How to differentiate a herniated disc from the protrusion

Problems related to spinal pathology have recently become one of the main reasons for seeking care. It is therefore important that people are provided with timely and accurate information about how to properly handle the main element of your body, providing the movement of the body in space. Knowing what causes protrusions and hernias of intervertebral disks, understanding in what way are they different from each other, can be the basis for reducing the morbidity of vertebral column.

what is the difference between disc herniation from protrusion?

Hernia in most cases is a consequence of untreated protrusion, the next stage degenerative lesion of the intervertebral disc, usually degenerative disc disease.

Protrusion called a bulging disc at the level of the edges of the vertebrae. In this case the fibrous ring that surrounds a core of elastic tissue remains intact.

A herniated disc is characterized by the presence of a rupture of the fibrous ring – it ceases to hold the core and its parts begin to act beyond the boundaries of the intervertebral space.

Degenerative processes in the intervertebral disks leads to the fact that they lose their elasticity, decreasing their damping function and when the load on the spine, weight lifting, microtrauma sport training discs too compressed. Be Microdrive fibrous ring, and if the load is not terminated, the pulpous nucleus is squeezed out. Localization and size of the protrusions determines the presence of pain and neurological symptoms all over the body.

the Ability to distinguish 2 adjacent pathology

clinical findings.

Diagnosis of hernias and protrusions begins with the clinical symptoms, as they faced the doctor when the patient for help.

Protrusion, is usually a local pain – paresthesia, not extending far along the innervation of spinal roots that are in the area of interest.

Hernia of small size the symptoms differs little from the protrusion, the pain can also be disturbed only in the area of back, neck or lower back. If the protruding portion is sufficiently large, pain in the respective limbs, paresthesia and even disruption of innervated organs when the hernia begins to compress the spinal cord.

using the diagnostic tool.

The"Gold standard" in the diagnosis of diseases of the spinal disks – magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which should be carried out in different projections, to reliably determine the localization of protrusions and the proximity of anatomical structures that can be subjected to compression.

In the pictures you can see that the structure of the protruding part of the intervertebral disc when the protrusion is different from that in the hernia. The same goes for sizes 5 mm is considered a limit for the protrusion, plus sizes are regarded as hernia.

are There differences in the methods of treatment?

In terms of therapeutic interventions management of patients with degenerative disc disease is uniform and is directed primarily at ridding the patient from pain. The most important part of the therapy is to offload the affected segment of the spine, elimination of muscle tension, as well as measures contributing to the early restoration – the improvement of microcirculation and metabolic processes in the area of pathology.

However, the measures of therapeutic effects in cases of large hernia, or with a narrow spinal canal may not be sufficient and will need surgical treatment. This also differs from hernia protrusion.

The Prognosis of these two disorders largely depends on the behavior of the patient. The implementation of the recommendations of the doctor, a full transition to the correct movements that do not harm the spine, maintaining an active healthy lifestyle can limit the disease at the stage of protrusion.

These measures will allow the body's own "patch" the damaged fibrous rings and to improve the CD itself.

Often, However, people, at the first stage of treatment to get rid of pain, forget about the recommendations of the doctors and return to their former way of life: wrong movements, traumatic work or training. In this case, undertreated spine, having lost all potential for recovery, "will respond" appearance of the hernia and can permanently place the patient on a hospital bed and lead to disability.