Treatment of spinal disc protrusions, treatment of intervertebral disc protrusions

Protrusion of intervertebral discs is a physiological pathology consisting in bulging of the disc without compromising the integrity of the fibrous ring. Often occurs against the background of osteochondrosis. A healthy ring does not extend beyond the boundaries of the disc, but as this disease develops, it begins to bulge. Treatment of protrusion must begin immediately after detection. According to statistics, I diagnose it more often than a hernia.

Localization of the disease is the lumbar, cervical and thoracic regions. That is, the most mobile parts of the spine. Without treatment, the protrusion develops into a hernia, which can interfere with quality of life and seriously reduce a person's ability to work.

Prevalence of the disease

Statistics show that protrusion is a fairly common disease, especially in people over thirty years of age. Half of the documented evidence of the disease is that the most common type of protrusion is localized in the lower back. It occurs less often in the thoracic region. It is extremely rarely diagnosed in the cervical region.

Often, hernias develop from protrusions of intervertebral discs, for this reason it is necessary to undergo timely examinations and monitor your health.

Treatment and prevention of protrusions

Timely seeking help and proper treatment allows you to cope with the problem of intervertebral disc protrusion in 90% of cases.

When treating protrusions , NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, chondroprotectors are used, and, if necessary, painkillers. Exercise therapy and physiotherapy are prescribed.

The NANOPLAST forte medical plaster can provide effective assistance in the treatment of protrusion. It allows you to relieve pain and inflammation, improve blood circulation in the affected area of the spine, and reduce the dose of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

In case of protrusion, the therapeutic plaster NANOPLAST forte is applied to the area of the affected joint of the spine, depending on the location - lower back, neck or chest. To relieve acute symptoms, use the patch for 3 to 5 days. The duration of the course of treatment for protrusion is from 9 days. It is usually recommended to use the patch in the morning for 12 hours, but it can also be used at night.

Causes

Protrusion does not develop out of nowhere; first of all, stable morphological and pathological changes in the column occur, which can last up to several years. Other deformities of the spine and intervertebral discs lead to protrusion.

The disc consists of a fibrous ring and its immediate center, the nucleus pulposus. The core surrounded by a ring is protected. However, under the influence of various circumstances, the tissue of the ring can be damaged and suffer from micro-tears. This gives rise to the development of the disease.

Then the following happens: the vertebrae put pressure on the core, so it, avoiding this pressure, begins to slowly shift into the newly formed micro-tears. The center begins to produce additional resistance to the periphery, which subsequently leads to protrusion of the intervertebral disc. Treatment for bulging discs involves pushing the annulus fibrosus back into place before it ruptures.

Factors provoking the development of protrusion	Factors provoking the development of protrusion
Microtraumas; extra load; displacement of some vertebrae; poor nutrition; fractures and injuries of the spine; curvature; weak, untrained muscles; frequent sitting work; low physical activity; genetic predisposition.	High degree of obesity, flat feet, osteoporosis, curvature (severe), osteochondrosis, changes in the quality of health with age.

Description of the disease

The prerequisite for the development of protrusion is the gradual destruction of the intervertebral cervical discs. When a person tilts his head, the fibrous rings are exposed to the main loads. If he has correct posture and the neck is not in a bent position for a long time, then the cartilage tissues are not micro-traumatized. And when you stoop or spend a long time at a computer or laboratory table, the pressure on the outer sides of the fibrous ring increases many times (about 5 times). Microscopic cracks form on the surface of the cervical disc due to fiber breaks. Destruction is aggravated by the natural aging of the body and the slowdown of recovery processes.

The fibrous ring becomes dehydrated, dries out, thickens, and loses its ability to hold the nucleus pulposus. Any flexion and extension of the neck leads to its gradual protrusion beyond the boundaries of the vertebrae. Moreover, the displacement is observed in those areas where the cartilage tissue has undergone maximum thinning and damage. This protrusion of the nucleus pulposus is called protrusion. It is characteristic of the second stage of osteochondrosis, when irreversible destructive and degenerative changes in the cervical vertebral segments have already occurred.

Symptoms

The pathology develops and lasts for a long time due to the influence of provoking factors and risk factors, sometimes it can last for decades. For this reason, at first the patient may not notice the disease.

The protrusion forms and progresses without any obvious symptoms. Since people do not know about the pathology, they do not seek treatment. And the ring begins to protrude more and more until it ruptures and forms a hernia. But what is happening still has a clinical manifestation. Among the characteristic symptoms are the following:

numbness of the limbs;
tension in the spine;
headache;
discomfort in the spine;
sleep problems;
fast fatiguability;
chronic pain in the spine;
chilliness of the limbs;
movements are limited.

