Lumbar disc herniation is a common degenerative disease of the spine in clinical practice, and most patients have symptoms such as lower back pain, numbness or sciatica in the lower limbs, and cauda equina syndrome. Especially for males between the ages of 20 and 50, it is more common and prone to occur. There are many classification methods for lumbar disc herniation, among which lumbar disc herniation can be roughly divided into five categories based on the degree of protrusion and corresponding imaging characteristics of the patient, combined with corresponding treatment methods: bulging lumbar disc herniation, protruding lumbar disc herniation, prolapsed lumbar disc herniation, free lumbar disc herniation, and other types of lumbar disc herniation including Schmorl's nodule and tibial protrusion.
In daily life, if people have long-term experience of bending over or sitting for a long time, they may experience sudden lumbar disc herniation during semi bending or twisting, which can cause lower back pain or leg pain. In more serious cases, it can not only affect the patient's work, but also their quality of life. So, what causes lumbar disc herniation?
In clinical practice, the causes of lumbar disc herniation can be divided into five categories: disc degeneration, injury, pregnancy, abnormal lumbar development, and genetic factors.
(1) Intervertebral disc degeneration: Intervertebral disc degeneration is the fundamental cause of lumbar disc herniation in patients. As the patient ages, the intervertebral disc gradually degenerates, and the water content of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus gradually decreases, leading to cracks in the annulus fibrosus and loss of elasticity in the nucleus pulposus. On this basis, combined with external forces or accumulated strain, the patient's intervertebral disc may eventually rupture, causing the fibrous ring, nucleus pulposus, and even the endplate to protrude backwards. In more severe cases, there may also be symptoms of nerve compression.
(2) Injury: The long-term accumulation of injury is the main cause of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients. If patients repeatedly bend and twist during daily activities for a long time, it is highly likely to cause their own intervertebral disc injury.
(3) Pregnancy: During pregnancy, a woman's entire ligaments are in a relaxed state, and due to pregnancy, her lumbar and sacral regions are also subjected to greater stress than usual, which increases the risk of lumbar disc herniation.
(4) Abnormal lumbar spine development: If the patient's lumbar spine develops abnormally during development, it can cause abnormal stress on the lumbar spine, thereby increasing the risk of lumbar disc damage.
(5) Genetic factors: According to relevant data, about 32% of adolescent patients under the age of 20 have a positive family history, so genetic factors are also one of the causes of lumbar disc herniation in patients.
In addition, there are some triggering factors for lumbar disc herniation, such as acute trauma, heavy physical labor, long-term fatigue, desk work, etc.
The vast majority of patients with lumbar disc herniation can achieve satisfactory results and have a good chance of cure after conservative treatment, but there are also some patients who require surgical treatment. Meanwhile, as this disease is a chronic progressive disease, patients should also do a good job in daily life management and related nursing work during the treatment period. For example, patients changing their own work and lifestyle; Do some appropriate exercise, but avoid high-intensity exercise, and especially avoid repetitive rotations and bending movements. When it comes to massage and other services, be cautious and if necessary, choose a reputable medical or rehabilitation institution; And maintain good living habits to prevent the waist and legs from getting cold and excessive fatigue; Maintain a balanced diet, eat small meals frequently, consume more calcium rich foods, and monitor daily health conditions.
In summary, once patients experience recurrent lower back and leg pain or lower limb radiating pain, numbness, etc., they must seek medical attention promptly for formal and scientific treatment.