I thought it was muscle pain, but it was a disc problem… How do you tell the difference between back pain and herniated disc pain?

 

Mr. A, a man in his 30s who regularly worked out, felt a slight strain on his lower back while doing squats. The next day, he began experiencing numbness and throbbing in his sacrum. He initially thought it was muscle pain, but when the pain persisted, he went to the hospital. He was diagnosed with a herniated disc and required a period of rehabilitation. What symptoms should indicate a herniated disc?

 

The official name for a herniated lumbar disc is lumbar disc herniation. This condition occurs when the intervertebral disc (disc) between the lumbar vertebrae is damaged, causing the inner nucleus to protrude or bulge. It can be triggered by strong external forces, such as exercise. In addition to exercise, other contributing factors include poor posture, excessive weight, and jobs that place repetitive strain on the lower back.

When the inner nucleus pulposus compresses a nerve, it can lead to low back pain and radiating pain. Low back pain is pain in the lower back that worsens with lifting heavy objects or sitting for long periods. Radiating pain radiates to the lower back, buttocks, legs, and feet, usually centered on one leg. Pain can also be felt when coughing, sneezing, or laughing. A herniated disc can compress a nerve root, causing numbness, burning, or tingling in the leg. Lifting an ankle or toes can also be difficult. Without proper treatment, further strain on the lower back can lead to severe compression of the spinal nerves by the disc, which can even lead to urinary or bowel problems. Therefore, if you suspect a herniated disc, it's important to seek prompt diagnosis.

 

In most cases, without surgery

▲Exercise therapy

▲Traction treatment

▲It can be recovered through injection treatment.

 

Professor Park Hong-beom of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Korea University Ansan Hospital said, “Only 5% of patients require lumbar disc surgery,” and “If you receive non-surgical treatment that is right for you, you can sufficiently overcome lumbar disc.” Exercise therapy is a treatment that improves the flexibility and strength of the superficial and deep muscles. It increases the stability of the lower back and corrects the structure of the spine to strengthen the muscles throughout the body. Traction therapy is a treatment that pulls the muscles around the spine to increase the space between the vertebrae, relieving pain and improving spinal function. Injection therapy is a method that injects medication into the space between the nerves of the lumbar vertebrae or above the tailbone to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

If urinary or bowel dysfunction develops or symptoms persist despite three months of non-surgical treatment, surgery may be considered. If left untreated, it can lead to leg paralysis.

 

Lumbar disc surgery can be divided into microscopic surgery, endoscopic surgery, and fixation/fusion. Microscopic surgery is a standard procedure that involves making a 1.5-2cm skin incision, magnifying the structure 10-15x or more with a microscope, and removing the disc that is compressing the nerve. Endoscopic surgery involves inserting an endoscope equipped with a camera lens near the disc, and the surgeon performs the procedure on a monitor. Compared to microscopic surgery, it results in less bleeding and a lower risk of infection. However, because the surgeon operates in two dimensions, the surgeon's skill is crucial.

 

If lumbar disc problems persist after surgery, fusion surgery involves removing not only the herniated disc but also the entire degenerated disc and fixing it with an artificial bone using screws. While pain is relieved, range of motion is permanently restricted.

 

After lumbar disc surgery, you can resume exercise and other activities after 6 months.

 

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Our employee suffered from muscle pain for a long time.

The disc finally burst

These days, I'm working hard on rehabilitation treatment after work.

Muscle pain needs to be carefully examined