One of the most common conditions in society, lumbar hernia is defined as a disease that traps a person in daily life with unbearable pain and limitation of mobility. Incorrect treatment practices based on hearsay, aimed at getting rid of lumbar hernia and relieving pain, may cause permanent damage to the body. Op. Dr. Umut Yaka from the Neurosurgery Department of Memorial Hizmet Hospital gave information about the common misconceptions regarding lumbar hernia.
Do Not Apply These Treatment Methods
Unfortunately, a large number of people do not have sufficient awareness about their illnesses. While writhing in pain, instead of going to a doctor, they resort to a number of methods that have no scientific basis whatsoever. We encounter patients who have honey, figs, or fish tied to their lower back, those who dangerously cut or burn their skin, apply leeches, undergo unskilled pulling, and even patients who have thread passed through their lower back with a needle just to relieve the pain.
The Pain You Think Is Lumbar Hernia May Be a Sign of Another Disease
According to a common belief among the public, a patient with lower back pain thinks they have a lumbar hernia. However, lumbar hernia is not a single type, and different treatment methods need to be applied at different stages of the disease. Lower back and leg pain may be due to lumbar hernia, but it may also be caused by spondylolisthesis, spinal tumor, spinal fractures, rheumatic diseases, inflammatory conditions, or various diseases involving the musculoskeletal system. As a result, while recovery may be possible with a simple treatment, we frequently encounter patients who end up needing surgery because of unconscious practices.
"Lying on Your Back on a Hard Surface Reduces Pain."
Wrong!
Patients usually feel more comfortable when they lie on their side and pull their legs toward their abdomen. Because in this position, the space between the vertebrae widens and the pressure on the leg nerves decreases.
"Except for Meals and Toilet Needs, One Should Stay in Bed for a Full Week Without Getting Up."
Wrong!
Two days of bed rest is sufficient. Staying in bed for a long time may lead to depression in the patient.
"To Reduce Pain, We Should Avoid Walking and Going Up and Down Stairs, and Prefer Sitting More."
Wrong!
Sitting increases the load on the lower back; one should not sit continuously for more than twenty minutes.
"Wearing a Corset Supports the Lower Back Muscles and Reduces the Load on the Lower Back."
Wrong!
Except in cases of spinal fractures and slippage, wearing a corset continuously is harmful; it causes weakening of the lower back muscles.
"We Can Get Rid of Lumbar Hernia by Pulling the Lower Back."
Wrong!
Lower back pulling is only beneficial in slippages of the joints formed between the posterior extensions of the vertebrae. When performed on people with advanced lumbar hernia, it may cause the hernia to rupture and lead to permanent nerve damage.
"Lumbar Hernia Can Be Treated with Alternative Methods Such as Tying Fish to the Lower Back or Cupping."
Wrong!
Such alternative methods only increase blood circulation in the lower back and cause relaxation in the muscles, resulting in temporary relief for the patient. However, they have no effect on the hernia itself.
"Lumbar Hernia Surgery Is Very Risky, and Most Patients Either Become Disabled or Their Pain Never Fully Goes Away."
Wrong!
In lumbar hernia surgeries performed with the microsurgical method, there is no such risk as becoming disabled or paralyzed.
"After Lumbar Hernia Surgery, the Patient Cannot Drive for at Least Three Months and Must Not Travel."
Wrong!
After lumbar hernia surgery, the patient may travel long distances by plane or train the day after the operation, and by car or bus two days after the operation. Two weeks after the operation, they may drive if they are not in a place with heavy traffic.
"Sexual power decreases after lumbar hernia surgery, and at least 3 months of sexual abstinence should be observed after the operation.
