Disc Prolapse
With regards to disc prolapses (Diskusprolaps), physicians speak of a disease of civilisation. Almost every third German suffers or has suffered from the condition. The following figures support this: in 2006, 1.9 million spinal surgeries were conducted worldwide; 1.3 Million of these surgeries directly concerned the intervertebral disc. In Germany, approximately 70.000 patients, generally between 30 and 50 years old, undergo intervertebral disc surgery each year.
The hernia occurs most frequently in the lumbar spine; the thoracic spine on the other hand is almost never affected.
What does hernia mean?
The inner, soft, gall-like nucleus of the intervertebral disc normally acts as a buffer between the vertebral bodies, and is held by a ring of fiber cartilage. When the outer part of this ring (Annulus) becomes rough and fissured, individual vertebrae are dislocated by the resulting loss of stability. This may subsequently cause painful malpositioning. Should the nucleus then penetrate the fibered shell, the leaking gelatinous substance may squeeze onto the surrounding nerves - known as a hernia.
What are the causes?
In the majority of cases, the hernia is triggered by a jerky rotary motion of the torso or heavy lifting. It also can be the result of poor sitting posture, little exercise or a deficit of liquid. The latter case causes dehydration of the intervertebral disk, causing it to lose elasticity. Further reasons
may be excess weight, pregnancy or a general limpness of the
connective tissue.
What are the symptoms?
Typical symptoms of a hernia include a strong, radiating pain to the leg (sciatic pain/ischialgia) or numbness, tingling or palsy in the legs what may result in a loss of reflexes. Loss of bladder or defecation control may also occur.
