What are the symptoms of acute lumbar disc herniation?

Acute lumbar disc herniation is often manifested by sudden low back pain, radiating leg pain and limited mobility. If the symptoms are severe, medical treatment should be sought as soon as possible.

The core symptom of acute lumbar disc herniation is severe pain in the lower back, which usually occurs suddenly. The pain is often induced or aggravated by bending over, lifting heavy objects or improper posture. Nerve compression can cause radiating pain in one or both lower limbs, often spreading along the distribution area of ​​the sciatic nerve (such as the back of the thigh, calf to the foot), accompanied by numbness, tingling or burning sensation. Some patients may feel a decrease in lower limb muscle strength and even difficulty walking. If the cauda equina is compressed, it may be accompanied by urinary and bowel dysfunction, such as urgency, urinary incontinence or anal weakness. This is a sign of severe illness and requires immediate medical attention.

To relieve symptoms, you should rest in bed to reduce the weight on your lumbar spine. At the same time, you can use analgesics (such as loxoprofen sodium) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as celecoxib) under the guidance of a doctor to relieve pain and inflammation. Physical therapy includes hot compresses, ultrasound therapy, or traction therapy, which helps reduce symptoms of compressed nerves. Severe cases may require minimally invasive interventional treatment (such as radiofrequency ablation of the intervertebral disc) or surgical treatment (such as nucleus pulposus removal or artificial disc replacement). At the same time, pay attention to strengthening the core muscles of the waist and back, avoid sitting for long periods of time and lifting heavy objects, and reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease. If symptoms worsen or are accompanied by obvious neurological dysfunction, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time.