Intervertebral hernia is one of the most common complications of osteochondrosis, diagnosed annually in approximately 15% of patients over 25 years of age. The pathology is manifested by severe pain and is characterized by displacement of the gelatinous pulp, filling the space between the vertebrae, beyond the surrounding fibrous (connective) membrane.
Intervertebral hernia
Pain from intervertebral hernias causes pinching of the spinal nerve roots, as well as deformation of the vertebral bodies, which compress and cause damage to the intervertebral discs.
The main mistake of patients is that from the moment pain is relieved and motor function is restored, treatment is considered complete
Conservative therapy for intervertebral hernia includes the use of medications (NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, centrally acting muscle relaxants, B vitamins), physical therapy, physiotherapeutic methods, and traction therapy. The use of heat also produces a pronounced positive result, but the question of whether it is possible to heat a herniated disc should be decided individually in each specific case, since there may be individual contraindications.
Is it possible to heat a herniated disc?
Features of intervertebral hernia
The human spine is the central segment of the axial skeleton, consisting of bone structures (vertebrae) connected to each other.
Vertebral structure
Between the vertebrae there are intervertebral discs - elastic, cartilaginous plates that have a nucleus pulposus (a gelatinous fluid that contains a small number of chondrocytes and performs a shock-absorbing function) and a connective tissue membrane called the annulus fibrosus.
The structure of the intervertebral disc
Intervertebral discs perform essential functions that determine the normal functioning of the spine and adjacent internal organs (for example, the pelvic organs). The functions are as follows:
- anatomically correct fixation of adjacent vertebrae;
- ensuring flexibility and mobility of the spine;
- compensation for shock and vertical impact on the spine (shock absorption function);
- uniform distribution of load over the surface of the vertebral bodies.
Intervertebral hernia in the vast majority of cases (more than 88%) is a consequence of osteochondrosis - a progressive disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which the spine is compressed and crushes the intervertebral discs.
Osteochondrosis
Under pressure, the disc becomes deformed and the fibrous membrane is damaged, through which the displaced pulp leaks. It is this protrusion that is called a hernia.
Scheme of protrusion and hernia
Several stages of hernia development
The nucleus pulposus, extending beyond the annulus fibrosus, compresses the nerve endings, which causes severe pain, which patients describe as sharp or burning pain in the spine. Swelling and muscle spasm form around the deformed segment, which partially compensate for part of the load on the damaged vertebrae. Blood flow and lymph slow down, contributing to the inflammatory process and the progression of existing clinical symptoms.
Important! Although surgical removal of a hernia is a last resort, therapeutic treatment should be carried out as early as possible.
There are cases when during surgery it was necessary to remove an entire segment of the spine, which led to disability and chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system with high relapse rates. Heat therapy is considered a fairly effective method for correcting disorders of the musculoskeletal system, but this method of treatment must be used carefully, since incorrect actions can lead to a sharp progression of the pathology.
Diagnostics
If only pain is present, this does not always indicate the presence of a cervical hernia. If the disease is at the initial stage of its development, making a diagnosis is problematic only with the help of a visual examination. Additionally, it is necessary to undergo diagnostics prescribed by the doctor:
- radiography - allows you to determine whether there is displacement of the intervertebral discs, but this examination does not show the presence of a hernia;
- myelogram – a special liquid is injected into the spinal canal by inserting a needle. When this liquid begins to act, negative changes such as pinching of the spinal cord will be visible on the monitor screen. This procedure is accompanied by severe painful sensations;
- computed tomography - with this procedure you can detect changes in bone structures, bulging discs, displacement;
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most informative type of diagnosis.
The benefits of warming up and the therapeutic effect
Warming up the back is actively used not only for home treatment of intervertebral hernia, but also in a hospital setting. Many physiotherapeutic procedures are based on the effects of thermal radiation (electrophoresis, infrared or ultraviolet rays, etc.). The main clinically significant effect of the use of warming techniques is the rapid reduction of pain. It is achieved by increasing blood circulation and eliminating muscle spasms, which are the main catalysts for the occurrence of pain in diseases of the spine.
After warming up the back, pain decreases
It is also important that heat helps prevent inflammatory processes in surrounding tissues in uncomplicated intervertebral hernias, which has a positive effect on the overall dynamics of treatment and reduces the risk of possible complications. With the correct use of thermal treatment methods on the spine, a positive result is achieved, namely:
- significant reduction in pain intensity (achieved in 60% of patients);
- relaxation of the muscles supporting the damaged segment of the spine, normalization of muscle tone;
- stimulation of blood circulation;
- prevention of hypoxia of nearby soft tissues due to enhanced transportation of oxygen, which is delivered to the internal organs along with blood;
- normalization of cartilage nutrition (active blood movement improves the delivery of nutrients, collagen, vitamins to the cartilage plates that close the boundaries of the intervertebral disc);
- increasing the mobility of the musculoskeletal segments of the spine.
