Can a hernia be cured without surgery?

About what a spinal hernia is, what symptoms it can cause, as well as how diagnosis and treatment are carried out, neurologist Maxim Pankov told "Gazeta.Ru".

Between the vertebrae are intervertebral discs - a kind of "shock absorbers" that reduce the load when walking, jumping or making sudden movements, protecting the spine from damage. Inside, the disc consists of a soft nucleus, and outside it is covered with a strong shell. A hernia forms when the disc wears out or is damaged: the inner part begins to press on the weakened shell, and when it ruptures, a protrusion occurs - a hernia forms.

The main risk factors include hereditary predisposition, age-related changes (over time, discs lose moisture and elasticity), back injuries, prolonged sitting, excess weight, as well as lifting heavy objects with a jerking motion while the back is bent.

According to the doctor, intervertebral hernias occur in almost all adults and most often do not manifest themselves in any way if they do not affect nerve structures. In such cases, they become an accidental finding during an MRI. However, when compressing a nerve root, a hernia can cause "shooting" pain in the back, numbness or tingling in the limbs, muscle weakness, for example, difficulty standing on tiptoes.

If such complaints appear, it is necessary to consult a neurologist, as similar symptoms can be caused by other reasons - muscle strain or joint diseases. It's important to remember: if a hernia affects the nerves and is not treated, it can lead to complications - chronic pain or irreversible muscle weakness.

Diagnosis begins with an examination and questioning of the patient, and if necessary, an MRI is prescribed. In some cases, a consultation with a vertebrologist surgeon or neurosurgeon is required.

About 70-90% of intervertebral hernias do not require surgery: with adequate conservative therapy, the body is able to independently reduce or "resorb" the protrusion.

Treatment includes taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants, and after relieving the acute condition - therapeutic exercises to strengthen the back muscles. If pain persists despite therapy, nerve blocks are used - the introduction of painkillers in the area of the affected nerves.

Indications for surgery include no improvement after 6-12 weeks of treatment, increasing muscle weakness, or dysfunction of the bladder and intestines.

To prevent the formation of hernias, it is important to lift weights correctly - with a straight back and with support on the legs, regularly strengthen the muscles of the back and abdomen (swimming, Pilates 3-4 times a week for 50 minutes), avoid long sitting, do warm-up exercises every 30-60 minutes. You should also control your weight: with a waist circumference of more than 94 cm for men and more than 80 cm for women, it is recommended to consult an endocrinologist to select a safe weight loss program.