These signs must be carefully monitored in order to begin treatment on time. If you notice that new symptoms have appeared or old ones have begun to develop in strength, do not delay in contacting a doctor.

Why does disc protrusion occur?

The structure of the disc is complex in itself and this contributes to both serious injuries and chronic microtraumas, especially with prolonged curvature of the spine, or in case of heavy physical activity. An even more important role is played by the constant aging process, the main degenerative factor of which is dehydration - a decrease in the water content in the disc.

This results in limited elasticity, inability to absorb and compensate for pressure on the spine. Separately, it should be noted atherosclerotic damage to the vessels that supply tissues with oxygen and essential nutrients.

Another key point is changes in the collagen structure of the peripheral part of the disc - the fibrous ring, which violates its integrity and leads to distortion of its supporting functions. As a result, the distance between adjacent vertebrae narrows, the tone of the surrounding muscles and ligaments changes, the mechanics of small joints between the vertebral joints are disrupted, and secondary complications occur. Whether disc protrusion will appear at all, at what age degenerative changes will occur and how pronounced they will be, is determined by genetic predisposition and lifestyle.

Risk factors associated with degenerative disc changes include:

smoking, which contributes to a dehydrating effect in the body;
excess weight and obesity increase the mechanical load on the spine;
intense physical labor;
static loads that contribute to the curvature of the spine (work sitting/standing in the same position);
sedentary lifestyle;
congenital or acquired abnormalities of the spine (for example, scoliosis);
systemic diseases affecting the spine.

Degree of progression of protrusion

Conventionally, the degree of neglect of the disease can be conditionally attributed to one of three stages. Depending on how long the disease has progressed, treatment and rehabilitation are prescribed. Let's look at each of the stages.

First stage

At this stage, the fibrous ring, which is the shock absorption of the spine, begins to suffer from disturbances in its structure: cracks may form, the shape of the core may change, and so on. Patients with mild protrusion can be treated quickly and without further consequences.

Second phase

After this, the ring continues to deform. The core begins to protrude to a distance of approximately 3-4 millimeters. This leads to pressure on blood vessels and nerve endings that lie nearby. Patients at the second stage complain of lumbago in the spine and developing pain in the area where the ring was deformed.

Third stage

If the protrusion is not treated, the disease will move to the next stage. The ring begins to protrude to a distance of at least 5 millimeters, which leads to rupture of the core. The patient develops a hernia as a result.

What is cervical disc protrusion?

The cervical region is formed by 7 vertebrae, but unlike other parts of the spine, not all of them have intervertebral discs. The first cervical vertebra is called the atlas, and the second the axis. They have a special shape, and there is no cartilage layer between them, i.e., an intervertebral disc. They exist between all the other vertebrae of the ridge, but differ in size.

Cervical intervertebral discs have the smallest height and diameter, but, like all others, they consist of a nucleus pulposus and an annulus fibrosus. The nucleus pulposus is the most important part of the disc, responsible for cushioning movements, holding adjacent vertebral bodies and ensuring spinal mobility. It has a gelatinous consistency and constantly contracts and expands during movements, which allows you to soften impacts and at the same time provides nutrition to the intervertebral disc, since it does not have its own blood vessels.

The fibrous ring surrounds the nucleus pulposus. It is formed by strong but elastic fibers intertwined in 3 planes. But under the influence of degenerative changes caused by increased stress or the natural processes of aging of the body, the fibers that form the fibrous ring lose their natural elasticity, and the disc itself dehydrates and becomes thinner. The pressure of the vertebral bodies on it increases, which leads to increased pressure inside the disc.

The gelatinous internal content puts more pressure on the already weakened fibers of the annulus fibrosus, provoking the formation of microscopic tears in them. Over time, some of the fibers rupture and the nucleus pulposus, trying to normalize the pressure inside the disc, rushes into the resulting cavity. Thus, the fibrous ring still retains its integrity from the outside, but its thickness in different parts of the disc is not the same, i.e. a protrusion is formed. Such processes provoke the development of inflammation in the neck and the occurrence of pain of varying intensity, and since the shape of the disc is also deformed, this can lead to neurological disorders.

