legs bent. Slowly lower your back, rest and repeat the movement. Lying on your back with your legs bent, extend your left arm and rest on the knee of your right leg, applying maximum pressure. Then change legs.

All exercises must be repeated at least 10 times.

It’s good if you have a wall bars or horizontal bar at home, because sagging on these apparatuses is very beneficial for the spine. The procedure can be performed several times a day for a few minutes.

It is advisable that a specialist select a set of exercises, taking into account all the individual characteristics of the body. In no case should you start exercising in the early stages of protrusion, as this can lead to exacerbation and intensification of pain.

First of all, drug therapy is carried out, which allows you to stop the source of the disease, and then all other methods of therapy are used.

Two complexes of exercise therapy that are highly effective for hernias and protrusion of the lumbar spine:

Features of the diet

For patients with this pathology, proper nutrition is necessary. The purpose of the diet is to strengthen the vertebrae and bones. To replenish calcium deficiency in the body, the following products are recommended for consumption:

fish; milk products; beef; poultry meat; vegetables.

To restore cartilage, products containing gelatin will be useful:

jelly; meat broth; marmalade; jelly; seaweed.

Fried, spicy foods with seasonings, as well as alcohol should be excluded from your diet.

Preventive approach

After treatment, it is very important to follow preventive measures that will help maintain the health of the intervertebral discs:

together with your doctor, choose a “useful” sport that will not have a detrimental effect on the spine (for example, weightlifting is contraindicated during protrusion); take daily walks; watch your posture, walk only with your head raised and your back straight; try not to slouch, sit on a chair and lean on the back; use an orthopedic mattress; do not carry heavy objects in one hand; get rid of bad habits; monitor excess weight.

Protrusion at the onset of the disease may be asymptomatic, but in the meantime the pathological processes will progress, and ultimately discomfort and severe pain that impede movement will bring a lot of inconvenience to the patient and significantly reduce the quality of life.

The prognosis will be favorable if treatment begins as early as possible. Ignoring back pain can lead to the most dire consequences, so if you detect any signs of the disease, you should immediately seek medical help.

Protrusion of the lumbar spine - main symptoms:

Weakness in the legs Numbness in the legs Back pain Fatigue Spread of pain to other areas Discomfort in the lower back Bladder dysfunction Loss of elasticity in the muscles

Protrusion of the lumbar spine - dystrophic changes in the area of intervertebral discs l5 s1 and l4 l5. This is due to the fact that it is this area of the spine that accounts for most of the load. According to statistics, the disease is most often diagnosed after 35–40 years. Protrusion is the preceding stage of intervertebral hernia.

Etiology

This pathological process does not have an exact etiology. But, as medical practice shows, most often lumbar disc protrusion occurs due to the following factors:

spinal injuries; age-related changes; ailments caused by metabolic disorders; wrong lifestyle; excessive physical activity; congenital pathologies of the spine.

It should be noted that these etiological factors can lead not only to protrusion, but also to many other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

As medical practice shows, protrusion is most often diagnosed in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, regular physical exercise can almost completely eliminate the development of such pathological processes.

Pathogenesis

As a result of exposure to certain etiological factors, shock-absorbing fabric loses its properties. Essentially, the space between the discs is left unprotected, and excessive pressure is placed on the intervertebral discs themselves. As a result of this, the disc loses elasticity and becomes less elastic, which leads to cracks in the fibrous ring and protrusion of the disc itself. As long as the fibrous ring does not rupture, we are talking about protrusion. At the stage when the fibrous ring is destroyed, we are talking about an intervertebral hernia.

General symptoms

At the initial stage of development, the disease shows virtually no symptoms. Symptoms begin to appear only when nerve endings are involved in the pathological process. As a rule, at this stage a person may only feel minor back pain, which is most often attributed to fatigue.

Protrusion of the lumbar spine

As protrusion develops, the following symptoms may occur:

feeling of discomfort in the lumbar region; numbness of the lower extremities; back pain, which often radiates to the neck and arm; weakness in the legs, rapid fatigue even from minor physical activity; loss of elasticity in muscles.

Clinicians note that in some cases, with protrusion of the lumbar spine, disturbances in the bladder may be observed.

It should also be noted that the symptoms may differ slightly, depending on the degree of development of the disease. It is the degree of manifestation of the clinical picture that indicates the stage of development of protrusion.

Kinds

In official medicine, the following forms of this pathological process are distinguished:

circular – degenerative process along the entire perimeter of the spine; dorsal - protrusion of discs in the spinal canal; diffuse - chaotic protrusion of discs; lateral – dystrophic process on the left or right.

