Herniated disk

Herniated disc or intervertebral hernia is a pathology of the musculoskeletal system, which is characterized by the protrusion of part of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal. The most common localization of a hernia is the lumbosacral region, however, vertebral hernia of the cervical and thoracic regions are also common. Most often, this disease is diagnosed in 40-50 years.

Such violations in the structure of the spine do not always lead to a deterioration in well-being. Quite often, a person is not even aware of the presence of the disease. However, the disease can also be accompanied by pain, limited mobility of the spine, loss of sensation in various parts of the body, and even paralysis of the limbs.

Modern medicine offers a fairly large range of effective methods for the treatment of vertebral hernias, which allow a person to return to normal health. The MedTour platform will help you find a medical center where you can get diagnosed and choose the most effective treatment option.

Causes of a herniated disc

The process of occurrence of the disease is based on the wear of the intervertebral disc associated with age. In the process of aging, the disc loses its elasticity, which creates the prerequisites for its deformation. In addition, a number of factors contribute to the development of the disease, among the main ones are:

• lifting weights, especially in combination with twisting the body;
• significant overweight;
• long stay of the spine in the wrong position.

Also, degenerative processes in the intervertebral disc can develop more intensively with:

• metabolic disorders;
• hereditary predisposition;
• malnutrition;
• lack of physical activity.

Types of herniated disc

The division into species can be according to the place of localization:

• cervical (C1 – C7 vertebrae);
• thoracic (T1 – T12 vertebrae);
• lumbar (L1 – L5 vertebrae).

Also, depending on the characteristics of the protrusion of the disc, there are: medial hernia of the spine, diffuse and dorsal hernia.

In addition, there are several stages of pathology:

• Prolapse. Displacement of a few millimeters.
• Protrusion. Displacement of the intervertebral disc by 4 mm or more, but without rupture of the fibrous ring.
• Extrusion. The fibrous ring loses its integrity, and the core of the disk is displaced beyond its limits.
• Sequestration. Most of the disc nucleus goes into the intervertebral canal.

Sequestered hernia of the spine is the most serious form of the disease, which most often manifests itself with expressive symptoms and requires mandatory treatment.

Symptoms and early signs of a herniated disc

Signs of an intervertebral hernia depend both on its size and on the place in which it developed:

• With an intervertebral hernia of the cervical region, pain in the neck, headaches and dizziness appear, the pain radiates to the hands, the fingertips may go numb.
• When the intervertebral disc is deformed in the thoracic region, pain appears in the chest and heart. Symptoms may be similar to those of angina pectoris, and stomach pain may occur. One of the most common symptoms is a feeling of difficulty breathing.
• A lumbosacral hernia is characterized by lumbar pain, pain in the legs and in the groin area.

The appearance of symptoms and their strength depend on the stage of the disease and on which side the disc protrudes, whether there is pressure on the nerves or the spinal cord.

Without treatment, with the development of the disease, constant severe pain may occur, it is possible to pinch the intervertebral hernia, and limit the mobility of the spine. Sometimes, as complications, muscle weakness, dizziness, paralysis of the legs and other manifestations associated with a violation of the innervation of various parts of the body can be observed. Such conditions require mandatory treatment.

What is not recommended for a herniated disc

With this pathology, doctors do not recommend:

• lift weights;
• make sudden movements, especially those associated with twisting the body;
• gain a lot of weight;
• massage in the field of pathology;
• get supercooled and get too warm (for example, when visiting a sauna).

Also, do not wear tight corsets without a doctor’s recommendation. Such a corset can relieve pain, but prolonged use of it can lead to muscle weakness.

It is very important not to ignore the symptoms of the disease and not self-medicate. It is advisable to undergo an examination as soon as possible and choose an adequate treatment.

Methods for diagnosing a herniated disc

The examination that doctors prescribe for this disease will help to find out the condition of the intervertebral discs, bone elements of the spine, and to identify compression of nerve endings and blood vessels. Most often, for this purpose, specialists prescribe:

• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging);
• Doppler ultrasound of the vertebral arteries.

Non-invasive MR myelography, invasive CT myelography, multispiral computed tomography (MSCT) may also be needed.

Treatment of a herniated disc

If a herniated disc is diagnosed, treatment is selected depending on its size, location and other characteristics. In the early stages, doctors usually recommend treating herniated discs without surgery. Conservative therapy includes:

• Medical treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, muscle relaxants, vitamins, and corticosteroids may be prescribed. Doctors can perform blockades that can relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
• Physiotherapy. Electrophoresis with drugs, physiotherapy exercises, magnetotherapy, phonophoresis and other methods of physiotherapy are used.

