Rehabilitation after removal of the intervertebral hernia

Sometimes the only way to get rid of compression of the spinal nerves in a herniated disc is surgery. In most cases, it is effective, but the treatment does not end there. Much depends on how the recovery period goes. Some patients do not consider it important, but in fact, only proper rehabilitation after removal of an intervertebral hernia can fully restore freedom of movement without pain.

What it is

Herniated disc surgery and rehabilitation are related stages of treatment. Any surgical intervention in the spine can be dangerous. With the wrong behavior of the patient, serious complications are possible. Many people immediately return to normal life after being discharged from the hospital, as they no longer experience pain and believe that they are already healthy. This can lead to a recurrence of the disease and the formation of a new hernia.

All recovery activities must be selected by a specialist. The patient is under the supervision of a surgeon and a rehabilitation specialist. They control the rate of wound healing, the occurrence of complications, the possibility of restoring motor activity. The patient may experience pain at the site of the operation, sometimes there is a violation of sensitivity in the limbs. It happens that the scar at the site of the wound grows and begins to put pressure on the spinal roots, causing severe pain.

The duration of the recovery period, as well as the methods used, depend on the place of the operation, the age of the patient, and the state of his health. Usually, rehabilitation after surgery to remove the intervertebral hernia lasts from 3 months to 1 year. Do not force recovery and violate the recommendations of the doctor. Only the correct passage of this period will help to avoid complications.

Tasks of the recovery period

During the operation, part of the damaged disk or the entire disk is removed. Therefore, the functions of the spine are violated. Until the body rebuilds and gets used to the new conditions, a sparing regimen is needed. It is also important to do everything to quickly restore mobility. This is what all measures are aimed at during rehabilitation after surgery. They must perform the following tasks:

• remove pain;
• prevent the occurrence of complications;
• improve the patient's well-being;
• increase muscle tone;
• form the correct posture;
• restore the functionality of the spine;
• prevent recurrence of the disease.

The main goal of this period is to fully restore the functioning of the patient's musculoskeletal system, his mobility and biomechanics of the spine.

Recovery steps

A patient who has undergone surgery will have to observe a special regimen and recommendations of a doctor for the rest of his life. But the first year is the most important. The entire rehabilitation period after removal of the intervertebral hernia is divided into three stages.

• Early lasts the first two weeks. At this time, the patient is still in pain, he may have a feeling of uncertainty or even fear because of his helplessness. Therefore, in addition to medical treatment, he needs moral support, sometimes psychological help.
• During the late period, the patient is discharged from the hospital, but he visits a medical facility for rehabilitation. At this time, he learns to move independently and adapts to his new position. This period lasts approximately 2-3 months.
• The delayed period lasts the whole life of the patient. Its goal is to strengthen the muscle corset, restore performance, and prevent relapses.

Early

The first two weeks after the operation are the most important and difficult. The patient spends them in the hospital. He is prescribed drugs that relieve pain, swelling and inflammation, accelerate wound healing and prevent the development of infection. X-ray examination or MRI is performed several times to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

You can get up after removal of the intervertebral hernia in 1-2 days. Moreover, this must be done, even if you do not want to. Movement will help to avoid muscle atrophy and congestion. But you need to follow some rules:

• you can walk no more than one and a half hours a day with breaks;
• when getting out of bed, always use a hard corset;
• you can not sit down, try to get up immediately from a prone position.

Light exercises are recommended after the operation for 2-3 days. During this period, breathing exercises are performed, movements of the arms and legs are performed from a prone position. Measures are also needed to speed up the healing of the wound and prevent its infection.

Late

Recovery in the late period continues with the help of exercise therapy and physiotherapy procedures. The range of movements gradually expands, their intensity increases. If necessary, medical treatment is continued. And during physical activity, the use of a corset is indicated. You need to put it on in the supine position, and it is recommended to wear it no more than 3-5 hours a day.

Deferred

During the first year after the operation, the patient must still observe some restrictions. When doing exercise therapy, it is important not to make sudden movements and not exceed the recommended loads. At this time, it is recommended to undergo a course of spa treatment.

A person who has undergone spinal surgery, even after the expiration of the specified period, should not return to the old way of life, which caused the hernia. He is advised to do gymnastics regularly, avoid increased loads or prolonged sitting, eat right, give up bad habits.

Proper rehabilitation after removal of an intervertebral hernia in the lumbar is especially important. The lower back is involved in almost every movement and is subjected to the greatest stress. Therefore, it is in this place that relapses of the disease often occur.

What Not to Do

In the first months after the operation, you need to be especially careful and not violate the doctor's requirements. There are several prohibitions that will help you recover faster and avoid complications. The patient should immediately remember what he should not do:

• perform physical work without a corset;
• sit, ride in a car or transport;
• lift weights;
• make sudden movements
• play sports, ride a bike;
• sleep on an uneven surface or on a soft mattress;
• do back massage or manual therapy;
• supercool.

There are also restrictions on exercise therapy. Not all exercises after removal of the intervertebral hernia can be performed. Jumping, running, bending forward are prohibited. Do not make twisting movements, sharp turns. It is necessary to do it, but it is important not to exceed the recommended load and prevent pain.

How is rehabilitation going?

When recovering from surgery to remove an intervertebral hernia, different methods are used. Usually this is a set of measures that require daily use. In most cases, the following methods are effective:

• drug therapy;
• physiotherapy;
• physiotherapy.

Immobilization

In the first 1-2 weeks after surgery, the patient is shown bed rest. When the doctor allows you to get up, be sure to wear a semi-rigid corset. It will prevent the occurrence of pain during movement, as it supports the spine and relieves stress from it.

