Complications of a hernia in the cervical region before and after surgery

A hernia in the cervical spine rarely occurs, because the vertebrae and discs of the neck have a small load, and they are the most mobile. The causes of the disease are often age-related changes and injuries, so the treatment is always complex and lengthy. The consequences of a hernia of the cervical spine without prevention are extremely severe, therefore, with such a diagnosis, a lot of effort has to be directed to maintaining the health of the spinal column.

Degenerative changes in the disc in the neck are accompanied by the destruction of the fibrous ring and the release of the pulp beyond its limits. This threatens with the migration of sequesters along the spinal canal and compression of the spinal cord by parts of the nucleus, which can cause dysfunction of the internal organs.

Such a violation manifests itself with chronic pain, constant discomfort in the neck, neurological symptoms and many other unpleasant phenomena for the patient.

How does a hernia appear in the cervical region

It is possible to prevent the consequences of a hernia in the cervical spine with the timely detection of the disease. The first signs of the disease are blurred, therefore many ignore them, turning to the doctor already with the development of complications.

What symptoms indicate the displacement of a deformed intervertebral disc:

• the appearance of sudden acute, cutting pain in the neck and shoulders, the pain syndrome intensifies during movement, which is associated with compression of the nerves;
• there is a violation of coordination, there is noise and ringing in the ears, clouding before the eyes, dizziness and fainting, a short-term loss of consciousness may occur, which is dangerous for injury;
• all symptoms increase gradually, at first they are disturbed by weak pains, numbness of the skin of the hands, back, discomfort between the shoulder blades and in the sternum;
• it hurts to turn the head, a crunch is heard when turning the head;
• a feeling of sore throat, dry cough, difficulty breathing, which is often not associated with a disease of the cervical spine;
• the defeat between 6-7 vertebrae is manifested by a decrease in muscle tone, a feeling of goosebumps running through the body, numbness;
• radiculopathy develops - this is a neurological syndrome, manifested by severe pain in the back of the head, shoulders, shoulder blades;
• a neglected hernia is visible externally - the neck becomes thinner, deformation and weakening of the muscles occur, which is associated with damage to the nerve roots.

A herniated disc is dangerous at the stage of sequestration.

The size of the formation can reach 15 mm, and then the nucleus pulposus prolapses into the spinal canal. This is preceded by extrusion - the exit of the core beyond the disk, which had already been damaged before.

Causes

Frequent factors for the appearance of an intervertebral hernia in the cervical region:

• traumatic injury to the neck, when a rupture or crack of the disc occurs, which leads to the exit of the nucleus beyond the boundaries of the ring;
• incorrect position of the spinal column, constant stoop, hunchback lead to a violation of muscle tone, weakness of the ligamentous apparatus, which can no longer withstand the load;
• uneven load on the spine, hypodynamia, unpreparedness for hard physical work, engaging in traumatic sports;
• age-related disorders of cartilage and bone tissue, already after 25 years, the disc begins to wear out, loses elasticity, and loses a sufficient amount of nutrients;
• congenital and acquired diseases of the joints, hereditary predisposition;
• obesity, sedentary lifestyle, bad habits such as smoking and alcohol;
• occupational hazards, work associated with constant neck tension, repetitive movements, weight lifting.

What is dangerous disease

The pathology of the disc in the cervical region threatens with compression of the nerve roots and impaired blood circulation in the brain. But besides this, the destruction of the disk can cause paralysis, respiratory failure and the functioning of internal organs. Without treatment and normalization of the load on the spinal column, a hernia will cause spinal deformity.

Accompanying major disorders are neurological disorders, migraine, chronic pain, dysfunction of the stomach and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract may occur.

What is dangerous hernia of the cervical spine:

• muscle weakness of the arms, partial or complete paralysis;
• scoliosis;
• hearing loss and visual impairment;
• frequent nausea and vomiting;
• violation of blood flow in the spinal cord and brain;
• nerve compression;
• respiratory arrest due to spinal cord injury.

All complications require immediate attention, they are dangerous conditions that not only worsen the quality of life, but can also cause death. A critical condition in intervertebral hernia requires surgical treatment, but the operation does not guarantee an improvement in the condition, taking into account the risk of postoperative complications.

Neurological disorders

With a cervical hernia, there is a risk of squeezing the nerves and compression of the spinal cord, and these are predisposing factors for the development of early stroke and chronic headache.

