​Morning stiffness, lumbar disc herniation

You may feel back pain from time to time. In fact, there are many factors that cause back pain, not just excessive fatigue. Lumbar pain also includes lumbar disc herniation. In addition to causing pain in the waist, lumbar disc herniation can also cause morning stiffness in patients. It is very important to provide timely treatment.

First of all, you should know that there are many reasons for low back pain, such as lumbar muscle sprain, small joint dislocation, muscle strain, inflammation, tuberculosis or tumor. Remember that a herniated disc without symptoms does not require treatment.

Intervertebral disc herniation, please pay attention to the word "disease" here. Having "symptoms" means having clinical symptoms and signs. If there are no "symptoms", only intervertebral disc herniation is shown on CT or MR images. The degree of protrusion on the image includes bulging, protrusion, prolapse and free. At this time, no treatment is required, only prevention is needed. It should be made clear that we are treating patients, not pictures, and lumbar disc herniation is not equal to lumbar disc herniation disease.

Lumbar disc herniation often presents symptoms of low back pain and leg pain. Low back pain is caused by the intervertebral disc, while most leg pain is caused by compression of the corresponding protruding nerve roots or stimulation by inflammatory factors. In fact, the symptoms of intervertebral disc herniation include three categories: coexistence of low back pain and leg pain, mainly low back pain with mild or absent leg pain, and mainly leg pain with mild or absent low back pain.

About 90% of patients with lumbar disc herniation do not require surgical treatment. Conservative treatment is the first choice. More than 80% to 90% of patients can relieve their symptoms and even return to work without surgery. The most important thing in conservative treatment is bed rest, supplemented by physical therapy. Many patients can recover without medication. For those with severe pain, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, neurotrophic drugs, and Chinese patent medicines for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis can be used in addition to bed rest and physical therapy. Hormones and dehydrating agents should only be used when the pain is severe and the above treatments are ineffective. If conservative treatment fails for more than half a year, surgical treatment may be considered.