Exercises for lumbar protrusion and leg numbness

Lying down while having a herniated disc often leads to a variety of symptoms. The most common one is numbness in the legs due to compression of the nerves by the herniated disc. This is quite painful for people, and in severe cases it can even cause greater health impacts. At this time, a good examination should be carried out in time, and then certain medications can be used for treatment to relieve pain and promote blood circulation, achieving the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Good health care should be strengthened in daily life.

What to do if your legs are numb due to lumbar disc herniation

1. It is recommended to do CT or MRI of the lumbar spine. For patients with numbness in the lumbar intervertebral disc, it is recommended to go to a local tertiary-level hospital to take a lateral radiograph of the lumbar spine. If further diagnosis is needed, a lumbar CT or MRI of the lumbar spine can be done to confirm the location and extent of the lesion, avoid blind treatment, and then find an orthopedic doctor to make an assessment and future treatment plan.

2. Leg numbness caused by lumbar disc herniation can be treated with medication. If the acute attack of leg numbness caused by lumbar disc herniation affects sleep, you can take some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs orally under the guidance of a doctor, or apply non-steroidal anti-inflammatory suppositories externally to the rectum, both of which have a good effect in relieving pain and relieving leg numbness. You can also take some Chinese patent medicines orally that have the effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, which can relieve the numbness between the waist and legs to a certain extent. You can also take some nerve nourishing drugs and B vitamins orally, which can serve as an auxiliary treatment.

3. Pay attention to your sleeping posture and mattress. Choose a slightly harder mattress, but do not lie directly on a hard board as it is not conducive to blood circulation. Sleeping posture is also very important. When you choose to sleep on your side, put a pillow between your legs to help reposition the lumbar disc. When you choose to lie flat on your back, use as low a pillow as possible and put a pillow under the popliteal fossa of your leg to help relax the spine and help relieve leg numbness.

4. Lie down and rest or change postures frequently. It is recommended to lie down and rest when the lumbar disc is acutely attacked. If it is relieved or you are busy at work, you can change postures frequently. It is best not to sit for a long time. Driving and typing on the computer are the most harmful to the waist. It is best to get up and move around every 20-30 minutes. In addition, you should avoid bending over to lift heavy objects; do not do heavy physical work or strenuous exercise.

5. You can choose conservative treatment with traditional Chinese medicine. There are many methods of conservative treatment with traditional Chinese medicine, but they vary from person to person. Acupuncture and cupping are suitable for people with wind-cold in the body {preferably fire cupping); people with inflammation and edema of the lumbar spine are suitable for local paste medicine, and it is best to apply the paste medicine on the Huantiao acupoint to better relieve leg numbness; if the lumbar disc nucleus pulposus herniation is serious, traction is needed to help reduce the position; people with lumbar disc numbness and leg numbness can also get good results from Chinese medicine massage; if people have dislocation of the lumbar facet joints, they need to be reduced and fixed by a Chinese medicine orthopedic doctor.

6. You can combine physical therapy with some exercises. You can usually do physical therapy in the hospital or at home, 20-30 minutes each time, 1-2 times a day. It is recommended to lift both lower limbs alternately and simultaneously in bed for 20-30 minutes every day; you can also do the small swallow flying exercise and the five-point exercise in bed; you can also hang on the horizontal bar in the community. Doing these movements can increase the strength of the lumbar muscles, relieve symptoms and control attacks. 7. Surgery is recommended for patients whose symptoms gradually worsen or do not improve. If the symptoms of lumbar interlegged numbness do not improve or recur after 3-6 months of conservative treatment, you need to go to the hospital for further diagnosis and treatment in time, listen to the advice of orthopedic specialists, and decide whether to continue conservative treatment or require surgical treatment. It is best to visit two or more hospitals before deciding whether to undergo surgery.