Methods of anesthesia for hernia of the spine
Many patients ask a natural question about how to relieve pain in case of spinal hernia? Unfortunately, today there are no universal painkillers for intervertebral hernia that would help any patient. Therapy has to be tailored, often through trial and error, to get results that improve a person's life.
What methods can be used to anesthetize the intervertebral hernia?
Why pain occurs
Before you figure out how you can relieve pain in an intervertebral hernia, you need to understand why a person is generally worried about any discomfort?
A characteristic feature of a hernia is a specific protrusion of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc through the fibrous ring, which normally maintains the correct anatomical shape of this formation. Naturally, being outside its normal localization, the nucleus pulposus begins to exert pressure on the structures closest to itself.
The development of a spinal hernia due to pressure on the surrounding tissues often leads to compression of the vertebral nerves that run in the spinal canal. It is because of the pressure on them that unpleasant sensations appear, because of which the patient needs anesthesia.
Back pain with hernial protrusions can vary significantly in intensity and localization. This feature is explained by the fact that the spinal column has a segmented structure, and the defeat of each of the sections in the back with a hernia is characterized by its own set of features.
In most cases, with a vertebral hernia, the patient complains of discomfort in the lumbar region, which can tell the doctor a lot about the localization of the problem. However, we must not forget that the location of the hernia is also possible in any other part of the spinal column.
Medical therapy
How to relieve pain due to a hernia of the spine? This question often perplexes not only patients, but also some doctors. This is due to the individual characteristics of patients, as well as the huge selection of drugs that the pharmacological industry generously provides us with today.
The choice of an anesthetic for a hernia of the spine is a responsible matter, which, ideally, of course, is best entrusted to a doctor. But if there is no specialist at hand, then what should be done during an exacerbation? You can solve the problem using several different approaches and a wide variety of painkillers.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or, as they are also called for short, NSAIDs, are an extensive group of medications that do not include hormonal components. By themselves, these drugs are not intended to relieve pain, but they help to reduce its intensity.
They provide the following effects on the body:
- reduce the intensity of local inflammation;
- reduce blood supply at the site of hernia development;
- help reduce swelling.
Due to such a complex action, it is possible to influence the irritability of the nerve trunk pressed down by the protrusion and, accordingly, to achieve an improvement in the general condition. Because of this feature, painkillers from the NSAID group are very popular. At the same time, not all people know that if they are used uncontrollably and for a long time, they have a negative effect on the stomach and intestines.
For people prone to gastritis, in general, the likelihood of developing stomach ulcers increases significantly.
In this regard, although NSAIDs are loved by patients because of their rather strong and rapid effect, doctors do not favor them and prescribe them with great care. Naturally, these drugs cannot be called the most optimal.
Non-narcotic analgesics
Non-narcotic analgesics are another popular group of drugs that can be used to relieve a patient from pain in the spine if the problem is a herniated intervertebral type.
Any analgesic has the ability to block the nerve fibers through which the brain receives pain signals. At the same time, in most cases, the drugs do not show anti-inflammatory or anti-edematous effects, but only relieve discomfort.
As in the case of NSAIDs, uncontrolled use of non-narcotic analgesics can lead to a number of very unpleasant consequences. Analgin, for example, which is one of the most popular drugs in this group, negatively affects the white germ of hematopoiesis, which significantly affects the body's immune system.
All pain-relieving drugs from the group of analgesics generally negatively affect the state of hematopoiesis and the functioning of the renal system. We must remember this, we will decide to use these medicines.
Narcotic type analgesics
Many patients suffering from spinal hernia are concerned about the question of whether it is possible to take the most powerful analgesic, which includes narcotic components? In principle, the use of narcotic painkillers for this disease is allowed if the pain syndrome is very pronounced, and it cannot be stopped, even despite the use of various methods. True, often their use is unjustified, even if the patient is worried about a severe lumbar hernia.
