Disc protrusion - pathology of intervertebral discs

Disk protrusion is a pathological change in the human body. The disease develops by protrusion of the intervertebral disc into the vertebral canal. At the given pathology of rupture of a fibrous ring does not occur.

Disc protrusion is not an independently developing disease. It is a definite stage of osteochondrosis of the spine. The root cause of the disease is dengenerative-dystrophic destruction of the intervertebral disc.

Stages of pathology

The development of disc protrusion is three distinct stages. The first of these changes the elasticity and structure of the vertebral disc. At the same time, its height decreases. Numerous cracks appear on the fibrous ring. Destructive processes reach sixty to seventy percent. At this stage of the disease, the patient feels pain attacks that are of a local nature.

In the second stage of disc protrusion, the swelling of the intervertebral disk increases. It reaches several millimeters. The pains to which the patient complains, spread beyond the lesion and are of an irradiating nature.

The third stage precedes the tearing of the fibrous ring. At this stage, the disk protrusion is characterized by an even greater increase in disk bulging. This sharpness of pain increases. It becomes intolerable. The patient complains of numbness of the extremities. His limp develops.

Symptoms of pathology

The disease has a different localization. It can be cervical, thoracic and lumbar. The first type of pathology often leads to the most severe consequences. The patient can even become an invalid. The protrusion of cervical discs is characterized by a subluxation of the vertebrae. Even a slight protrusion (up to three millimeters) can have serious consequences. The pathology, which has reached a size of 5 mm, is equal in her dangers to a hernia. With cervical protrusions, dull and intense pain occurs in the area of the disease. Often there are dizziness and noise in the ears. There are headaches, vision deteriorates. Blood pressure becomes unstable. Pain spreads over the shoulders and arms. As a result, your fingers become numb. With thoracic and lumbar protrusions, pain occurs in the localization of the pathological process.

Causes of ailment

Disc protrusion is caused by sharp movements of the body to the sides during lifting of gravity. This greatly overloads the spinal column. An impetus to the development of pathology can give osteoporosis, scoliosis and osteochondrosis. It provokes the disease and a weakly developed muscular system of the skeleton. Disc protrusions can provoke infectious, as well as viral diseases, internal diseases and spinal injuries. Disc protrusion is possible as a result of age-related changes, as well as prolonged disruption of posture. The development of the disease is affected by heredity, inappropriate nutrition and disturbances in metabolic processes. All these causes contribute to the emergence of dystrophic processes, leading to a decrease in depolarization of disk tissue, which is why protrusion of the spinal discs occurs.

Treatment of pathology

If the disease is detected at an early stage, it may be sufficient to apply conservative therapies for recovery. At the same time, an integrated approach is important, which allows you to get rid of not only the symptoms of the disease, but also from the causes that caused it.

The course of therapy begins with the elimination of pain syndromes. The patient is provided with peace, excluding intense movements. At this stage, prescribed analgesics ("Diclofenac", "Ketanov", etc.). These drugs also relieve swelling caused by pathology. To restore the blood supply and nutrition of the nerve root, biogenic stimulants are discharged. It is also useful to supplement the body with vitamin complexes.