Rehabilitation after removal of a hernia of the spine

Any type of spinal surgery is a complex and responsible process that requires some preparation. Recovery after surgical treatment takes a long time and if it is carried out incorrectly, there is a high risk of developing new pathologies. The type of rehabilitation after a hernia of the spine is determined by the age of the patient, his state of health and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Indications for surgery

Intervertebral hernia is a severe pathology that occurs as a consequence of osteochondrosis. The result of dystrophic transformations in the structure of the cartilaginous tissue is the protrusion of the contents of the disk beyond the boundaries of the fibrous ring. Thus, a neoplasm or an outgrowth is formed on the spinal column and it is the lumbar region that is predominantly affected.

In the absence of effective treatment, the result of pinched nerve endings is loss of sensation in the lower extremities. In this area, the death of nerve fibers occurs and the person becomes disabled.

Specialists identify some indications for surgical intervention to remove the formation:

• too big a hernia;
• its specific localization;
• identification of additional diseases of the spinal column;
• multiple hernias and protrusions.

In fact, surgery to remove a hernia of the spinal column is an extreme measure that doctors resort to. It is advisable to remove the formation as soon as possible, which will avoid the development of unpleasant consequences.

Types of spinal surgery

Specialists perform several types of surgical interventions for intervertebral hernia, and quite often the final decision is made already during the operation. This is due to the fact that CT and MRI do not allow you to get an accurate picture of the localization of education.

In medical practice, several types of surgical treatment are used:

• removal of injured areas of the intervertebral space without installing additional structures;
• complete removal of the damaged intervertebral disc with the introduction of a titanium cage;
• complete removal of the intervertebral disc with the installation of a fixing metal structure.

The course of rehabilitation after removal of a hernia on the spine is determined by the type of intervention. To quickly recover the patient and prevent the development of any complications, it is necessary to carefully prepare for the operation. Before admission to the hospital of a medical institution, it is recommended to perform exercise therapy, which will strengthen the back.

In addition, preparation for the operation involves the use of special means to thin the blood. With their help, it is possible to prevent thrombosis and avoid problems with blood circulation. Before surgery, detailed blood and urine tests are mandatory. This allows you to exclude the presence of concomitant diseases, pathological processes in the body and acute conditions.

To reduce back pain, it is recommended to sit as little as possible before surgery. After removal of a hernia of the spine, it is not allowed to sit in a sitting position for several months. It is possible to cope with severe discomfort with the help of the knee-elbow posture, due to which the load is evenly distributed, and the hernia does not put pressure on the adjacent vertebrae and does not compress the nerve endings.

Tasks of the recovery period

After surgery to remove a hernia of the spine, you need to pay increased attention to your body. For some time, the patient may still experience pain, because the nerves remain inflamed due to pressure on them. After surgical treatment, the patient is selected a set of specific measures that help the body recover completely.

How long the postoperative period lasts after surgery for a hernia of the spine is determined by the type of surgical intervention and the general condition of the patient. Mostly rehabilitation is indicated after laser removal of the formation in the lumbar region by discectomy and microdiscectomy. After such treatment, the recovery process is not too long and difficult compared to open operations.

In the event that, if there are indications, a laminectomy is performed, then after it is carried out, the rehabilitation process is quite long and complicated. With the help of titanium plates, the affected area is immobilized, so the patient's entire vertebral disc is removed and an implant is installed.

After spinal surgery to remove a hernia, the duration of rehabilitation depends on the patient himself. In order for the rehabilitation process to go quickly, it will take a lot of effort. If the recommendations of a specialist are not followed, there is a high probability of developing dangerous consequences, which may require repeated surgical treatment.

 During the rehabilitation period, the main tasks are:

• reduction and complete elimination of pain syndrome;
• development of injured joints;
• restoration of motor activity and its normalization;
• muscle strengthening;
• restoration of normal limb mobility;
• prevention of recurrence of the disease;
• restoration of the supply of necessary substances to the affected area.

