All about foraminal protrusion of intervertebral disc

Foraminal protrusion is protrusion of the intervertebral disc without rupture of the fibrous ring in the area of nerve roots exit from the spinal cord. Clinic pathology depends on the size of the protrusions and specificity of compression of surrounding tissues.

causes of foraminal protrusion

On the first place among the causes of education foraminal loss are degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine:

• low back pain – decreased height of the intervertebral discs due to the loss of the liquid portion of nucleus pulposus;
• Scoliosis – lateral offset of the axis of the vertebral column;
• Spondylosis is the formation of bone "spikes", "tissue", "osteophytes" lying between adjacent vertebrae;
• Ankylosing spondylitis and inflammatory changes in the vertebrae with calcification (deposition of calcium salts) of the ligaments of the spine;

Other causes of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine:

• poor posture and weak back muscles;
• Sedentary lifestyle and static muscle tension;
• Traumatic injuries of the vertebral column;
• Disorders of calcification of the vertebrae in children (a disease of Chairman Mau).

It triggers the protrusion of nucleus pulposus include:

• Occupational hazards
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Old age
• bad habits (Smoking and alcohol);
• Obesity
• metabolic Diseases (gout, diabetes).

Symptoms of foraminal loss of intervertebral disc

Foraminal protrusion may be formed at a young age, but will emerge only after 30 years (need to think of the wrong posture at the school Desk).

Occurs and acute pain in the initial stages of pathology. In this case the high probability of compression of the nerve roots in the spinal canal.

Other symptoms of foraminal protrusion:

• Pain in lower limbs
• Numbness in the gluteal region and lower extremities;
• Tingling in the lower back and stiffness
• Lumbar-sacral radiculitis (inflammation of nerves).

The Symptoms of foraminal deposition are individual and are manifested differently in people. There are some typical symptoms that depend on the localization.

Clinical features of education in the cervical spine

The Cervical spine supports the head and provides stability of its provisions and the possibility of turning your head to the side. Any wear on the intervertebral disc in the cervical osteochondrosis accompanied by disturbances of brain blood supply.

Severe cervical protrusion may end compression syndrome, which is characterized by acute pain in the upper extremities, shoulder girdle, neck. As the disease progresses, the above symptoms is added numbness of hands, tingling in the neck, weakness in the muscles of the hand.

The greatest danger is a foraminal protrusion in the cervical spine, which leads to instability of the vertebrae (offset movements). Such pathology often forms the vertebral artery syndrome (it runs in the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae). The consequence of the disease is a sudden attack of loss of consciousness when turning your head due to the abrupt closure of the vessel lumen.

Symptoms of protrusion in the lumbar spine

The Lumbar is the most frequent localization of the disease. It causes severe pain in the lumbar region, if the affected nerve roots emerging from the spinal cord in the spinal segment.

The Main symptoms of foraminal protrusion in the lumbar spine:

• Stiffness in the lower back;
• Pain in the gluteal region and lower extremities;
• Weakness in the calf muscles and thigh
• sciatica
• Frequent urination.

Symptoms loss of intervertebral disc in the thoracic region

In the thoracic spine the disease with severe clinical symptoms occur rarely. The fact that thoracic vertebrae are fixed by ribs, so their mobility is limited. As a consequence, significantly decreases the likelihood of excessive pressure of the vertebrae on the intervertebral discs.

Clinical features protrusion in the thoracic region:

• Tingling in intercostal area;
• Numbness of the skin in the upper extremities
• Colicky pain in the region of the heart;
• Painsyndrome in the back.

Principles of treatment of foraminal protrusion

Stretching of the vertebral column

Treatment of foraminal protrusion is based on clinical features of the disease, the size and location of the diverticulum.

For the relief of pain and inflammation prescribers group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They are usually removed pain quite effectively, but the use of such drugs is limited by serious side effects on the gastro-intestinal tract.

Chondroprotectors are the basic group of medicines for strengthening the intervertebral disks and cartilage: alflutop, chondroitin sulfate, Donna, TerraFlex.

Miorelaksiruûŝie drugs (mydocalm) is assigned when compression of the nerve roots, accompanied by a pronounced spasm of the muscles of the back.

At the same time with the necessary medication treatment of inter disc pathology involves physiotherapy, physical therapy, vacuum therapy, hirudotherapy.

In conclusion, note that the foraminal protrusion of the intervertebral disc is one of the most dangerous and serious pathologies. To treat it in early stages.