The main problem with the use of narcotic drugs is that they often cause addiction in the patient. That is, escaping with their help from the pain syndrome, the patient then cannot refuse to use these funds, no matter how he tries to do it. The result is simple: then you have to fight with addiction.
If the patient has a very strong intervertebral hernia with severe pain, it is possible to use narcotic-type analgesics. True, they are used exclusively in short courses, and sometimes even one-time, so as not to provoke the development of dependence.
blockades
Effectively relieves pain when the vertebrae hurt due to a pathological defect, blockade. Under the blockade today, doctors understand the introduction of an analgesic or glucocorticosteroid drug into the painful area.
Blockades are of two main types: novocaine and glucocorticosteroid.
Novocain is administered to the patient if he is worried about a pronounced pain syndrome, but there is no reason to assume that a very strong inflammatory process has developed in the affected area. Novocain effectively blocks the nerve endings, preventing the nerve impulse signaling pain from passing through them and reaching the brain. The effect of such a measure of influence is very fast, the patient feels relief within a few minutes after the manipulation is carried out.
The second type of blockade is glucocorticosteroid. If the hernia aggravates, and the pain episode is also accompanied by complaints of swelling, inflammation at the site of the defect, then the patient is recommended the introduction of glucocorticoids. These drugs not only locally block pain receptors, but eliminate inflammation and swelling, which makes it possible to improve the well-being of a suffering person.
Preparations for complex therapy
With a hernia of the spine, painkillers are not the only group used in treatment. Doctors draw the attention of patients that therapy will be effective only if complex methods are used.
In addition to various types of painkillers, the use of:
- muscle relaxants , which help eliminate local muscle spasms, relieve excessive stress on the spinal column, reducing the intensity of pain;
- hormonal type medications , since they are most effective in combating various inflammatory processes, which often disturb patients against the background of protrusions of the intervertebral discs;
- sedatives , which help relieve mental stress caused by the constant expectation of pain, improve sleep, brain activity and the general condition of a suffering person.
It is not enough to anesthetize the hernia, it is also necessary to take measures so that the discomfort does not recur. This is especially important if the lower back suffers. This is exactly what the use of additional drugs is aimed at.
External remedies for pain
With pain in the spine, the use of drugs inside can adversely affect many human systems. So, for example, it is possible to develop addiction, disorders in the hematopoietic system or kidney function, various problems with the gastrointestinal tract. What can be done to reduce the negative effect of the use of drugs of this kind? The most logical and obvious way is to reduce their number.
This can be done using ointments for hernia. The use of creams and various rubs that have an exclusively local effect in the application area is also an excellent solution to the problem. The main thing is the correct choice of anesthetic.
Most often, patients are recommended to use drugs such as Voltaren or Fastum-gel. Both of these topical preparations include an anesthetic and, as an adjunct, some component that effectively reduces inflammation.
Many doctors recommend the use of topical treatment in combination with oral medication, as this increases its effectiveness. With mild protrusions, topical medications show a higher efficiency than in advanced clinical cases.
Relief from pain without medication
To get rid of pain, if the disease is not too pronounced, it is possible without medicines. There are many methods for this.
Massage helps prevent flare-ups for many patients. It is important that the manipulation is carried out by a specialist who is familiar with the anatomy and physiology of the human spine in order for the procedure to be effective.
In addition to massage, you can use various tinctures and rubbing prepared according to folk recipes. Suitable, for example, tincture of cinquefoil or a special badger fat ointment. True, folk recipes are recommended to be used with caution. This is due to the fact that many patients have allergic reactions to the components of folk recipes. It is necessary to consult a doctor to avoid negative reactions.
In addition to traditional medicine and massage, the use of physiotherapy is recommended. Thanks to it, it is often possible to get rid of inflammatory processes, reduce the severity of pathological processes at the local level.
Spinal hernia is a serious disease that is often accompanied by severe pain attacks that are difficult to fight. Any person suffering from this pathology should know how best to stop discomfort, and what medicines are best suited for this.
