Therapy
Two types of treatment are possible: the conservative and the operative treatment procedure. In most cases, a conservative method is sufficient to treat the herniated disc of the lumbar spine. The conservative treatments include pain therapy and training of the back muscles.
After six to eight weeks, the symptoms should have improved. If there is no improvement, the success rate for a conservative therapy decreases. – A suitable pain therapy with medication is the most important pillar of treatment for a herniated disc.
The doctor prescribes analgesic medication, which also has an anti-inflammatory effect, since a herniated disc is often accompanied by a local inflammatory reaction. If oral tablets are not sufficient, a local injection, i.e. injections into the region of the herniated disc, can relieve the pain for a while with medication. The local injection can also be mixed with a cortisone to inhibit the inflammatory processes.
After six to eight weeks the symptoms should have improved. If there is no improvement, the success rate for a conservative therapy decreases. Exercises can help to relieve the symptoms of a herniated disc and to treat the herniated disc.
Exercises that build up muscles and thus stabilize the back are particularly important in the case of a herniated disc, since the injury causes instability in the lumbar spine and a weak back often favors the development of the herniated disc. Besides training the back muscles, training the abdominal muscles is essential, especially in the initial phase of treatment. The doctor and physiotherapist in charge can best assess which exercises are appropriate in each individual case.
As the correct execution of the exercises is relevant for the success of the treatment, it is advisable to perform them at the beginning in the presence of the therapists. In addition to exercises that serve to build up muscles, stretching and mobilisation exercises are often integrated into the programme and can help to restore the function of the spinal column and the nerves running in it. If one of the following points occurs, an operation of the herniated disc of the lumbar spine should be performed on the affected person: Cauda equina syndrome is a real emergency in orthopedics.
Here the herniated intervertebral disc pinches the nerve root and the spinal cord, so that the following complaints occur: During the operation, the surgeon uses a microscope to remove parts of the prolapsed intervertebral disc and relieves the nerve root. After the operation, the patient remains in hospital for three to five days. From there, the patient often goes straight on to rehab.
Back-friendly behaviour, stabilising the back muscles with the help of physiotherapy and optimal pain therapy are the main points of rehabilitation. – Paralysis symptoms
- No response to painkillers
- Rapidly worsening symptoms of the herniated disc lumbar spine
- Cauda syndrome. – Bladder incontinence after a slipped disc in the lumbar spine
- Fecal incontinence,
- Numbness in the genital and
- Anal area (also called breeches anaesthesia)