The most complex form is considered to be dorsal protrusion. With this pathology, the degenerative process affects 25% of the discs. In view of this, pressure is placed on the spine at the very beginning of the development of the pathological process. But even under such circumstances, serious complications can be avoided if treatment is started in a timely manner.

Diagnostics

In this case, it is impossible to make a diagnosis based on symptoms alone. After a personal examination and clarification of the medical history, the patient is sent for instrumental diagnostics. Typically, the following research methods are used:

CT; MRI; chest x-ray.

Due to the fact that there are no specific changes in the body, laboratory research methods are not carried out.

It is possible to prescribe the correct course of treatment for lumbar protrusions only after making a diagnosis and identifying the cause of the development of the pathological process.

Treatment

The basis of treatment, in this case, is both drug therapy and exercise therapy, and physiotherapeutic procedures. Only comprehensive treatment can ultimately produce positive results. It is unacceptable to treat protrusion through traditional medicine.

Drug therapy involves taking the following drugs:

painkillers (both oral and local); anti-inflammatory; general strengthening spectrum of action.

Non-drug therapy

The physiotherapy program includes:

physiotherapy; physical exercise; magnetic therapy; exercise therapy; laser therapy.

Massage for lumbar protrusion relieves pain, alleviates the patient’s overall condition and gives positive results during treatment.

Physiotherapy

Gymnastics for stretching the lumbar spine

Therapeutic gymnastics in combination with drug therapy gives the best results in the treatment of protrusion of any type. Exercise therapy should also be considered as a preventive measure against disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

A set of exercise therapy exercises can be performed both at home and in special gyms. It should be noted that any physical therapy exercises should be performed only as prescribed by a doctor. Just as in the case of folk remedies, therapeutic exercises at your discretion can only do harm.

As a rule, the doctor prescribes the course of exercise therapy, frequency and duration of exercises individually. If the patient strictly follows all the instructions regarding therapeutic exercises, then a positive result is guaranteed.

Treatment of lumbar protrusion with medications and therapeutic exercises always gives positive results and practically eliminates the re-development of such a pathological process.

In addition to exercises specially designed for the treatment of protrusion, patients are recommended to engage in swimming. With such exercises, the load on the spine is minimal. Please note that it is better to swim, in this case, crawl. This is due to the fact that this ensures the natural position of the spine.

All gymnastics exercises from the exercise therapy course should also be considered as prevention.

Forecast

If treatment is started promptly and correctly, no complications arise and the disease is completely cured. Otherwise, serious complications are possible. Most often this is an intervertebral hernia. Therefore, at the first symptoms you should consult a doctor. Self-medication is unacceptable.

Many of us experience back pain from time to time, but the word “protrusion” has only been heard by those who had to consult a specialist due to lower back pain, get an MRI and hear a disappointing diagnosis. If at this moment you change your usual movements and start doing exercises selected by a specialist, it will not come to an intervertebral hernia, says Alexander Moshanu, a specialist in neurology and manual therapy at the NADO Fitness medical fitness center.

A sedentary lifestyle poses a serious danger to the human body and over the years can cause many diseases. The health of the musculoskeletal system takes the greatest hit. Today, out of 100 thousand people, 100-150 suffer from a herniated disc.

The appearance of a hernia is a long process that can be divided into 4 stages. Initially, a slight displacement of the fibrous ring occurs while maintaining its integrity, which is called “prolapse.” Next, a protrusion appears: the intervertebral disc moves beyond the spinal column, but does not rupture the fibrous ring; at this stage, cracks may appear. In the third stage, the disc penetrates the annulus fibrosus, but is held in place by the posterior longitudinal ligament, and this is called “extrusion.” And at the stage when the damaged disc penetrates the spinal canal, a so-called “sequestrum” is formed.

Source: medikoff.net

So, protrusion is not a separate disease, but one of the stages of herniated intervertebral discs. Most often it is localized in the lumbar region, in rare cases - in the cervical and thoracic regions.

In the early stages of the disease, a person periodically experiences dull pain in the lower back, if we are talking about protrusion in the lumbar region. The pain may intensify when bending the lower back, coughing, or playing sports. In advanced situations, severe back pain and even numbness in the groin area and legs appear.

Protrusion in the cervical spine can also be identified by pain in the neck. As a result of the disease, a decrease in blood pressure and headaches may occur.

Causes of protrusion. Why is protrusion dangerous?

Protrusion occurs due to overload in this particular part of the spine, and it can be provoked by improper motor activity (exercise technique, ignoring warm-up or cool-down), weak tone of the spinal stabilizer muscles, constant emotional stress, problems with internal organs, lack of physical activity (physical inactivity), as well as an unhealthy lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, etc.) or an old injury.