Each protrusion goes through 3 stages of development:

The size of the protrusion does not exceed 1 mm. Only a very experienced specialist can diagnose such a protrusion, since it is difficult to notice even on high-precision MRI images. But the presence of pathology can be suspected by the presence of signs of severe destruction of the intervertebral disc.
The size of the protrusion is up to 3 mm. Such formations are already easily detected using instrumental diagnostic methods and are a common reason for a patient’s initial visit to a doctor due to the appearance of neck pain and sometimes neurological disorders.
The size of the protrusion reaches 5 mm. At this stage of development, the protrusion often transforms into a herniated intervertebral disc, i.e., the final breakthrough of the fibrous ring occurs, which allows the nucleus pulposus to protrude outward.

The intervertebral discs C5-C6 and C6-C7 are most often affected in the cervical spine.

Possible consequences

And although at first glance the disease seems imperceptible and harmless due to its mild onset and virtually asymptomatic nature, it can still cause truly terrible consequences after itself. Among them are lower back pain, disability, paralysis of the lower extremities, serious disorders of the pelvic organs (for example, the development of incontinence), and the appearance of disability. Therefore, it is so important to start treatment of disc protrusions on time.

The main danger of this pathology lies in the possibility of progression to large sizes and the formation of a hernia in the future. A small deformity will not cause discomfort, but already developed protrusion and hernia lead to the following problems:

chronic and severe pain;
chronic and severe pain;
blood vessels and nerve endings are compressed in the sleeve or hole.

Types of protrusions

Depending on the location of the protrusion of the fibrous ring relative to the spinal column, lateral, posterolateral, central (median) and posterior protrusions are distinguished.

Lateral (side) protrusion

The term “lateral protrusion” means that the protrusion of the annulus fibrosus is located to the side (right or left) of the spinal column. In this case, the likelihood of pressure on the spinal cord roots is quite high. This type of protrusion occurs quite rarely (in 10% of cases) and is often asymptomatic until the protrusion puts pressure on nearby roots.

Posterolateral protrusion

The term means the location of the protrusion back and sideways in relation to the spinal column. With this location of the protrusion, there is a high probability of not only affecting the roots (as with lateral protrusions) on the right or left, but also on other structures of the spinal cord. Just like the lateral one, this protrusion can be asymptomatic until there is a physical impact on the nerve structures.

Central protrusion (median)

The term refers to the direction of the bulge towards the center of the spinal canal. With this arrangement there is a risk of impact on the spinal cord. As a rule, such protrusions are asymptomatic and rarely require treatment.

Posterior protrusion

The term means the direction of protrusion from the abdomen to the back. This location of the protrusion most often leads to a direct effect on the spinal structures and leads to pain syndromes, sensory disturbances, motor disorders, and dysfunction of the pelvic organs.

Kinds

Depending on the location of the protrusion, three types of protrusion are distinguished. They are most often formed in one of three sections - cervical, thoracic, lumbar. This happens because these segments of the spine are characterized by the greatest mobility.

Cervical protrusion

Despite the rarity of the formation of protrusions in the cervical spine, we must not forget about the possibility of its occurrence in you. First of all, you need to pay attention to localized pain in the neck and shoulder area. The pain in this place is usually aching and sharp. As the disease progresses, the pain begins to increase. In addition, your hands may also begin to suffer.

Often, cervical protrusion leads to numbness, tingling of the skin, a noticeable loss of sensitivity of the skin, muscle weakness, “jumping” blood pressure, problems with coordination and dizziness.

The cervical region is where the brain begins and where the main blood vessels are located that provide blood flow to the brain. Therefore, deformation of the rings in this segment can lead to really serious health problems. The first signs of this are high fatigue. The neck often begins to become numb when sitting for a long time, it is uncomfortable to lie in bed (the pillow seems uncomfortable), the head is held only with great tension in the neck. These signs should alert you, after which you should immediately consult a doctor.

There are seven vertebrae in the cervical region, separated by IVDs. The main difference between this segment of the spine and others is mobility, high mobility thanks to the discs. Therefore, neck movements are easy for us, and the head is kept quite stable without additional problems in a healthy state.

Excessive mobility can lead to wear of the intervertebral discs and the appearance of a bulge. And this leads to pinching of nerve endings, roots, and also the spinal cord.

Another factor that makes cervical protrusion the most dangerous is the severity of detection without examination. Unfortunately, it is often discovered only after the ring has ruptured. During the progression of the disease, myelopathy, one of the types of chronic damage to the spinal cord, may develop. The syndrome is characterized by an irritating effect.

The main consequences of the pathology: hearing loss, loss of vision. Reflexes may disappear, and patients suffer from invincible muscle weakness. In the worst cases, paralysis of the entire body is possible.

