Column What is the difference between a strained back and a hernia? Here are the clear differences explained by specialists
A strained lower back and a herniated disc both cause back pain.
Many people wonder if these are the same disease or different diseases.
This time, I will explain the difference between a strained back and a lumbar disc herniation.
Strained Lower Back and Herniated discs
A strained back is a severe pain in the lower back that occurs suddenly. This is not a disease name, but a name that describes the symptoms, similar to something like “headache” or “sciatica.”
A herniated disc damages the intervertebral disc, the cushion between the vertebrae, and the nucleus pulposus leaks out of the disc, compressing the nerves and causing lower back pain and pain and numbness in the lower extremities.
Symptoms of a strained lower back and a herniated disc
A strained lower back or a herniated disc can also cause lower back pain. However, in the case of a strained lower back, it usually recovers within a few days to a few weeks, but in the case of a herniated disc, the pain may continue for several months or more.
Symptoms of a strained back
The only symptom of strained back is pain around the lower back. This can occur when you suddenly lift something heavy, twist your lower back, or force yourself to bend forward or arch your back.
Symptoms of a herniated disc
In the case of a lumbar disc herniation, you may experience symptoms such as not only lower back pain but also pain and numbness from the buttocks to the lower legs. A typical symptom is sciatica.
The spine may curve sideways, making it difficult to move, and the pain may become worse when lifting heavy objects. Symptoms may appear suddenly, like with a strained back, or they may appear gradually.
Causes of a strained lower back and herniated disc
Causes of strained back
The causes of strained backs can be broadly divided into 1) intervertebral disc damage, 2) facet joint disorders, and 3) muscle damage.
A strained back caused by damage to an intervertebral disc can have the same cause as a herniated disc.
Causes of herniated disc
The main causes of intervertebral disc herniation are aging of the intervertebral disc due to genetic factors, aging, and the stress of daily life. Normally, the nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc is filled with water, but as the disc’s annulus fibrosus cracks with age and the stress of daily life, the nucleus pulposus leaks out of the annulus fibrosus, causing the water from the disc to disappear. This causes the intervertebral disc to become thinner and collapse. In particular, lifting heavy objects in daily life and engaging in strenuous sports can cause damage to the intervertebral discs.
Treatment for strained lower back and herniated disc
Treatment for strained back
If you have a strained back, the first thing you need to do is rest. It will be easier if you lie on your side and curl your hips. If you force yourself to move at this time, you may actually make the symptoms worse.
It is effective to relieve the pain with poultices while you are resting at home. A strained back may be inflamed, so it is better to treat it with a cold compress that has anti-inflammatory properties.
Once the pain subsides in a few days, try moving gradually as much as you can.
It is also important to visit a hospital and undergo tests. It is important to go to the hospital to find out the cause and receive treatment to prevent recurrence.
Treatment of intervertebral disc herniation
Treatment for intervertebral disc herniation can be broadly divided into conservative treatment and surgery.
Preservation therapy
When a herniated disc is diagnosed, conservative treatment (medication, nerve blocks, exercise therapy) is often performed first. To suppress inflammation and pain, drugs are taken to relieve symptoms such as pain, relieve pain by paralyzing nerves, and train muscles to alleviate symptoms.
Conservative treatment is generally effective for early stage herniated discs.
If symptoms do not disappear after several months of conservative treatment, surgical treatment may be considered.
Surgical operation
Surgery for herniated discs differs depending on the medical institution. The commonly used methods are the LOVE method, MED method, and PELD method. The effect is basically the same, which is to alleviate the symptoms by removing the hernia itself.
For surgical procedures, an incision is made in the back and the herniated disc is removed under general or local anesthesia. The length of time varies depending on the surgery, but hospitalization is required.
Intervertebral disc treatment
Unlike the general surgical method of removing the herniated part, in recent years, intervertebral disc treatment (PODD, etc.) that approaches the damaged intervertebral disc has also been performed. Unlike surgery, you do not need to be hospitalized and can be treated on the same day.
Treatment at our clinic
Our clinic provides intervertebral disc treatment.
The nucleus pulposus, which is the cushioning component of the intervertebral disc, leaks out little by little, and the disc gradually collapses. When an intervertebral disc collapses, it can cause various diseases.
With our clinic’s Cellgel method, we inject a drug that fills the cracked part of the intervertebral disc, and it turns into a gel to repair the crack, making it possible to perform fundamental treatment. The disc volume does not decrease, and the drug remains in the disc as a gel-like implant after treatment, so the disc is preserved.
In addition, our clinic also carries out “low back pain specialized rehabilitation” which can treat strained lower backs caused by facet joints and strained lower backs caused by fascia and muscles.
If you are worried about a strained back, please consider seeing a doctor at our clinic.
