What misconceptions should be avoided when treating lumbar disc herniation?

by wang790 on 2012-03-03 11:45:23

What misconceptions should be prevented in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation? Orthopedic experts from Kunming Kunlu Hospital kindly remind: Although lumbar disc herniation is familiar to many people, there are quite a few pitfalls around it that need to be carefully avoided.

Misconception One: Lumbar disc herniation is not a disease. Statistics show that more than 95% of people have experienced lower back pain at some point in their lives. Diseases that cause lower back pain can almost involve all systems of the body. Some primary diseases causing lower back pain will disappear after being cured, and some can heal on their own. Therefore, some patients think that lower back pain is not a disease. In fact, lower back pain caused by lumbar disc herniation is not only a disease, but must be taken seriously. Because this disease can not only cause lower back pain, but also numbness, coldness, weakness in the lower limbs, and even paralysis and dysfunction of urination and defecation, seriously affecting the quality of life.

Misconception Two: Lumbar disc herniation cannot be cured. A characteristic of lumbar disc herniation is its tendency to recur, especially for those with nerve function disorders, whose recovery process is longer. Therefore, some patients, and even some non-specialist doctors, think that lumbar disc herniation cannot be cured. In fact, the overall effect of treating lumbar disc herniation is very good, with an excellent rate of about 95%. There are two reasons why it is considered incurable: one is choosing the wrong method, and the other is not persisting with the treatment. Some patients run to new therapies wherever they hear about them, but they cannot stick with any of them, resulting in running around without achieving ideal results.

Misconception Three: Blind faith in a single method. There are surgical and non-surgical treatments for lumbar disc herniation. Non-surgical methods include traction, massage, internal and external medication, percutaneous cutting and suction, collagenase dissolution, etc. It should be said that any one of these methods can cure some patients, but no one method can cure all patients. In fact, some therapies are contraindicated under certain circumstances. Therefore, the correct attitude is to choose specific treatment methods for each patient based on clinical symptoms, physical signs, course of the disease, and imaging examinations. We should not blindly exaggerate or believe in a single therapy, nor should we subjectively resist any particular therapy.

Misconception Four: Misunderstanding of surgery. Most patients with lumbar disc herniation can be relieved or cured through non-surgical therapy, but some still need surgical treatment. There are two completely opposite misconceptions regarding surgery: one is blind surgery, and the other is refusal of surgery. The former believes that only surgery can eliminate lumbar disc herniation, thus indiscriminately performing surgery as long as the patient agrees. This not only increases the unnecessary economic burden on patients, but also increases the chance of "failed back surgery syndrome." In fact, the indications for surgery for lumbar disc herniation are very strict, and surgery is not the first choice for treatment. The latter overemphasizes the negative effects of surgery, such as nerve damage, believing that surgery should never be done and opting for conservative treatment instead.

Misconception Five: Misunderstanding of exercise. Many patients with lumbar disc herniation, and even some non-specialist doctors, believe that waist movement will further exacerbate the condition due to the protrusion of the nucleus pulposus of the lumbar intervertebral disc, so they restrict waist movement. In fact, this view is rather one-sided. For patients with lumbar disc herniation, the strength of muscles in the waist, back, buttocks, and abdomen has weakened to varying degrees, and these muscles are crucial for maintaining the stability of the waist. If waist movement is restricted, these muscles will undergo disuse atrophy, leading to further weakening of muscle strength. This is one of the important reasons for the recurrence of lumbar disc herniation. Of course, waist exercises do not mean random movements; they must be scientifically guided by a physician.

★Source of Article★ —— Best Orthopedic Hospital in Kunming http://www.klguke.com/

Experts in orthopedics from Kunming Kunlu Hospital remind: Pay attention to various signals sent by your body and adjust your health accordingly. Understanding the symptoms of diseases can effectively prevent and treat them. If you have questions, you can consult online experts, wishing you a speedy recovery.

★【People's Livelihood Service 24-hour Health Consultation Hotline】★: 0871-5220118

★【People's Livelihood Service Online Doctor Consultation Platform】★① : http://www.ynguke.com/ask

★【People's Livelihood Service Online Doctor Consultation Platform】★② : http://www.klguke.com/ask

★Take bus routes 11, A3, A8, 108, 155, 164, 188 to Army Academy stop.

★【Address of Kunming Kunlu Hospital at Army Academy】★: No. 227 Gui-Kun Road, Guandu District, Kunming City