Thoracic protrusion

It is rare to see protrusion of the intervertebral disc in this region. This is due to the relatively low mobility of the chest and spine in this segment. But they can still form. Why is this happening?

This can occur with general pain in the spine or incorrect diagnosis of a heart attack (the symptoms are quite similar). The disease most often manifests itself in the form of neuralgia in the intercostal space with varying strength. Pain is accompanied by muscle weakness and noticeable stiffness in the chest and back.

Not only pain can become an important signal about the development of thoracic protrusion: thus, another flag should be discomfort that appears when sitting or standing. Also, an eternal, persistent feeling of fatigue in the back muscles, a negative effect on the spine in the form of irritation of local places. Unpleasant sensations in the thoracic region. The body uses these signals to tell you that the IVD is in poor condition.

Let's highlight the main symptoms of the development of pathology, which indicate the need for treatment of spinal protrusion in the thoracic region. You should never give them little importance, everything is important. So the list is like this:

the middle of the back suffers from constant pain;
numbness and lumbago appear in the chest and abdomen;
intercostal pain;
the tone of the abdominal muscles noticeably decreases;
stiffness in the back.

This variant of the pathology becomes dangerous for the internal organs of the body. First of all, the kidneys and liver come under fire, which can lead to permanent diseases, pathologies and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The pain can become chronic and intense.

Lumbar protrusion

The most defenseless section of the spine, which is most often susceptible to protrusion formations, is the lumbar and lumbosacral sections. This occurs due to the large number of loads on this area, the greatest amplitude in movements and mobility. With age, protrusions can only get worse. Intervertebral discs noticeably wear out over time, especially under the influence of provoking factors. In this case, the characteristic features are pain in this region, which spreads to the lower limbs and significantly complicates coordination, up to the loss of the ability to move the legs.

There are other markers that need to be considered for the possible formation of a bulge. This is tension and aching pain in the lumbar region before going to bed (the syndrome is relieved by lying down), lack of comfort in a sitting position. It is difficult for patients to spend at least a few minutes without changing their position; sitting without leaning on the back of a chair becomes difficult. These and other signs indicate deeply developed protrusions that need to be treated urgently. Don't delay this, especially if you have the following symptoms:

pain in the central part of the lower back, which spreads horizontally and covers the entire lower part of the torso;
there is noticeable stiffness in the affected area;
radiculitis develops;
the muscle frame in the legs noticeably weakens, especially in the thighs and calves;
constant feeling of numbness in the toes;
tingling feet;
from time to time the process of urination is disrupted, the body’s false urge to urinate appears;
leg reflexes noticeably decrease and disappear;
the body is difficult to rotate along the vertical axis;
when sitting, the lower back suffers from severe pain;
the body reacts sharply to changing weather conditions.

In the future, lack of treatment leads to paralysis of the lower limbs. Don't delay going to the doctor.

Treatment methods

Protrusion of the cervical intervertebral discs responds well to conservative treatment. An integrated approach to therapy is practiced. First, the factors that provoke protrusion of the nucleus pulposus and increased symptoms are eliminated. Treatment is also aimed at improving the patient’s well-being, preventing further disc displacement and pinching of the spinal roots.

Drug therapy

To relieve intense pain, injections of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used. Usually Movalis, Ortofen, Voltaren are administered intramuscularly.

NSAIDs are often combined with muscle relaxants (Mydocalm, Sirdalud), which relax skeletal muscles and eliminate muscle spasms.

Only if these drugs are ineffective, glucocorticosteroids in combination with anesthetics are included in the therapeutic regimen:

Diprospan;
Triamcinolone;
Flosteron.

Hormonal drugs are injected directly into the tissues located next to the displaced disc.

After eliminating painful symptoms, patients are prescribed chondroprotectors (Arthra, Teraflex, Structum) for partial restoration of cartilage tissue. But they are clinically effective only for protrusion of mild severity.

Also used in treatment are drugs that contain B vitamins - Milgamma, Combilipen, Pentovit, Neuromultivit.

Diet

The goals of following a therapeutic diet for protrusion are to normalize weight, supply the body with the necessary amount of standard nutrients and improve the condition of the intervertebral discs. On the Internet, there are recommendations about the need to consume as many dishes with gelatin as possible, for example, jellied meat or fish jelly. Doctors warn about the dangers of such a diet correction due to the high calorie content of the aspic. In addition, the collagen contained in gelatin does not penetrate cartilage tissue, breaking down in the gastrointestinal tract.

