Tingling sensations in the legs due to a hernia: how to restore blood circulation. Bobyr Clinic

home
/
Articles
/
Symptoms of intervertebral hernia

It is not for nothing that intervertebral hernia is considered a “worldwide” disease. Because this disease can affect anyone: people of any age, gender and financial income. This disease does not go away on its own. Under no circumstances should it be left to its own devices. At the first suspicion, you should immediately consult a doctor. What are the symptoms of intervertebral hernia?

Causes of the disease

To begin with, externally, intervertebral discs are a kind of combination of a soft, jelly-like center, which is surrounded by many thin, but strong, dense fibrous membranes. The older a person is, the less he moves his spine throughout his life, the greater the load on the spine when lifting heavy objects, the less fluid there is in the intervertebral discs, they become less “elastic”, and begin to lose their shock-absorbing properties. And if it happens that the outer membrane ruptures, then a hernia appears. A pinched nerve occurs and pain or numbness appears in the legs or arms, depending on where the hernia occurs - in the lower back or in the neck.

At that very moment, as soon as you feel unpleasant pain, you need to go to the doctor and get diagnosed. Otherwise, it may happen that the nerves will be unnecessarily compressed. And then the consequences will be completely sad. Up to and including disability.

Types of violations

There are several types of sensitivity disorders, the precise definition of which helps a neurologist or vertebrologist more accurately determine the characteristics of the disease and develop treatment tactics. So, they distinguish:

hypoesthesia;
paresthesia;
anesthesia;
hyperesthesia.

Hypesthesia

Hypoesthesia is a decrease in the quality of sensitivity while maintaining it at all levels, from the skin to the muscles and tendons. But in such cases, an increase in the threshold of irritation is observed, i.e. the patient does not feel light touches, contact with an object that only slightly differs in temperature, and also does not react to irritants that should cause mild pain.

Hypesthesia of various parts of the lower extremities is often observed with intervertebral hernias of the lumbar spine. It is most typical for compression disorders.

Paresthesia

Paresthesia occurs almost with the same frequency as hypoesthesia. This term hides the occurrence of false sensations, i.e. the patient may feel both numbness and tingling in the leg, he may be disturbed by a feeling of heat, burning or, conversely, cold in the area corresponding to the level of damage. But most often paresthesia is manifested by the appearance of a crawling sensation. All these sensations occur in the absence of stimuli.

Anesthesia

The term “anesthesia” is more familiar to a wide range of people, but in a slightly different interpretation, that is, when a doctor deliberately eliminates the sensitivity of a specific area of the human body by introducing special medications. With a herniated lumbar intervertebral disc, complete loss of sensitivity in a specific area of one or both lower extremities is also possible, but due to internal changes.

Anesthesia for intervertebral hernia is rare and is mainly characteristic of very advanced conditions, when the disease is completely ignored by the patient for several years and no measures are taken to treat it. If anesthesia occurs, this is usually combined with motor disturbances and the development of peripheral deep paresis or paralysis. They are the ones who force patients to seek medical help.

Today, anesthesia due to intervertebral hernia is a rare phenomenon, but continues to occur. This is due to the fact that the development of neurological symptoms is already an indication for surgical intervention, especially if conservative measures have not brought results and the situation continues to worsen.

Hyperesthesia

Hyperesthesia is the occurrence of burning and pressing pain when touching the skin, namely attempts to gather it into a fold. Patients complain of increased sensitivity of the skin, and the pain can be so severe that it significantly complicates life. But hyperesthesia is observed with intervertebral hernias much less frequently than other types of sensitivity disorders.

Symptoms of the disease

Let's talk in more detail about how you can recognize the signs of an intervertebral hernia. And let’s say right away: there is good news - you can recognize the symptoms of the disease at the very beginning.

In a word, if you have the following signs, you need to be on alert. These include:

Stiffness of movement in the morning;
Dull pain in back when standing up;
The muscles became flaccid;
Unreasonable pain appears in the arms or legs;
Numbness in fingers or toes.

Features of the disease

There are a number of features of an intervertebral hernia that are also recommended to be taken into account. This should include:

Concentration of pain in the sacral and/or lumbar regions. It occurs because the disc begins to exert excessive pressure on the root of the nerve and presses it against the spinal column.
The pain can radiate to the legs or arms, as well as to the chest, shoulders, perineum, back of the head or rectal area.
Painful sensations often appear when performing physical exercises, when bending the body forward and backward, or bending to the sides.
Most often, the disease manifests itself most acutely in the morning, because the spinal discs have been in one position for a long time (all night), the movement of fluids is disrupted, and stagnation occurs.

Forms of the disease

The nature of the numbness that occurs may also indicate what form of intervertebral hernia the patient has. So, the following forms of this disease are distinguished:

If the hernia is lumbar, then pain will occur in the buttocks, on the back, outer side of the legs.
If there is a pinched nerve in the sacral region, you will feel a decrease in sensitivity in the calf muscles or feet. In parallel with this, numbness may appear in the buttocks, lower back or legs.
If the disease occurs in the thoracic region, then the pain will be localized specifically in the chest, and it may radiate to the ribs, or you may experience discomfort when turning your body, as well as between the shoulder blades.
If the pathology is cervicothoracic, then headaches may begin, which will become stronger when turning the head or bending. At the same time, memory may deteriorate or dizziness may occur. There will be a feeling of numbness in the fingers or weakness in the muscles of the hands.