How long to wear a corset after removal of an intervertebral hernia depends on the site of the operation and its complexity. The duration is determined individually, someone will be allowed not to wear it after discharge from the hospital, others are advised to use a corset for up to 2 months. It is impossible to decide on your own when to stop wearing it, since it reduces the load and serves as a support for the fragile spine. But it is not recommended to use a corset for a long time, this can lead to muscle atrophy.

Medications

In the hospital, immediately after the operation, medical rehabilitation of patients with herniated intervertebral discs is carried out. It consists in taking medications. Such therapy is aimed at relieving pain and inflammation, improving blood supply to tissues. The following drugs are used:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have an analgesic effect, relieve swelling and inflammation, these are Naproxen, Diclofenac, Ketoprofen;
• broad-spectrum antibiotics prevent the development of infectious complications;
• to relieve muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are prescribed, for example, Mydocalm or Sirdalud;
• B vitamins from drugs such as Milgamma or Neuromultivit help to restore the conduction of nerve impulses.

Physiotherapy

Exercise therapy after removal of the intervertebral hernia is the most important and effective method of rehabilitation. Only special exercises allow you to restore the muscular corset and mobility of the spine. Therefore, classes begin in the early postoperative period. First, the patient should move his arms and legs without getting out of bed. These can be such exercises:

• circular movements with hands and feet;
• raising and lowering the feet;
• flexion and extension of the limbs in the knee and elbow joints;
• raising straight arms;
• tension of different muscle groups.

The basic rules of gymnastics are compliance with the recommendations of the doctor and an individual approach. Any new exercises should be included one at a time, the load should be increased gradually and be sure to monitor your well-being. If pain is felt during any movement, it should be abandoned and reported to the doctor. All movements are performed smoothly, slowly, at first with a small amplitude, it must be increased gradually.

In the late rehabilitation period, during gymnastics, the muscles of the back, abdominal wall, neck, arms, and legs should be involved. Exercises are performed lying on your back, side or stomach, as well as standing on all fours. The exercise therapy complex is compiled individually. Most often, it includes simple exercises that can be easily performed at any age.

• Lying on your back, bend your knees, pulling your feet to the body. At the same time, you need to clench your fists, straining the muscles of your hands, and raise your head.
• Lie on your back, arms along the body. As you exhale, slowly pull your knees towards your stomach. You can do this alternately or with both feet together.
• In the same position, but the legs are bent, and the arms are spread out to the side. Raise the pelvis up.
• The starting position is the same. Alternately raise straight legs up.
• Raise your upper body while slightly bending your legs. The arms may be crossed over the chest or behind the head.
• Get on all fours. Slowly bend, throwing your head back, then arch your back, and lower your head down.
• Standing on all fours, bend one leg, touching your chest with your knee, then straighten it and take it back. Repeat with the other leg.
• From the same starting position, sit on your heels without taking your hands off the floor. The head rests on the knees.
• In the supine position, you need to alternately bend your legs.
• From the same position, lift the upper body, leaning on the hands.
• Perform exercises "boat" or "swallow".

Physiotherapy exercises can improve the patient's condition and accelerate the recovery of spinal functions. But for this you need to do it right. Not all exercises can be performed, some can cause a relapse of the disease. In addition, sports are not recommended, especially with power loads. It is very important that classes are held regularly, preferably daily.

Physical exercise

In addition to special gymnastics, a few days after the operation, you need to walk daily. The duration of walks is small at first - 15-20 minutes, but gradually increases. In addition, swimming in the pool, aqua gymnastics and mechanotherapy are useful. The use of a fitball and other exercise equipment effectively strengthens the muscular corset. Such devices contribute to the extension of the spine, which reduces the risk of re-infringement of the nerves.

Physiotherapy

One of the most common methods used for recovery after herniated disc surgery is physiotherapy. The following procedures are effective:

• iontophoresis or phonophoresis;
• electrophoresis with Novocaine;
• magnetotherapy;
• ultrasound therapy;
• mud treatment;
• interstitial stimulation.

Such procedures improve blood circulation, activate metabolism and regeneration processes. They accelerate tissue repair, relieve inflammation. Some procedures can improve the condition of damaged nerves by restoring the process of conducting nerve impulses and normalize tissue sensitivity.

Spa treatment

Every person who has undergone spinal surgery is recommended to undergo a course of sanatorium-and-spa treatment every year. Special procedures help prevent relapses, improve metabolic processes and nerve conduction. In the sanatorium it is possible to undergo a full course of rehabilitation measures. Usually these are the following procedures:

• hydrotherapy;
• mud treatment;
• exercise therapy;
• underwater traction;
• acupuncture;
• paraffin therapy;
• intake of medicinal mineral waters.

Such patients are very useful water procedures. They help to improve the mobility of the spine, relieve stress from the intervertebral discs. Swimming in the pool helps relieve spasms and activate deep back muscles. Charcot shower and other types of hydromassage are useful.

The patient can also take baths. To enhance the relaxing and therapeutic effect of such a procedure, various agents must be added to the water. Baths with the addition of decoctions of medicinal herbs or turpentine are effective. In sanatoriums, patients are also prescribed radon, hydrosulfide, mud baths.

Even a few years after the removal of a hernia, complications can occur if the doctor's recommendations are not followed. Rehabilitation after such an operation should last a lifetime. It is necessary to remember about the inadmissibility of increased loads, prolonged sitting. But the right lifestyle will help maintain performance and avoid re-formation of a hernia.