Following a gentle therapeutic diet allows you to improve your overall health and somewhat speed up your metabolism, which has a beneficial effect on the regeneration of damaged structures. Smoked and fried foods, butter and puff pastries should be excluded from the diet. Instead, you should eat fresh vegetables, berries, fruits, cereal porridges, and clear soups.

Nutrition for osteochondrosis and other pathologies of the spine.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

If there is slight protrusion of the nucleus pulposus, painkillers may not be prescribed to patients at all. Instead, 5-10 sessions of physiotherapy are carried out. They have many advantages over drugs - safety, a narrow list of contraindications, and the absence of pharmacological load on the body. The most commonly used physiotherapy procedures are:

magnetic therapy;
UHF therapy;
laser therapy;
shock wave therapy;
electro- or phonophoresis with analgesics, chondroprotectors, B vitamins.

Treatment of cervical spine pathologies with laser.

The therapeutic effect of physiotherapeutic measures is to relieve aseptic inflammation and pain, normalize microcirculation. Improving the blood supply to the discs with nutrients stimulates their partial restoration and increased functional activity.

Surgical intervention

Surgeries on the cervical spine are performed only to eliminate dangerous pathological conditions - compression of the spinal cord or pinched nerve roots. Surgery is also often indicated for patients with already formed cervical disc herniations. In case of protrusions, compression of the nerve endings is successfully eliminated by conservative treatment.

After surgery.

Surgery for disc displacement can be prescribed for rapidly progressing osteochondrosis complicated by vertebral artery syndrome. But in this case, the indication for its implementation is not protrusion, but a degenerative disease.

Physiotherapy

If a person is diagnosed with protrusion, then the prerequisites have been created for its development. Therefore, immediately after reducing the size of the protrusion, the patient is sent to a physical therapy doctor, who will be involved in the prevention of recurrent pathology. When developing a set of exercises, he takes into account the physical fitness of the person and the reasons for the appearance of protrusion. The doctor must take a medical history and conduct an external examination.

At the initial stage of training, tilts and turns of the head are performed with a small amplitude. The movements are performed smoothly, slowly, so as not to injure damaged intervertebral discs. As the muscle frame of the neck strengthens, the number of approaches increases. But the exercises are also performed sparingly, without increasing the load. In the future, the doctor can supplement the complex. It includes exercises to improve the general condition of the spinal column and proper distribution of loads.

Massage and manual therapy

In the therapy of protrusions, manual and hardware massage techniques are actively used. Vertebrologists recommend combining them with exercise therapy and physiotherapeutic measures. The result will be a strong muscular frame of the neck, reliably stabilizing the discs and vertebrae, preventing the slightest displacement. What types of massage are used most often:

vacuum;
classical;
point;
can;
Swedish.

Classic cervical massage.

The area of influence is not limited only to the neck - soft tissues located along the entire spine are kneaded. To increase therapeutic effectiveness, cosmetic oils, warming gels, and balms with chondroprotectors are used.

For protrusions, traction is practiced - dry or underwater traction of the spine. The procedures are performed only by a chiropractor as prescribed by a vertebrologist.

Underwater spinal traction.

Neck brace

Since protrusion is often a complication of osteochondrosis, wearing orthopedic devices is necessary. Doctors recommend wearing them daily for 2-3 hours and be sure to take them off before going to bed. This relatively short time is enough to relax tense neck muscles and improve blood circulation. Neck braces are made in the form of collars of various sizes. What types of orthopedic products are there:

soft, elastic bandage with hard metal or plastic inserts;
tight orthosis, eliminating the possibility of any movement.

Shants collars are especially popular - a bandage made of soft materials of varying degrees of hardness. Vertebrologists often prescribe wearing inflatable collars for protrusion, increasing the distance between the vertebrae.

Shants collar.

Folk remedies

In the absence of qualified medical care, the protrusion quickly transforms into a hernia, so it is advisable to postpone the use of folk remedies until the rehabilitation period. They do not contain any components that can improve the condition of intervertebral discs. Folk remedies will not be able to eliminate extremely painful lumbago in the neck that occurs from time to time.

During the recovery stage after the main treatment, the use of herbal teas is allowed. To prepare them, pour a tablespoon of dry plant material into 2 cups of boiling water, leave for a couple of hours, cool and filter. Drink 50-100 ml after each meal. For protrusions, St. John's wort, lemon balm, thyme, fireweed, and marigold are most useful.

Tea made from lemon balm and St. John's wort.

Acupuncture

The therapeutic effect of acupuncture is the involvement of the humoral and nervous mechanisms of the human body in the healing process. During the session, very thin needles are used, so when they are inserted into biologically active points, a person does not experience pain.