What other consequences does the clamping of the cervical artery have:

• cutting headaches;
• dizziness with sharp tilts of the head;
• ringing in the ears, impaired concentration;
• poor sleep, insomnia, to the extent that the patient takes sleeping pills;
• forced position of the head to relieve symptoms.

Nerve injury and inflammation

Chronic pathology without treatment entails inflammation of the musculoskeletal apparatus, then sciatica occurs, which provokes severe pain. The patient has to minimize neck movements, which is helped by a supporting corset. Sciatica is accompanied by a severe headache, which is aggravated by any movement. If this condition is ignored, there is a risk of loss of sensation, paralysis of the hands and stroke.

Nerve entrapment is the most common consequence of cervical hernia. The nucleus pulposus, which has gone beyond the ring, compresses the nerves and injures the spinal cord. This gives typical neurological symptoms and pain.

The risk group for this disease with dangerous complications includes people who lead an inactive lifestyle when other pathologies of the spinal column or nervous system are diagnosed. More often this problem is faced by tall people, more than 175 cm tall, after the age of 35 years. Risk factors are degenerative changes with age and previous injuries, but the main cause will be osteochondrosis, malnutrition of the intervertebral disc.

Complications after surgery

Errors during and after surgery can cause postoperative complications:

• nerve damage, which manifests itself in the form of severe pain and numbness;
• wound infection;
• accidental detection of hidden pathologies of the spinal column with the risk of their aggravation;
• recurrence of the disease in the early period of spinal recovery;
• injury to nerve fibers, which ends in paralysis;
• inflammation of the lining of the brain;
• narrowing of the spinal canal, the formation of adhesions and scars;
• complication of osteochondrosis.

Prevention of consequences

Comprehensive treatment with the use of medicines, physiotherapy, massage, manual techniques and physical education will help reduce the risk of the consequences of a hernia in the cervical region.

Drug therapy to prevent complications:

1. Pain relief - the use of compresses to relieve pain, solutions of Novocaine, Profenid, Dimethyl sulfoxide are suitable for this purpose.
2. Removal of edema - Diclofenac, Movalis, Ketoprofen, Ibuprofen, drugs to eliminate spasm, reduce pain and swelling are used.
3. Normalization of the state of the nervous system - taking vitamin complexes, injections of vitamins of group B, E and C.
4. Restoration of cartilage tissue nutrition - chondroprotective agents are used in the form of tablets, ointments and balms, these are drugs Glucosamine, Artiflex, Teraflex.
5. Muscle relaxation - taking muscle relaxants helps to reduce muscle tension in the neck and chest, and also relieves pain.

An important stage of treatment and rehabilitation will be physiotherapy procedures:

• traction of the spine - traction is important to reduce the compression of the hernia on the nerve roots, which reduces pain;
• acupuncture - acupuncture is performed using thin needles that are inserted under the skin at certain trigger points on the body;
• electrophoresis - the introduction of a drug through the skin, this method of drug delivery is the safest and helps to carry out anti-inflammatory treatment;
• hirudotherapy - applying medical leeches to the neck to restore blood circulation, relieve inflammation and accelerate the elimination of toxic substances;
• physiotherapy exercises - performing a set of exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist, gymnastics fully helps to strengthen the weak spine and surrounding structures.

Surgical treatment is prescribed in extreme cases, when there is a risk of disability and the consequences relate to the functioning of internal organs.

The operation is indicated after 4-5 months of ineffective conservative treatment, when there is sequestration and the pain syndrome is not eliminated by any means, including minimally invasive laser treatment.

What to do after surgery

Prevention of postoperative consequences consists in observing the rest regimen for the patient's back. Within 2-3 weeks after the operation, it is forbidden to sit, sleep on a very soft surface and expose the spine to any load. To reduce pressure on the vertebrae, the doctor prescribes the wearing of a cervical collar.

In addition to the mandatory rules of rehabilitation, it is important to adhere to general prevention already in the late recovery period: eliminate bad habits, move more, sleep on a hard mattress and an orthopedic pillow.

After treatment, neck pain may be disturbing for a few more weeks, so the doctor will prescribe pain medications and procedures. It can be electrophoresis, acupuncture, massage.

A month after the operation, you can already begin to perform a set of physical exercises to strengthen the muscle corset. The training program should be developed with a specialist. At home, it is recommended to do exercises and exercises for stretching and relaxing muscles. Regular rotations and tilts of the head will also be useful, especially when you need to stay in one position for a long time.

The likelihood of complications is reduced if an individual course of rehabilitation is prescribed after the operation, taking into account the physical and psychological aspects of life.