In general, the main tasks of postoperative rehabilitation for spinal hernia are the gradual recovery of the body and the creation of conditions that prevent the recurrence of the tumor. In addition, the emphasis is on preventing any diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Recovery periods

The rehabilitation period that a patient goes through after surgery to remove a hernia of the spine is divided into several stages:

1. The early period usually lasts 1-2 weeks. During this period, the patient is in the hospital of a medical institution or under the supervision of the attending physician. It is important to remain calm, which will allow you to restore strength and immobilize the area of ​​​​remote education.
2. The late period starts from 3 weeks after the removal of the formation and lasts about 2 months. At this time, the main emphasis is on the restoration of the body, that is, certain exercises and rehabilitation procedures are selected for the patient.
3. The delayed period begins from the third month after the surgical intervention and lasts until the end of the patient's life. At this time, no strict recommendations are required, but it is important not to overstrain the body and avoid increased physical exertion. In addition, it is recommended to perform exercises that have a positive effect on the state of the musculoskeletal system.

What to do is prohibited

Rehabilitation after spinal hernia surgery includes a lot of restrictions that the patient must follow. It is especially important to do this in the early period for several weeks after the operation.

It is forbidden:

1. Do any exercise and play sports. The first two weeks it is necessary to observe complete rest, which will allow the inflamed area to recover much faster.
2. Travel by public transport. It is not allowed to be in a sitting position for more than 15 minutes, as this can provoke pain.
3. Avoid wearing a corset. After surgery, the patient is recommended to wear a special corset for 2 weeks to help fix the spine in the correct position.
4. Wearing a corset for too long. This can be dangerous for the musculoskeletal system and cause improper healing of the damaged area. During the day, the supporting device should be worn for 3-4 hours.
5. Do your own manual therapy. In the early period after the operation, massage is contraindicated, as this can lead to unpleasant consequences.
6. Heavy loads on the body. In the early period, it is allowed to lift no more than 2 kg and this must be done correctly. It is strictly forbidden to tilt the body and in order to pick up an object, you need to sit down.
7. Take medications without consulting a specialist, smoke and drink alcoholic beverages.

In the late period of rehabilitation after removal of a hernia of the spine, there are fewer restrictions, but even at this time it is forbidden:

1. Break the diet. It is important to ensure that vitamins and essential trace elements enter the patient's body, which will speed up the healing process.
2. Is for a long time in a sitting and lying position. It is better to stop traveling for long distances and take exercise breaks every 3 hours.
3. Lift heavy objects over 8 kg. During this period, it is allowed to lift weights, but this should be done in compliance with certain rules.
4. Neglect physical therapy. A specialist selects exercise therapy, with the help of which it is possible to completely restore the spine.
5. Wrong dress. The affected area must be protected from overheating or hypothermia.
6. To drive a car. The patient is advised to stop driving for at least 3 months.
7. Avoid wearing a corset. The patient, even in the late period, must wear a corset for at least 4 hours a day.

In the delayed period of rehabilitation, experts recommend that the patient constantly engage in therapeutic exercises even several years after the operation. Throughout life, one should refuse to lift too heavy objects, observe special nutrition and avoid too sudden movements. After the operation, the patient needs to protect his musculoskeletal system from prolonged and heavy loads.

When can I sit down and stand up after surgery?

Many patients are concerned about how long it is impossible to sit after surgery and why. The fact is that in this position, a strong load is placed on the lumbar region of the spine. In the human body, intervertebral discs have a shock-absorbing function, and when one of them is removed, the level of compression increases significantly. When a person is in a sitting position, the recovery process is greatly aggravated. After surgery, it is necessary that connective tissue grows around the damaged area.

When performing a surgical intervention without the installation of any replacement structures, the patient is not allowed to occupy a sitting position for 6 months. In the event that a cage was installed during the operation, then sitting is not allowed for 1-2 months. The specialist conducts CT, MRI and panoramic X-ray, according to the results of which it is possible to determine whether the structure has taken root.