When is it necessary to have surgery for a herniated disc?

With spinal hernia, conservative treatment helps in approximately 70-80%. If therapy fails, removal of the intervertebral hernia is required. Usually the need for this arises when compression of the spinal cord or nerve endings occurs. It doesn’t matter if it is a disc displacement in the lumbar, thoracic region or an intervertebral hernia of the cervical region, surgical treatment allows to achieve the desired result.

Types of surgical interventions for a herniated disc

Today, there are quite a few different operational techniques that are used depending on the characteristics of the condition. Classical open discectomy is rarely used today due to its traumatic nature. Instead, endoscopic techniques and microsurgery are used.

• Endoscopic microdiscectomy. The gold standard for surgical treatment of intervertebral hernias is endoscopic removal of the hernia. With this technique, all the necessary manipulations are performed using micro-instruments, which are delivered to the operation area through a small incision in the skin. Video equipment is also passed through the incision, with the help of which the doctor can see the operational area on an enlarged scale and carry out all manipulations as accurately as possible. In a microdiscectomy, the deformed parts of the intervertebral disc are removed.
• Laminectomy. This is a surgical treatment of a spine hernia, in which the vertebral arch is removed. This is done in order to release the pinched nerve and thus remove pain. If a disc herniation of the lumbar spine is treated in this way, a special metal stabilization structure can be additionally installed.
• Intervertebral disc replacement. It is prescribed in the most severe cases, when complete removal of the spinal disc is necessary. In this case, an implant is installed in its place. In modern clinics, such operations are performed by microsurgical methods through an incision of 3-4 centimeters.
• Vertebroplasty. It can be prescribed for small disk deformations. In this case, a special “cement” is poured into the area of the disk where the changes have occurred, which hardens and prevents further destruction of the disk. Vertebroplasty is done under local anesthesia and under X-ray control.
• Laser vaporization of the intervertebral hernia. During this procedure, a small incision is made in the skin. Then a needle is inserted into the incision, through which, using a laser beam, the doctor acts on the desired area. The laser vaporizes the deformed part of the disk and thus eliminates the anomalies in its location. This is a minimally invasive procedure that is used for small deformities.

To choose the optimal method of spinal hernia surgery, contact the clinics that specialize in the treatment of such diseases. The MedTour platform will help you find a good clinic that will help you solve your health problem.

Prices for spinal hernia removal

The price of spinal hernia removal can vary quite a lot and depends on many factors. First of all, the order of prices varies depending on the country in which the operation will be done. So, for example, in Turkey the cost of surgical treatment of this disease will be from $3.000, in Germany – from $1.000, in Israel – from $18.000.

In addition, pricing is influenced by which clinic you will choose and which doctor will perform the operation. As a rule, the more prestigious the clinic and the more famous the doctor, the more expensive their services will be. And of course, it is important which technique will be chosen, for example, for endoscopic hernia removal, the price will differ from laser removal.

Would you like to get more specific information on prices and learn more about different treatment options? The medical coordinator of MedTour will orient you on the cost and answer your other questions.

Best clinics for herniated disc treatment

The MedTour platform cooperates with the best clinics that treat this disease in Turkey, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, India, South Korea and other countries. We will help you choose a medical institution that uses the latest techniques and employs experienced professionals.

A complete list of clinics that treat herniated intervertebral disc, which are presented on our website, you can find here. Or you can get comprehensive information from the medical coordinator of MedTour.

Best doctors for herniated disc treatment

In order for the treatment to be effective, it is very important to consult a good doctor. On the MedTour platform, you can find leading experts in this field who have extensive experience and a good reputation. For example, you can contact the following doctors:

• Gerardo Conesa Bertran, director at the Institute of Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, Teknon Clinic (Spain). The doctor specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery.
• Menashe Zaarur, head of the neurosurgical department of the Rambam Medical Center (Israel). His medical interests include the surgical treatment of spinal diseases.
• Nejat Akalan, Professor, Head of the Department of Brain and Nerve Surgery at the Medipol Mega Clinic in Istanbul. The doctor deals with congenital and acquired diseases of the nervous system, including diseases of the spine.
• Ralf Buhl, medical director of the hospital in Solingen (Germany), specializes in diseases of the intervertebral discs.

Would you like to know more about the best herniated disc doctors? Send us a request for a free consultation. We will help you choose the specialist that best suits your needs and solve your health problems.

Published: 25.07.2023

Updated: 04.08.2023

Medical author:

Ilona Baidiuk

Medical author, Medical editor:

Natalia Segen