During an acupuncture session, mechanical effects are applied to the skin, subcutaneous tissue, blood vessels, soft tissues, and spinal structures. As a result, muscle spasms disappear, blood circulation accelerates, trophism improves, and the size of the protrusion decreases.

Acupuncture session.

Hirudotherapy

This is the name of treatment with medicinal leeches - ringed worms that live in fresh water bodies. Their saliva contains a huge amount of biologically active substances that have analgesic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Usually 2-3 leeches are installed on the area of displaced discs. They bite through the skin, and the formation of blood clots is prevented by injecting saliva into the blood. After saturation, the worms fall off, and the injured areas are treated with antiseptics.

Hirudotherapy session.

Diagnostics

The main obstacle and problem in diagnosing and treating spinal protrusion is the weak manifestation of the disease at the clinical level in the early stages of development. Often the patient notices the problem and seeks help already at the third stage, when the ring breaks and the formation of a hernia begins.

People who are suspected of having bulging intervertebral discs are prescribed a variety of diagnostic tests by various specialized doctors. In addition, the patient undergoes a number of additional measures to more accurately determine the disease:

A life history is collected, which is needed to determine why the protrusion formed and the pain began to intensify;
Inspection and further palpation of the spine (column), making it clear about the tension of the nerve roots and the position that brings more pain. At this stage, it is possible to notice low reflexes, weakness in the muscles, decreased skin sensitivity, which indicates progressive protrusion;
An X-ray image that provides a huge amount of information about the condition of the spinal column: structural features of the vertebrae and discs, the distance between them, pathologies, signs of osteochondrosis, sustained injuries, the level of neglect of the disease;
MRI of the spine, which makes it possible at the first stage of the disease to determine whether a person is more protrusive, as well as provide information about the size and strength of compression of the roots and tissues.

The patient is also required to undergo examination for impaired functionality and efficiency of the spinal roots and other neurological problems.

During diagnosis, it is important to distinguish the disease from osteochondrosis, radiculitis, myositis (they all have similar external symptoms with protrusion of the vertebral discs). In the thoracic region, gastritis, pancreatitis and angina must also be excluded.

Diagnostic methods

The key to successful treatment of pathology is timely diagnosis. If symptoms appear, you should contact an orthopedist, who will prescribe a series of hardware tests to clarify the diagnosis. A general examination, collection of anamnesis, and patient complaints are not canceled, but MRI or CT data will play a decisive role.

Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard in diagnosing pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. The test is non-contact, safe and allows you to get results on the same day. The MRI image clearly visualizes the structures of the cervical spine; the doctor will see a protrusion in a specific vertebra, evaluate its size, as well as pinching of nerve processes and blood vessels.

If it is not possible to do an MRI, computed tomography is prescribed, which also makes it possible to perfectly visualize the structures of the spine, but MRI is safer. Any type of tomography is a very accurate and comprehensive way to determine pathology and begin treatment for protrusion of the c5 c6 cervical spine, because it is in these vertebrae that pathology most often manifests itself.

Additionally, doctors recommend performing electromyography - a test for the conductivity of nerve impulses, which will help assess the problems that have arisen. X-ray examination of the cervical spine is practically not prescribed due to its low information content.

Treatment

To begin with, the patient is subjected to a comprehensive examination and diagnosis of the root cause of the complaints. If a protrusion has been identified, the specialist develops a course of treatment adjusted for the characteristics of the patient’s body, the location of the pathology and its size. The most optimal option for removing a victim from protrusion is a set of measures that will prevent the nucleus pulposus from being further injured and reduce the overall pressure in the painful segment. The following specialists provide treatment:

Physiotherapy doctor (in private situations);
Traumatologist;
Surgeon (in worst situations);
Orthopedist;
Neurologist.

Fortunately, intervertebral discs are able to return to a healthy state on their own, but to do this they need help. In this regard, the main task of treatment is to launch this mechanism, allowing the body to restore everything on its own. The methods and courses that have now been developed make it possible to stop the development of protrusion and relieve chronic pain.

The main direction in treatment is the use of non-steroidal medications. The prescribed medications help not only reduce pain, but also stop the inflammation process and help return the cartilage to its previous state. The main disadvantage of this direction is the steady development of side effects with long-term use of medications.

Other main areas of treatment are conservative treatment and surgery.

Conservative

To solve the problem of protrusion it is not necessary to go under the knife. This direction represents special measures that eliminate excess load from the disk. First of all, it is necessary to stretch the spinal region and securely fix it. This also includes a medicinal method of treatment, as it helps relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation of tissues.