Tingling sensations in the legs due to a hernia: how to restore blood circulation

When a spinal hernia occurs, the intervertebral disc is displaced and subsequently extends beyond the vertebra. With this condition, not only back pain occurs in the area

lumbar region, but also numbness of the leg, because blood circulation is impaired. For this reason, motor ability decreases and the patient’s quality of life deteriorates.

The leg becomes weak due to compression of nearby tissues by the ruptured fibrous ring. The pathological process reduces sensitivity completely or partially and leads to pain in the lower extremities. When you feel your calves, you feel pain. And this is already a sign of advanced disease, which is fraught with dangerous complications - in the advanced stage, the patient will not be able to move independently. When blood vessels are compressed and tissue circulation is impaired, pain occurs, sensitivity dulls, a feeling of goosebumps appears, and tingling occurs.

How to eliminate numbness

In a spasmodic state, it is difficult for the patient to move, and he will need first aid to relieve discomfort in the numb area:

Massage the calf muscles and apply warming gels to the affected area.
Orthopedic patches are used
. They can be bought at a pharmacy without a prescription. Therapeutic stickers remove tension from muscles prone to cramps and improve blood flow in the tissues in the affected area.

If you cannot cope with the numbness on your own, and the spasms do not go away, it is better to call an ambulance.

How to treat pathology

If you have an illness, contact a neurologist. After examining and interviewing the patient, the doctor will find out that the leg is cold and the lower back is red and swollen. The doctor will prescribe a general blood test, then treat with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain:

Selective drugs are administered by injection, which have an analgesic effect. Injections are given intravenously or intramuscularly with muscle relaxants that have a relaxing effect. The dosage of medications is determined by the doctor and depends on the course of the disease and the severity of damage to the calf muscles.
To speed up the healing process, physiotherapeutic procedures (electrophoresis and magnetotherapy) are used, influencing the body with direct electric current while simultaneously administering medications through the skin. Beneficial substances are instantly delivered to the diseased area.
An X-ray of the spinal column will reveal a hernia and even the slightest shift of the intervertebral disc.
The patient will benefit from a back and leg massage performed by a specialist. Manual therapy removes tension and spasms of the lumbar muscles, normalizes blood circulation, and releases the pinched nerve.

Painless physical procedures such as laser heating and cryotherapy are aimed at eliminating inflammation, pain, swelling and numbness of the foot.

Preventive actions

To prevent the condition from worsening, a person should engage in physical therapy. Under its influence, the lumbar region relaxes, and the vertebrae of the back are stretched, releasing pinched nerve roots. Gymnastics relieves compression of nerve fibers by a hernia:

Hanging on the bar for a few seconds every day helps a lot. This exercise will allow you to stretch your back.
LKF eliminates pinching, warms up the muscle frame, and restores blood flow in a numb leg. Physical activity strengthens the muscles of the back, preventing the vertebrae from moving further and affecting the hernia.
You can stretch your spine with water aerobics or swimming.
Numbness in the legs can be relieved by walking on tiptoes.
In case of pathological conditions, the Kuznetsov applicator helps. Place your feet on a linen mat with needle modules and slowly move from your heels to your toes. Yoga mat acts on the skin, increasing metabolic processes, reducing pain by relaxing muscles.
Cycling, in addition to improving blood flow, engages all muscle groups, which prevents numbness.
Feet should always be warm and not freeze.
Eating foods rich in B vitamins will prevent discomfort.
Contrasting foot baths also have a beneficial effect on your well-being.

To prevent serious consequences, comprehensive treatment is carried out under the supervision of a specialist who knows the individual characteristics of the patient and takes into account the degree of mobility of his legs. To restore normal functioning of the spine, treatment sessions should be carried out daily, using the exercises that were shown during medical sessions in a medical institution.

Traditional methods of treatment

Alternative medicine methods help relieve the feeling of wobbly legs. But self-medication is dangerous; before using traditional recipes, you must obtain the approval of a therapist.

Cucumber tincture is effective. To prepare it, chop pickled cucumbers (2-3 pieces) and add them to cubes of finely chopped red pepper. The mixture is poured with water. The infusion is stored in a place where sunlight does not penetrate. Before rubbing, the mass is filtered and then applied to the numb leg.
In case of a pathological condition, wrapping the limb with pumpkin porridge is useful. The compress is additionally wrapped in cellophane and wrapped in a warm thing. Keep it for half an hour.

Back healing can be done using a safe technique called chiropractic, which is based on the relationship between the spine and the nervous system.
Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr

Numbness of the lower extremities. Physiological reasons

Almost all people experience mild paresthesia. Symptoms develop after prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position and are associated with compression of blood vessels. As a result, tissue nutrition is disrupted, which is manifested by decreased sensitivity, “goosebumps” and tingling. When you change position, the sensations disappear.

