Signs and methods of treatment of a hernia in the sacral spine

A hernia of the sacral spine is one of the most frequently diagnosed diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It is usually accompanied by severe pain and limitation of the ability to move, which reduces the patient's quality of life.

What are the causes of the development of the disease, how to suspect its presence and start treatment correctly? Is it possible to prevent the formation of pathological protrusions in the sacrum?

What is this disease

Many people, speaking of a hernia of the sacral spine, misunderstand what kind of disease this is. Everyone traditionally has the idea that a hernial protrusion is a defect between two vertebrae. But how can it appear in the region of the sacrum, if the sacrum is a solid bone.

Everything is very simple. Speaking of a hernia in the sacral spine, doctors mean a defect that forms between the solid bone of the sacrum and the fifth spine, which belongs to the lumbar region. This localization of the protrusion is most common.

Most often, the disease is experienced by people whose age is in the range from 30 to 50 years. During this period, the conditions necessary for the formation of a hernia are optimal, which explains its development.

Varieties

It is not enough to know about the presence of symptoms and treatment of a hernia of the sacral spine. It must be understood that different types of protrusions can form in this area. Depending on the variety, the doctor will decide on therapy.

Allocate:

• posterolateral type , which is considered by all doctors to be the most dangerous due to the fact that it is possible to clamp the spinal cord with a violation of its main functions;
• lateral type , which is characterized by the formation of a defect to the right or left of the longitudinal axis, and is dangerous only if the disease is severely advanced;
• anterior type , in which doctors practically do not talk at all about the danger of complications, and the pathology does not manifest itself in any way, as such.

Separately, many experts distinguish a classic hernia. It is accompanied by protrusion of the contents of the intervertebral disc in all directions at the same time. With this type of disease, complex treatment is used, since, like the posterolateral type, it is dangerous for the development of severe complications.

Causes of the disease

Speaking about the reasons, doctors first of all tend to single out such a complex disease as osteochondrosis. This pathology is often complicated by the formation of hernial protrusions, which can significantly complicate the treatment process.

In addition to osteochondrosis, doctors highlight the likelihood of injury to the vertebrae due to accidents or surgical interventions. Trauma as the cause of the development of the disease is in second place after osteochondrosis in frequency.

Physical activity is another common cause. Moreover, as experts point out, the danger is both their excess and lack. If a person leads a too sedentary lifestyle, preferring to sit or lie down, then the muscular frame that helps support the back loses its functions, due to which the load on the spine increases and a hernia forms. If the loads, on the contrary, are excessively strong, the vertebral discs cannot cope with them, which is why a hernia is formed.

Long-term static loads, in which a person is forced to stay in one unchanged position for a long time, also negatively affect the state of the musculoskeletal system.

Additional reasons often include the presence of excess weight, neglect of the rules of nutrition, curvature of the spinal column, which also lead to an unfavorable load distribution.

Symptoms

Speaking about the symptoms of a hernia of the sacral spine, it is worth highlighting two large syndromes. The first one is pain.

It is typical for him:

• the appearance of strictly localized pain in the lumbar region, which may intensify in response to attempts to make any movement;
• the presence of irradiation, in which pain can be felt not only in the lumbar region, but also, for example, in the leg or arm.

Pain is the most common symptom of a hernia.

It can be very diverse, which sometimes makes it difficult for the doctor to make a diagnosis. The patient may describe his sensations as stabbing, pulling, sharp, etc.

The second big syndrome is called radicular.

It is typical for him:

• the presence of complaints of numbness or violations of the sensitive sphere, mainly in the lower extremities;
  the appearance of "goosebumps", which crawl mainly along the lower limbs;
• constant feeling that the lower limbs are very cold;
• the appearance of deviations from the urinary system, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system (involuntary acts of urination and defecation, impotence in the stronger sex);
• uncontrolled, sudden changes in pressure.

As the disease progresses, radicular syndrome will lead to the fact that the patient's muscles in the lower extremities will be disrupted. As a result, unilateral or bilateral dystrophy of the limbs may develop, which is very difficult to deal with without professional help.

