Complications of a hernia of the spine

Complications of a hernia of the spine relate to dysfunction of the organs for which individual nerve roots of the spinal cord are responsible. The latter can also suffer when a dropped disc begins to squeeze it. With an intervertebral hernia, the prognosis depends on several factors. The main one is the degree of protrusion of the disc. When it just begins to be damaged, a crack forms, and at this stage it is still possible to stop the pathology if a number of preventive and therapeutic measures are followed. But when the fibrous ring breaks and the pulp comes out, this leads to strong pressure on the roots and the brain, which already gives severe symptoms with all the consequences.

At the last stage of a hernia, part of the disc is torn off, and it moves freely along the spinal canal, which at any time can lead to damage to the spinal cord with the risk of disability.

Spinal disc prolapse is considered a serious pathology with indications for surgical treatment, but the operation can also end in unpleasant consequences. The most dangerous conditions with a hernia threaten paralysis of the limbs with the loss of the possibility of self-service.

Why does a spinal hernia occur?

Knowing the main cause of the disease, it is possible to exclude undesirable factors that can aggravate the condition and lead to complications. So, with a hernia, excess weight, high loads, injuries and hard physical work will be dangerous. But this is not all the causes of pathology. Women are often diagnosed with a hernia in the lumbar after a difficult birth, but this is always preceded by degenerative-dystrophic processes.

Osteochondrosis is one of the main causes of the disease, when the vertebrae and discs stop receiving important nutrients, wear out quickly, and become unable to withstand high loads.

In men, this pathology is often associated with heavy sports. A hernia is formed for a long time, and only in rare cases occurs suddenly, which can happen due to a spinal injury.

In children, disk damage will be an exception, but there is an even more dangerous condition - spinal hernia in newborns, which can be fatal without timely surgery. This is a congenital disease with an unknown etiology. Such a hernia appears as a formation on the back, which consists of various structures of the spine: the spinal cord, nerve roots, cerebrospinal fluid.

The consequences of a herniated disc in young children can only be prevented by urgent surgery, and the best option is prenatal surgery followed by rehabilitation after childbirth.

In adults, a hernia will be considered life-threatening in case of sequestration and when the mass is larger than 15 mm. In such cases, and when there is a persistent pain syndrome, surgery is considered as the only way to avoid consequences.

How the disease manifests itself

Timely diagnosis is the key to successful therapy, and specific and indirect symptoms will help determine the hernia.

The following conditions will signal the destruction of the intervertebral disc :

1. Cervical department - drops in blood pressure, migraine, dizziness, pain in the shoulder girdle and shoulder blades, a feeling of numbness of the skin of the hands and neck. In severe cases, there is a violation of hearing and vision, and the most dangerous consequence will be a stroke due to impaired cerebral circulation.
2. Thoracic region - chronic pain in the chest, numbness of the skin, heaviness during a long walk and in a sitting position. Often this disease is accompanied by curvature of the spine.
3. Lumbar lower back, radiating to the back, numbness in the groin area, a feeling of crawling, pain in the foot and on the lateral surface of the thigh.

The listed symptoms are a reason to immediately contact a vertebrologist or neurologist for a comprehensive assessment of the condition and confirmation of the diagnosis. Then the doctor will prescribe conservative treatment, which will be adjusted depending on the results of x-ray examination and laboratory tests.

Why is a disc herniation dangerous?

The consequences of a vertebral hernia will depend on the localization of the pathological process.

What is dangerous intervertebral hernia in the cervical region:

• insomnia;
• frequent headaches;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• muscle weakness;
• memory impairment;
• chronic back pain;
• frequent dizziness.

What is dangerous hernia of the spine in the lumbar:

• pain syndrome in the lumbar region, buttocks and legs;
• periodic radiculitis;
• frequent numbness of the skin;
• in women - violation of the menstrual cycle;
• in men - sexual dysfunction;
• violation of muscle tone and muscle atrophy.

Schmorl's hernia is the least dangerous form of pathology, in which the vertebral plates are somewhat curved.

This disease does not require special treatment, but many with such a diagnosis are interested in whether such an anomaly is dangerous. In rare cases, Schmorl's hernia can lead to deformity of the spinal column. In addition, this violation increases the risk of compression fracture, as many vertebrologists believe.

Schmorl's hernia is determined only during an MRI or X-ray. It can provoke other pathologies of the spine, therefore, after identifying such an anomaly, doctors recommend doing therapeutic exercises and following a diet.

The risk of hernia complications increases with age. After 25 years, the aging process already begins, the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity, suffer from a lack of moisture. At the same time, they decrease in size and the nucleus pulposus moves somewhat from the center to the side, which leads to pressure on the nerve roots.

The distance between the vertebrae decreases, and even with a slight load, a rupture of the fibrous ring can occur, that is, a true disc herniation occurs.

Differential diagnosis of a hernia is performed with a hemangioma. It is a benign tumor formed from blood vessels . And only after an MRI or an X-ray, the doctor will be able to make a diagnosis and explain in detail how dangerous hemangioma of the spine is, what symptoms it has similar to a hernia, and what to do to prevent complications.

Consequences of the operation

A neglected pathology of the spine will be an indication for surgical removal. Without adequate conservative treatment, a ruptured hernia becomes a life-threatening condition. In this case, only the removal of the disc will help maintain the normal functioning of the spine with the possibility of self-service. The hernia can burst under the influence of a high load or with a large size of the formation, and such a dangerous phenomenon can lead to paralysis of the legs.

In connection with all the risks, when the patient's condition is severe and conservative treatment no longer gives results, the removal of the hernia by a radical method is prescribed.

During , the following complications may develop:

• nerve damage, which leads to pain and numbness of the limbs;
• infection;
• detection of hidden anomalies of the spine, which will require elimination during the operation;
• complication of osteochondrosis, which will lead to constant pain;
• recurrence of a hernia, and at the same time, a recurrence of the disease can happen repeatedly;
• paralysis due to nerve injury;
• spinal stenosis, resulting in adhesions and scarring.

Prevention of complications

After the operation, the attending physician prescribes a rehabilitation course, which includes an exercise therapy program, drug therapy and physiotherapy. Kinesitherapy can be prescribed individually, and the doctor can also recommend non-traditional methods of treatment to improve the condition.

This may be acupuncture, treatment with medical leeches, manual therapy, but already in the late recovery period.

For the first three weeks after the operation, it is forbidden:

• sit down - this increases the load on the operated area;
• engage in sports and physical labor;
• make sharp turns and movements;
• sleep on a soft surface;
• massage, undergo a course of osteopathy and manual therapy.

Complications before and after surgery are treated comprehensively. To maintain the health of the spine and restore its normal function, the patient will have to work hard on himself for more than one month, but this will pay off with the opportunity to lead a full life with only minor restrictions.