Lumbar disc herniation left leg pain

The swelling and pain in the left leg caused by lumbar disc herniation may be caused by compression of the nerves. The cause needs to be clarified, including genetics, long-term bad posture or trauma. Relief of swelling and pain can be achieved through medication, physical therapy, surgery and lifestyle adjustments. Severe symptoms require timely medical treatment.

1) Genetic factors

The occurrence of lumbar disc herniation may be related to genetics. Some people may be born with a weaker intervertebral disc structure and are more prone to degeneration. If a family member suffers from a similar disease, you need to pay more attention to the health of the lumbar spine, avoid excessive fatigue, and improve your awareness of prevention.

2) External factors (influence of environment and living habits)

Long-term improper sitting posture, lifting heavy objects, lack of exercise, etc. will accelerate the degeneration of intervertebral discs. People who sit for a long time, manual laborers and weight training enthusiasts are at high risk. Being overweight also increases the pressure on the lumbar spine. It is recommended to do more appropriate stretching exercises every day to maintain a good posture, especially when sitting for a long time, you can stand up and move every 30 minutes.

3) Personal factors (degenerative diseases)

As we age, the water content of the intervertebral disc gradually decreases, becoming fragile and more likely to bulge or even rupture during daily activities. People over 40 should pay special attention to waist health care. They can enhance the stability and support of the lumbar spine through moderate waist and back muscle exercises such as small swallow flying and plank support.

4) Trauma or overwork

Lumbar disc herniation may also occur under gravity impact or excessive load, such as suddenly lifting heavy objects or accidentally falling, which will accelerate the disease. In the acute stage, it is recommended to relieve symptoms by resting and temporarily reducing the load on the waist, and wear a waist protector when necessary.

Mitigation methods

1. Drug treatment: Common drugs include ibuprofen, celecoxib and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which can relieve inflammation and pain caused by nerve compression. You need to take them according to the doctor's advice and pay attention to side effects.

2. Physical therapy: such as physical therapy device stimulation, electrotherapy, acupuncture, etc., can effectively improve blood circulation and relieve pain. It is recommended to go to the rehabilitation department of a regular hospital to design a suitable physical therapy plan.

3. Surgical treatment: If conservative treatment is ineffective or the nerves are severely compressed, minimally invasive perforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy or laminectomy and decompression surgery can be used to resolve the lesion. This should be decided by the doctor after a systematic evaluation.

Lifestyle Adjustments

-In terms of diet, it is recommended to supplement with calcium-rich foods such as milk, soy products and nuts, and appropriate supplementation of vitamin D is helpful for bone health.

-Try to avoid sitting for long periods of time. Doing 40 minutes to 1 hour of aerobic exercise every day, such as walking and swimming, can help reduce the burden on the lumbar spine.

The swelling and pain in the left leg may indicate that the degree of nerve compression is getting worse, which may cause difficulty walking or other neurological problems in severe cases. If conservative treatment cannot relieve the symptoms, you need to go to the hospital as soon as possible to complete imaging examinations, such as MRI or CT, to determine the cause and formulate a treatment plan. At the same time, through long-term good living habits, it is hoped that the recurrence of symptoms will be slowed down.