In most cases, protrusion occurs in everyday situations, and not during sports. For example, a person took and without warming up grabbed a heavy bag of cement in order to move it. And in the end he was “crooked,” as they say. Most often this happens like this: a person lifted a weight without warming up and turned his body with it in his hands. And twisting the spine with a lot of weight is extremely dangerous!

By and large, protrusion is not dangerous if there is no pain. The only danger is if a person does not draw conclusions for himself after its appearance and continues to live as before. Then the situation may worsen, and the protrusion will gradually develop into a full-fledged hernia.

How to protect yourself from the appearance of protrusion:

acceptable loads
correct technique for performing a movement (whether it be bending over, lifting weights, or doing a barbell exercise)
Warm up before movement and cool down after
do not perform complex movements with weights if you feel unwell
take your time (no sudden movements)
physical activity in moderation (walking, cycling, exercise, etc.)

Let's consider a household example. A man was cleaning a path at his dacha. I left the snow with a shovel, and the next day my back hurt badly. The reason may be that the movements were performed only with the back without the help of the legs. The shovel was in one hand, and the snow was thrown to one side. Warm-up and cool-down were also ignored and no breaks were taken.

Diagnosis and treatment of protrusion

It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis except with an MRI. One can only guess about the existence of a protrusion based on the symptoms, but it is impossible to diagnose its size and the presence of a fibrous disc rupture manually. Therefore, there is no need to be offended by the doctor if he “didn’t really look at you” but immediately sent you for an MRI.

For effective treatment, you need to, with the help of a specialist, understand the reasons for the appearance of protrusion. Having understood the reasons, begin to avoid aggravating factors: incorrect movements, heavy physical exertion, stress and sudden movements. It is also necessary to select exercises to strengthen the core muscles (abs, back). Exercises must be performed regularly and on an ongoing basis, otherwise there will be no desired effect.

There are precedents when the protrusion decreased in size and almost completely disappeared. Naturally, this takes more than one day.

Unfortunately, in most cases, people stop doing exercises as soon as they feel better. If it becomes easier, this does not mean that the protrusion has magically disappeared. She can manifest herself again under certain circumstances, and even in a worse form.

Treatment of protrusion is the specialization of neurologists. In most cases, the neurologist will prescribe medications, and that will be the end of the treatment. Tablets will relieve symptoms, but will not cure protrusion. For complete treatment, an integrated approach is needed.

Exercises for the prevention and treatment of protrusion

During an exacerbation, painkillers and relaxing medications are certainly necessary. Once the period of exacerbation has passed, physical activity can be prescribed. Therefore, in addition to a neurologist, it is advisable to visit a specialist in physical therapy to select the necessary exercises to strengthen the affected region and relieve stress from the lower back.

Under no circumstances should you prescribe exercises for yourself after watching a video on the Internet. The fact is that in the case of stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal (when the hernia goes into the spinal canal), you absolutely cannot stretch the vertebra, but you can twist it a little. Accordingly, traction and stretching exercises should not be done.

And if the hernia compresses into the intervertebral canal, on the contrary, you cannot twist it, but you can perform stretching exercises. And as a rule, they don’t write about this on the Internet under videos with exercises.

A competent Pilates instructor knows how to work with protrusions and is able to select suitable exercises to strengthen the back muscles, as well as exercises to stretch the spine. Here are examples of such exercises.

Roller exercises can be performed either under the guidance of an instructor or independently at home. You need to carefully place your back on the cushion, starting from the tailbone. The back and neck should lie completely on the cushion. You can simply lie on the cushion for a long time, saturating the spine and the muscles around it with blood. You can also perform movements with your hands: stretch them up, to the sides, and perform circular movements. Also, with stenosis, you can carefully and under control move the body left and right so that the roller rolls along the spine and muscles along the back. Raising one leg will also increase the load on your abs.

Exercises on unstable supports. In addition to the spine itself, it is necessary to strengthen the legs, since they are directly connected to the lower back. If the legs are poorly developed, the back takes on the load during certain movements, and the risk of aggravating the protrusion increases. By standing on unstable supports and moving, you can strengthen your legs and coordination, and tighten your core stabilizer muscles.

You can use the so-called “Pinocchio” (planks that move back and forth), an inflated hemisphere like Bosu, as well as ReebokCore or inflated pillows. When we balance on such supports, the stabilizer muscles of the entire “core” and legs are automatically activated. You can stand on one leg and perform complex coordination movements with your legs or arms.