The main advantage and advantage of conservative treatment of disc protrusion is noticeable results in a fairly short time. Patients stop complaining of pain.

The approach itself can be noted as a disadvantage. It treats the symptoms, not the root cause, which can ultimately lead to a relapse. To prolong the effect, it is necessary to be treated for a long time according to the prescribed course.

Operational

The essence of the method is surgical intervention. In fact, he is approached quite rarely; a decision to operate on protrusions requires really compelling reasons. These include:

The protrusion is too large, it is no longer possible to pull;
Other methods do not provide improvement for a long time;
The location and/or size of the protrusion threatens the life of the patient and can cause irreparable harm to health.

Other situations are not considered convincing enough for the surgeon to intervene. Moreover, this method cannot deal with the cause of protrusion, only with the consequences of the course of the disease. There is a certain risk of a new protrusion forming in the future after surgery. But the percentage is lower than with surgery for intervertebral hernia.

Treatment of cervical protrusion without surgery

In the vast majority of cases, neck disc protrusion is treated conservatively. Only in some cases do they cause such severe symptoms and pose a serious danger to human life that they require surgical removal. But treatment of the disease is always complex, since protrusion can quite easily and quickly develop into a herniated intervertebral disc.

For each patient, treatment is selected individually based on the size, position of the protrusion, the severity of the clinical picture, as well as the characteristics of concomitant diseases. Often, protrusion therapy includes:

drug therapy;
osteopathy;
manual therapy;
massage;
physiotherapy (phonophoresis, carboxytherapy, ozone therapy);
individual sessions with a rehabilitation doctor.

Drug therapy

Patients with protrusions of the intervertebral discs of the neck are prescribed a number of medications designed to reduce pain and inflammation:

NSAIDs – have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties (can be used in the form of tablets, capsules, injection solutions, as well as ointments and gels);
corticosteroids – have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, which allows you to quickly eliminate the inflammatory process;
muscle relaxants - help reduce muscle spasms caused by pain;
B vitamins – improve the conduction of impulses along nerve fibers;
vitamin D is a remedy responsible for the condition of bone tissue, as well as for higher brain functions, such as memory, memory, attention, speech;
chondroprotectors - contain natural structural elements of cartilage tissue, but the effectiveness of their use for already formed protrusions has not yet been proven. But to prevent diseases of the musculoskeletal system, we recommend Mermaids Marine Collagen to our patients.

Patients may also be prescribed other medications, for example, those that improve cerebral circulation, antioxidants, etc.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is considered a very effective method of treating protrusions of the cervical spine. It is simultaneously capable of solving a whole range of problems, including:

normalizing the position of the vertebrae and increasing the distance between them;
release of nerve roots;
elimination of functional blocks;
normalization of muscle tone in the neck;
improved blood circulation;
increase in range of motion.

Therefore, the correct movements of a chiropractor can eliminate the main problems that patients face: pain and neurological disorders. Thanks to a targeted but careful effect on the spine, it is possible to eliminate compression of the spinal roots, which immediately leads to the elimination of acute pain and normalization of the transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord to the corresponding organs. If you begin to undergo a course of manual therapy sessions, for example, according to the Gritsenko method, in the early stages of the development of protrusion, you can completely stop its growth and eliminate the risk of organic disorders in the functioning of internal organs.

Exercise therapy

Therapeutic exercises are an important component of the treatment of neck protrusions, which is an effective prevention of their transition to true hernias. A set of exercises is developed separately for each patient based on the nature of the existing protrusion. Its daily implementation allows you to strengthen the neck muscles and create reliable support for the spine, which will reduce the load on the affected spinal motion segment.

A set of exercises is selected for each patient by a rehabilitation doctor strictly individually, since only he can correctly determine the optimal level of load on the lumbar spine, which will be beneficial and will not cause harm.

When practicing independently, it is necessary to avoid sudden movements and significant overexertion. But if pain occurs during any exercise, you should immediately stop doing it and consult your doctor.

Rehabilitation

After a course of treatment for protrusion, it is important to undergo rehabilitation. This will not only help you get yourself in order, but also prevent the protrusion from forming again in the future.

It is important to give more rest to the affected area of the spine and not to disturb it again. Try to pay more attention to your posture, engage in therapeutic physical training, and eat right. It is important to gradually end the course of medication, otherwise the disc will quickly return to its original position before treatment.

