Intervertebral hernia is a very serious disease in which a disc located between the vertebrae leaves its allotted borders. According to statistics, this disease is diagnosed in people after the age of forty, but recently it has become a little “younger”. This disease is usually treated surgically. However, this is an extreme measure, and for starters, you can try to do a massage with a hernia of the spine. It is a good alternative to surgery.
How dangerous is a hernia of the spine
As a rule, the disease comes with age due to the aging of the body. Often this is a consequence of falls, bruises, fractures. Scientists have proven that even sleeping on an uncomfortable hard mattress is the key to a future hernia between 4 and 5 vertebrae. Loads on the spine, carrying heavy loads - these are the factors in which his pillar suffers and rewards a person with this disease.
Such injuries lead to pinched nerve endings, inflammation and swelling. Intolerable pain when moving and even in complete rest pierces the patient's body. And if measures are not taken in time, then subsequently the person is threatened by unpleasant loss of sensitivity in the limbs, disturbances in the pelvic organs, muscle weakness and general reflexes. As a result, the quality of life is significantly reduced, moreover, there is a threat of paralysis of body parts.
Disease prevention
Prevention of the disease is divided into categories when the hernia is already there, and if it is necessary to prevent its formation.
The first involves prophylaxis aimed at increasing the intervals between attacks of pain. With exacerbations, you need:
- seek medical help from specialists;
- unload the spine from excessive physical exertion;
- get rid of bad habits;
- do massage with intervertebral hernia;
- strengthen muscle corset after a course of treatment.
In the second category of the disease, when there is no hernia, it should:
- treat scoliosis, flat feet, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, if any;
- calculate the optimal healthy diet;
- join regular exercise.
Is there any effectiveness from massage?
With all the positive possibilities of this treatment method, it should be noted that back massage with a hernia of the spine cannot be done in the early days of an exacerbation of the disease. But the effectiveness of such therapy increases when the vertebrae are displaced, which is often found in the disease.
An important condition for a good result of this procedure is that massage with a hernia of the spine should be done by an experienced qualified specialist. This will avoid unforeseen cases and ensure the effectiveness of the procedures.
What should i avoid during procedures?
Soft and careful movements of the specialist’s hands are the key to successful massage for a hernia of the spine. The power elements leading to painful sensations are excluded. If this happens, you should stop the procedure and consult a doctor. The fact is that sharp power techniques can lead to rupture of the intervertebral disc. This will increase muscle spasm, provoke swelling of the stem nerves. The consequences can lead to the need for emergency surgery.
How to massage
Turning to a specialist for help, it should be remembered that the course of treatment is accompanied by a combination of medications, a set of exercises and proper nutrition.
A therapeutic massage for a lumbar hernia differs from a usual relaxing massage in that ointments and medications are used during it to help achieve the desired healing effect. Body glide improvers are also used.
A universal method of treatment that can pacify and stop the pain, brings positive changes. Therefore, a vertebral hernia, massage of which is carried out regularly and with a course of two weeks, ceases to bother.
Benefits and healing are the processes that occur during massage:
- Strengthening the conductivity of nerve fibers. Nutrients are important not only for vertebral discs, but also for nerve fibers. They suffer if microcirculation is not in order. Movement disorders are the result of an intervertebral hernia. But if massage is done, then the nerves are better supplied with blood. It even reduces the pressure on them with soft tissues.
- Improving microcirculation. During the massage, the friction of the palms on the surface of the skin releases thermal energy. The body warms up, and the vessels begin to give off heat, expanding and obeying the thermoregulation mechanism. In turn, the tissues are saturated with oxygen and nourished. In the absence of their blood supply, a subsequent hernia may form.
- Removal of edema. The mechanical effect that occurs during massage allows you to accelerate the outflow of lymph and eliminate venous congestion. In turn, the edema disappears and the compression of the nerve roots decreases. The intensity of the pain syndrome goes away and mobility of the limbs appears.
- muscle relaxation. The main cause of pain and inflammation with a hernia of the spine is muscle spasm. Therefore, when the masseur kneads the muscles, they relax. The spasm of the muscles disappears, which successfully eliminates the radicular syndrome.
Types of massage
Applied techniques have many nuances and subtleties. And there are many types of massage for the disease:
- Thai;
- honey;
- hydromassage;
- can;
- point;
- general back massage;
- segmental.
Honey massage
Indications for the procedure using a beekeeping product are those cases when powerful stimulation of nerve endings is required. Therefore, massage with a hernia of the spine is an effective auxiliary reflexology. The receptors of the skin are irritated and eat, peeling of the skin occurs. In addition to the cleansing effect, honey massage with a hernia of the spine has another property - it fights against hernial formations, as if it pulls them and all the old slag out of the body.
The procedure is very useful for weakened and aged patients. But the children are wary of her because of the pain effect that occurs due to the adhesion of the specialist’s palms to the skin. If the child has problems with the spine, then for the massage you should make a mixture of honey and fir oil. It happens that the hernia in children is congenital, while the baby may have an umbilical hernia. It is not necessary to combine manipulations on the spine and umbilical hernia massage in newborns at the same time, if these problems exist. You should consult a pediatrician who will give the necessary recommendations.
The specialist rubs the inflamed area of the back with stroking movements, warming it. Then a thin layer of honey is applied to the skin, and the master, patting the entire surface, makes a massage. The skin sticks to the palms, a slight pain appears, but it can and should be tolerated. After the procedure, a warming gel is applied to the sore spot, the patient is wrapped in a warm blanket.
Contraindications
Honey massage with a hernia of the spine can be done if there is no individual intolerance to the beekeeping product and increased pain sensitivity.
As for the general manipulation of this orientation, the procedures can not be carried out in the first days with an exacerbation of the disease, except for those that relieve inflammation and discomfort. During the session, a bad sign is severe pain in the hernia. If the patient experiences this, then the massage therapist should switch to another area of the back or stop the procedure altogether. The main principle is not to zeal, but to act gently and carefully so as not to harm.
Recommendations for back massage
Treatment takes quite a long time, so the patient must be aware of this and be patient, follow all the doctor's recommendations. In addition to massage, there are many more manipulations that help healing:
- treatment of the spa type;
- Exercise therapy, exercises at home;
- anti-inflammatory and analgesics, chondroprotectors;
- physiotherapy;
- yoga.
It should be borne in mind that manual and other massages act as an adjuvant that acts on the pain zone. Manipulation of the master minimizes the deterioration of the patient and the risk of pain. But the best treatment is an integrated approach to the disease.