After warming up, patients feel better
Prices for vitamins and minerals
Note! Complete recovery from intervertebral hernia is achieved only using surgical methods, so it is impossible to cure the disease using thermal procedures. Warming up the back, if performed according to the rules, in combination with other methods of conservative therapy (balanced diet with sufficient protein and vitamins, therapeutic exercise, physical therapy) can stop the progression of the pathology and reduce the risk of inflammatory processes in the spine.
Symptoms
The severity of the main symptoms of a hernia of the lumbar spine depends on its size and type. Some patients report only minor discomfort during physical activity, while others suffer from severe pain. The most typical signs of pathology are:
- pain in the lower back, buttock and leg, usually occurring on one side;
- pathological sensations (paresthesia) in the thigh, groin, buttock or leg (tingling, burning, numbness, etc.);
- increased pain and paresthesia with load on the lower back: while walking, sitting, bending, lifting weights;
- limitation of movements in the lower back;
- weakness of the foot muscles, difficulty trying to lift the toes;
- poor posture, stoop, slight tilt of the body to the affected side;
- pallor or redness of the skin in the affected area (lower back, buttock, thigh, lower leg);
- pelvic disorders: complete or partial incontinence of urine, feces, gases;
- sexual disorders: impotence, early ejaculation, anorgasmia;
- leg muscle paralysis.
Symptoms increase as the disease progresses. In the early stages of hernia formation, the patient may be bothered by rare, weak, aching pain in the lower back, which occurs after physical activity and goes away with rest.
Heat Treatment Methods
There are a large number of methods for warming up the back that can be used at home to reduce pain and improve the patient’s motor activity. Listed below are the main methods of heat treatment for intervertebral hernia, as well as useful tips and recommendations for their use.
Bath and sauna
These are the most popular and beloved methods of warming up the spine. It has long been believed that the bathhouse cures a person from many diseases, including osteochondrosis, radiculitis and other pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Warming up in a bathhouse and sauna helps get rid of swelling, deeply cleanse the skin of dirt and toxins, improve joint mobility, and normalize respiratory function. The bath is also useful for those who suffer from increased salt deposition in the spine, as well as for patients with protrusions and intervertebral hernias.
Hot air relaxes muscles, dilates blood vessels, normalizes water-salt balance, and removes excess waste and toxins
To ensure that your stay in the bathhouse is not only pleasant and useful, but also safe, patients with a spinal hernia (regardless of its location) must adhere to the following recommendations.
- The optimal temperature for people with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system is 45°C-50°C.
- Staying in the steam room should not exceed 10-15 minutes. If a person develops a headache, dizziness, or increased heart rate, they must leave the steam room before this time expires.
- After visiting the steam room, you need to rinse your body with water at room temperature. This is necessary to prevent overheating of the spine.
- If a person prefers to steam with a broom, it is better to use products made from birch or linden. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and irritate biologically active points located in the spine.
- To increase overall tone and stimulate the immune system, you can use essential oils of mint, eucalyptus or fir in the bath.
How to steam for back pain
When visiting the sauna, be sure to use rubber slippers or flip-flops to reduce the risk of falling on slippery floors. Any injuries to the spine, even with mild falls, can provoke rupture of the fibrous ring and pinching of the hernia.
Note! You can visit the bathhouse and sauna for spinal hernias no more than once a week.
The maximum benefit of the bath is achieved by completing a course of procedures
If you want to find out whether it is possible to warm your lower back for lower back pain, the causes of pain in the lumbar region, and also consider the types of heating, you can read an article about this on our portal.
Pepper patch
Pepper patches are one of the most affordable ways to warm up your back at home. They actively irritate the skin, causing a powerful rush of blood to the affected area. In addition to red and black pepper extracts, such patches may contain belladonna (belladonna) extract - a medicinal plant that has a pronounced analgesic, anti-inflammatory, decongestant and regenerative effect. Pepper patches also help eliminate muscle spasms and normalize muscle tone.
Pepper patch
When using such patches for intervertebral hernias and protrusions, certain rules must be followed.
- Before attaching the patch, it is necessary to remove dust and sebum from the skin. To do this, it is recommended to rinse the treated area with water, then wipe with a cotton swab moistened with an alcohol solution of acetylsalicylic acid (medicinal alcohol).
- The patch can be kept on the skin for no longer than 2 days. Repeated use is allowed after 1-2 days. This is necessary to prevent irritation and burns.
- The minimum number of sessions required to achieve a stable therapeutic effect is 7 procedures.
Using pepper patch
The patches should not be used during pregnancy, in case of infectious diseases of the spine, cancer of any location, or elevated body temperature.
How does physical therapy help?
After the acute inflammatory process has been stopped, doctors prescribe restorative therapy. It consists of undergoing a course of physiotherapy, manual therapy, and a complex of physical therapy.
The key physical therapy treatments that need to be completed during the rehabilitation period are:
- electrophoresis;
- magnetic therapy;
- acupuncture;
- balneology;
- phonophoresis;
- UHF;
- ultrasound;
- amplipulse
The main condition for the success of these procedures is their systematic completion. During the rehabilitation period, a minimum of 3 weeks of physiotherapeutic procedures will be required. Thanks to them, blood supply to tissues improves, medications are better absorbed into the skin.