In addition to the classic methods of withdrawing from treatment, there are others that are beginning to gain increasing popularity. Thus, among many others, one can note the effective treatment complex of Professor Kozyavkin. He uses a precise and effective technique for treating SINR, which, among other things, allows for rehabilitation after treatment of protrusion. The abbreviation stands for “Intensive Neurophysiological Rehabilitation System.”

The foundation of this popular treatment system is the idea of using various methods of influencing the patient. The main component is correction of a biomechanical nature, which is skillfully combined with therapeutic and rhythmic gymnastics, massage, apitherapy, mechanotherapy and reflexology.

Prices

Consultation with a doctor on the treatment of protrusion of the cervical spine	From 500 rub.
First treatment cycle (12 sessions)	From 6,500 rub.
Second treatment cycle (12 sessions)	From 5,900 rub.
One lesson	From 700 rub.
Massage of the cervical-collar area	From 420 rub.
Simple zonal taping	From 500 rub.
Combined zonal taping	From 800 rub.

Based on the results of the consultation, diagnosis and/or treatment will be prescribed.
*Prices in different regions may vary; current information on the cost of services can be obtained from the center manager.

Exercises

Gymnastics are prescribed by the specialist involved in your treatment, based on the results of MRI and other studies of the patient’s body. Physical activity will help to “set” the disc and give the body the necessary physical activity. But you should understand that this method of treatment is not suitable for every person. There are a number of people for whom exercise therapy can only harm. For example, you should not exercise if the pain gets worse in the affected area. It is also prohibited to exercise in the following cases:

heart diseases;
inflammatory processes;
infections;
opened internal bleeding.

Other cases do not prohibit physical therapy. But it is important to take into account the age of the patient, the location of the protrusion and the severity of the pathology before drawing up the program.

Localization determines the list of exercises, since each affected department has its own exercises. However, their goal is the same - to remove displacement, stretch the vertebrae, improve blood flow and increase physical activity. All this can have a positive effect on the patient.

Before starting class, choose comfortable clothes. You should also not forget about sports shoes: without them, gymnastics can only harm an already sore spine. To choose the right shoes, make sure that the sole is textured, thick, elastic and cushioned.

You don’t need any special equipment for practicing, just a chair and a mat (in case you are sliding on the floor). The main thing to remember is that exercise should not cause discomfort. Otherwise, you are doing something wrong and may make your situation worse.

Warm up before you start. Without warming up, you can injure unprepared muscles; this is as important a part of the lesson as the exercises themselves.

For people with protrusion not in the cervical region, you can tilt your head to the sides and back and forth five times;
Next, carefully rotate your wrists, elbows, and shoulders five times;
Stand on your toes and lower yourself several times in a row;
Stand on your toes and lower yourself several times in a row;

To improve the quality of your workout, you can take a hot shower before starting the class, which will better warm up your muscles.

Possible complications

If the patient does not consult a doctor, the size of the protrusion quickly increases. At a certain point, the fibrous ring cannot withstand the load and ruptures, and the nucleus pulposus leaks out. An intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine is formed, which is difficult to treat conservatively and is dangerous for its complications - discogenic myelopathy, radicular syndrome, compression of the vertebral artery.

Prevention

The main task of prevention in this case is to develop and maintain healthy muscle tone and their strength value. In the future, this will reduce the risk of complications and further development of osteochondrosis, protrusions, intervertebral hernia, as well as permanently consolidate the results of treatment. The list of preventive measures includes the following measures:

From early childhood it is necessary to develop correct, healthy posture, and also maintain it in later life;
Eliminate non-physiological loads on the spinal region from your life;
Getting rid of bad habits and abstaining from them;
Proper nutrition, taking into account the characteristics of the body;
Regularity of sports exercises with a selected load and alternation with unloading.

And although this list is aimed at preventing protrusions, compliance with it will also help improve the quality of life in general. An organism that receives the required amount of nutrients, training and stress copes better with diseases and is less subject to degeneration and deformation. In a situation with bulging intervertebral discs, it is true that it is easier to prevent them than to cure them.

Proper nutrition during protrusion

Products containing:

calcium - oranges, cucumbers, cabbage, beans, eggs;
manganese - nuts, beans, celery, potatoes;
phosphorus - spinach, wheat, bran, peas;
magnesium - sunflower seeds, honey, raisins;
vitamins A and D - fruits, vegetables, butter, whole milk;
vitamin C - garlic, citrus fruits, berries;
B vitamins - oats, corn, beef, pork.

High-grade flour, sugar, coffee, fast food products, as well as fatty, fried and salty foods are prohibited.