This is an occupational pathology of representatives of professions that involve prolonged walking or standing: hairdressers, salespeople, waiters, and, to a lesser extent, teachers, doctors, couriers.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of sensory disorders, first of all, involves a thorough neurological examination. After the neurologist has assessed all types of sensitivity and their disorders, assessed the strength and tone of the muscles, examined the reflex sphere, volume and amplitude of movements, he can make a preliminary diagnosis taking into account the history and palpation of the back muscles.

Then, a mandatory step is imaging diagnostics, with magnetic resonance imaging being preferable to X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). This is due to the fact that MRI shows soft tissue formations, including cartilage tissue, much better. But RCT, for example, has an advantage in the emergency diagnosis of stroke in the first hours, since, unlike MRI, it reacts very well to free blood. In order to confidently diagnose not only the presence of a hernial protrusion, but also its localization, as well as the degree of compression of the roots, a resolution of at least 1.5-2 Tesla is required on the tomograph magnets.

Finally, once the diagnosis has been made, the extent of peripheral nerve damage can be assessed, if there is evidence for this. Electroneuromyography (ENMG) is performed. It allows you to assess the degree of nerve degeneration and make a differential diagnosis between radicular symptoms caused by a hernia and, possibly, the presence of underlying compression-ischemic neuropathy. This disorder does not directly affect the root, but a nerve, and can simulate a hernia.

Damage to the anterior portion of the roots

In addition to the posterior, sensitive portions, on the right and left in each pair of spinal roots there are also anterior, motor portions. Unlike the posterior roots, the anterior roots carry orders from top to bottom, from the brain to the muscles. They regulate muscle tone, causing muscles to perform voluntary movements that obey our will.

Almost always, a hernia “indiscriminately” compresses both portions, so in the clinic of lumbar hernias, along with sensory disturbances, various muscle disorders often occur. In some cases, these are minor changes that only a doctor can determine by examining tendon reflexes. Thus, in the case of long-term chronic compression, muscle weakness, difficulty gait, “slapping” of the foot, and the inability to walk on toes and (or) heels occur. What sensitivity disorders occur in the presence of hernias of the lumbar spine?

How does a hernia affect sensitivity?

Between the vertebrae, on their back side, are the so-called spinal or sensory ganglia. These are the nodes in which the bodies of the first neurons are located, perceiving various types of sensitivity from the corresponding peripheral nerves. The lumbar ganglia collect all types of sensation from the lower extremities, and then, as part of the dorsal or sensory root, these nerve bundles enter the spinal cord. There, switching to the bodies of other neurons, the bundles carrying sensitive impulses rise to the central nervous system for analysis. If a hernia, that is, a defect of the intervertebral disc, is located in such a way that it squeezes or compresses the spinal ganglia or other areas in which the majority of sensitive conductors are concentrated in a bottleneck, then the patient will experience certain sensitivity disorders. What happens if a hernial protrusion compresses the anterior portions of the spinal roots, causing their swelling?

Features of the treatment of sensory disorders in the legs

Most often, severe, prolonged pain or even paralysis forces patients to seek medical help. It is these obvious signs of a spinal hernia that worry patients the most, while sensitivity disorders, especially in the absence of severe pain, rarely frighten our people. Over time, many Russians get used to the feeling of numbness or other sensitivity disturbance and stop paying attention to them.

But such an attitude is fraught with dangerous consequences. Often, with sensory disorders not associated with pain, motor disorders arise and progress, which over time lead to peripheral paralysis and permanent disability. Therefore, patients, even with limited sensory impairment caused by intervertebral hernias of the lumbar spine, need to undergo regular examinations and determine the strength of the muscles of the lower extremities.

This can also be done at home. Every morning, patients are advised to walk around the house, first on their toes and then on their heels. If weakness occurs, movements become uncertain or you cannot perform them at all, you should urgently make an appointment with a neurologist for a consultation!

Treatment of sensitivity disorders, or rather the causes of their occurrence, can be carried out conservatively or surgically. Therefore, the primary task of the doctor is to assess the patient’s condition and determine whether there are indications for surgery to remove an intervertebral hernia.

If on the MRI images the protrusion is small in size, and the pain does not last long and is tolerable, treatment is allowed with conservative methods. But this is only possible if muscle strength is maintained and there are minor limited sensory disorders.

If the hernia is large, and the patient, along with sensitivity disorders, has aggravating features, for example, excess weight or diabetes, or there is severe, prolonged pain, surgical treatment of the hernia is recommended. Today, such operations in the vast majority of cases are performed using minimally invasive methods of puncture nucleoplasty or microdiscectomy. They allow, without significant intervention in the body, to eliminate mechanical pressure on the affected spinal root of the hernia itself and thereby completely eliminate the causes of sensitivity disorders.

Conservative therapy is usually ineffective in treating sensory disorders in older people.