Many people suffer from serious back problems and so-called lower back pain. The cause of this is often a hernia. But what exactly is a hernia? What are the causes of hernia and lower back pain? And what are the most important symptoms and signs that indicate that you might have a back hernia or neck hernia? What are the main complaints in the back and neck with a hernia? How do you find out whether you indeed have a hernia and what should you do next?
What is a hernia? And what types of hernia are there?
A hernia is a compression or irritation of nerves in the back or neck due to the bulging of the soft mass in an intervertebral disc. The pinching or irritation then causes serious pain in the back, neck, arms or legs. There may also be a numb feeling at the site of the hernia instead of back pain. A hernia can also cause muscles or muscle reflexes to no longer work as intended. In addition to a back or neck hernia, there are also less common forms such as an umbilical hernia or inguinal hernia, which are not described further here.
What are the causes of a hernia and low back pain?
It is not always clear why someone gets a hernia and someone else does not. The chance of a hernia increases as you get older and men and women are equally likely to develop a back or neck hernia. There is often weakness of an intervertebral disc, which increases the chance that a hernia of the back or neck will occur due to an unusual twisting movement or by lifting yourself up. It is certain that insufficient exercise, sitting in the wrong position for a long time and poor muscle condition increase the risk of a hernia, just as it applies to other forms of lower back pain.
What are the main symptoms and complaints of a hernia?
With a spinal hernia there is generally pain in the back or lower back, which can radiate to one or both legs. The pain becomes more severe when coughing, sneezing or straining. The pain can also become worse when the abdomen is swollen. There may also be a numb feeling in the back near the spine. With a neck hernia there are often more complaints of pain in the arm or shoulder than in the neck itself and there may be loss of strength in the arm or hand. Headache is also a phenomenon that often occurs with a hernia of the neck.
How do you find out whether you may have back pain or neck pain due to a hernia?
If you have complaints that correspond to the symptoms of a back hernia or neck hernia described above, they may be due to a hernia. Keep in mind that only in five percent of cases of acute back pain is caused by a hernia. The GP or an orthopedist can use a physical examination to determine whether there is indeed a hernia or whether the neck pain or back pain has another cause. A hernia without complaints also exists and you may not notice that you have a hernia until it becomes apparent during accidental examination.
What should you do if you think you have a hernia?
First of all, you must be sure that your pain in the back or neck is indeed due to a hernia. So you will still have to see a doctor to be sure of the diagnosis. There are various options for treating a hernia, which vary between hernia surgery , special hernia exercises with the physiotherapist and, above all, rest and bed rest. A hernia cannot always be operated on, but much relief of the complaints can often be achieved through targeted exercises, in which the muscles in the affected area are strengthened, and by resting on a special mattress.