After surgery, it is allowed to take a half-sitting position, but you can not sleep on your stomach. Only a few weeks after the removal of the formation of the spine, it is allowed to start turning on its side. At first, going to the toilet becomes a real problem for the patient, but gradually he gets used to the restrictions.

 It is strictly forbidden to lean to the sides and forward, as well as to squat. If necessary, it is better to find some kind of support in a standing position for a long time, which will evenly distribute the load on the spine.

Exercise after surgery

After removal of a hernia, the recovery period lasts about six months, but after 3 months a person can already return to his usual life. In the event that a person walks a lot, then it is possible to restore all systems and functions of the body much faster. When the incision site heals and the pain syndrome is eliminated, it is allowed to start pumping the back. Simple exercises after removal of a hernia of the spine are allowed to be performed even if the patient is not yet allowed to get up.

It is necessary to lie flat on your back and remove the pillow from under your head. It is recommended to alternately raise straight legs to a height of 20-30 cm. When performing the exercise after surgery for a hernia of the spine, the feet should be shortened and it is not allowed to pull the toe.

One of the effective exercises that help restore the muscular corset is crawling on all fours. It is allowed to perform it a few weeks after surgery and control that the back is even.

 Physiotherapy

In the late postoperative period after a hernia of the spine, the patient may be prescribed various physiotherapy procedures that accelerate the recovery of the body. With their help, it is possible to cope with pain and swelling in the area of ​​hernia removal, increase muscle tone and accelerate the restoration of cartilage tissue. Physiotherapy is recommended to be carried out in a course consisting of 10-15 sessions.

After surgery, the following types of procedures can be prescribed:

1. Phonophoresis. With the help of ultrasound, various medications are introduced into the patient's body, which allows you to completely cope with pain and swelling.
2. laser therapy. The procedure helps to neutralize lesions in the cartilage and bone tissue in the focus of the removed hernia and cope with spasms.
3. Ultrasound treatment. With its help, it is possible to relieve pain, accelerate the restoration of cartilage and bone tissue, and also normalize the movement of blood to the lesion.
4. Massage. This procedure helps to increase blood flow and the supply of nutrients to the area of ​​surgical intervention, increase muscle tone and general condition of the body.
5. Magnetotherapy. With its help, it is possible to reduce the intensity of pathological processes and cope with the pain syndrome, as well as restore the metabolic function in the body.

A good effect in recovery after removal of a hernia of the spine is electrical stimulation, due to which the metabolism in tissues is normalized and dead nerve cells are regenerated in this area.

Radon baths are highly effective, but underwater traction is strictly prohibited after the operation. After removal of a hernia on the spine, patients are also shown sanatorium treatment.

Medications

After surgery to remove a hernia of the spine, the patient may be prescribed medications, the action of which is aimed at eliminating the pain syndrome and normalizing disturbed metabolic processes in the body.

During the rehabilitation period after surgery for a hernia of the spine, the following medications can be prescribed:

1. Muscle relaxants. With their help, it is possible to cope with pain and relieve muscle tension. The most effective drugs in this group are Tolperisone and Tizanidine.
2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Medicines in this group help to stop the inflammatory process and cope with tissue swelling. It is possible to alleviate the patient's condition with the help of drugs such as Ketorol and Diklak.
3. Analgesics. The action of drugs in this group is aimed at reducing or completely neutralizing the pain syndrome. Effective drugs in this group are Aspirin, Lidocaine and Ketotifen.
4. Chondroprotectors. Medicines such as Alflutop and Artra help restore bone and cartilage tissue.

Important in the rehabilitation period is played first by rest, and after moderate physical activity of the patient. Compliance with all the recommendations of the doctor allows you to quickly recover after surgery and normalize the work of the whole organism. With due diligence and a desire to recover, the rehabilitation period lasts no more than 3-4 weeks. After that, the patient's unpleasant symptoms disappear, but throughout the entire period of life you will have to monitor your health