Ways to make a diagnosis

If a pathological protrusion appears in the sacral region, it is necessary to clarify the diagnosis before starting treatment. Correct diagnosis largely determines the success of therapy.

First of all, when the patient turns to a specialist, the doctor conducts a thorough survey and examination of the area where the defect appears. During the survey, the features of the pain syndrome, the severity of the radicular syndrome are specified. Clarifications are necessary in order not to make a mistake with the diagnosis, and therefore it is recommended to answer the questions of a specialist as detailed and honestly as possible.

During a visual examination, the doctor most likely will not see defects that are visible to the eye. Detection of the protrusion is possible only if the hernia has an anterior direction, and even then not always. When probing the injured area, again, pain or discomfort may be felt, but such complaints are not necessary.

For the most complete diagnosis, the patient is recommended to perform an MRI study. This method allows you to detect a hernia, clarify its size and localization features.

To clarify whether the spine is affected by any disease, CT diagnostics are used. With its help, you can assess the condition of the bones. Additionally, it is possible to conduct a myelogram, which will clarify how involved in the pathological process of the muscles of the limbs.

Therapy

Hernia of the sacral spine is a pathology, which is recommended to be treated under the supervision of a doctor. In this case, both conservative and operative methods can be used. Doctors prefer to use non-surgical methods, as there are fewer risks associated with them.

Conservative methods

Hernia treatment always begins with the selection of conservative methods of therapy. During the period of exacerbation, the patient is recommended bed rest, which must be observed until the pain subsides.

The selection of medicines is mandatory. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticosteroids are mainly used. These medicines are used to treat problems with inflammation in the tissues of the intervertebral disc. Additionally, analgesics are selected, which should stop the pain syndrome, alleviating the patient's condition.

Many doctors additionally recommend the use of muscle relaxants, which will eliminate spasm, and chondroprotectors, which should prevent the destruction of cartilage in the intervertebral discs.

If the pain is very severe, it is recommended to use traction in a hospital setting. Thanks to this method, the hernial protrusion seems to be "absorbed" back.

After resolving the acute situation, the patient is selected for a complex of exercise therapy exercises and physiotherapy. These methods are aimed at preventing relapses and consolidating the results of drug treatment.

Surgery

If the signs of a hernia cannot be eliminated using conservative methods, then a decision on surgical intervention may be made.

It is recommended if:

• within several months, the results of conservative therapy did not appear;
• there were symptoms indicating pathological processes in the pelvic organs;
• atrophic phenomena develop in the muscles of the lower extremities.

Surgical treatment used to get rid of a hernial protrusion can be minimally invasive and radical. The optimal method should be chosen by the attending physician.

Folk recipes

Many patients mistakenly believe that it is possible to cope with the disease using alternative therapy methods. If a hernia has formed between the sacrum and the vertebrae, it is impossible to use only alternative therapy. Of course, to alleviate your own condition, you can do compresses and rubbing using herbs.

These plants will help:

• fir;
• wormwood;
• dandelion;
• garlic;
• Althea root, etc.

But it is important to remember that these methods only treat the symptoms of the disease, not the cause.

How to avoid a hernia

To prevent vulnerable vertebrae from suffering from a hernia, there are a number of simple preventive measures.

These include:

• control over correct posture;
• the formation of the habit of correctly carrying weights and evenly distributing the load;
• a clear balance between excess and lack of physical activity;
• adherence to the principles of proper nutrition;
• weight control, getting rid of extra pounds to relieve the load from the spinal column;
• the right choice of bed and mattress for it (the more a person weighs, the more rigid his mattress should be, and it is recommended that the bed be selected so that it matches the natural curves of the body).

Intervertebral hernia of the sacral region is a pathology of the musculoskeletal system, which is quite common today in medical practice. Patients who have discovered the first signs of the development of this difficult disease are advised to immediately consult a doctor. The sooner the treatment of the disease is started, the more likely it is to use only conservative methods without resorting to surgery.

It is important to remember that it is easier to follow simple methods of preventing the appearance of a hernia than to treat it later. A healthy lifestyle will help maintain the health of the musculoskeletal system for a long time.