what are the symptoms of a lumbar hernia

Mark Reiner, if you suffer from any of the following signs and symptoms of a lumbar hernia:

• Back pain
• Dragging sensation
• Bulge in the side of the abdomen
• Bulge that does not go away or grows in size over time

Full Answer

How does a lumbar hernia affect the body?

Symptoms

• Arm or leg pain. If your herniated disk is in your lower back, you'll typically feel the most pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf. ...
• Numbness or tingling. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.
• Weakness. Muscles served by the affected nerves tend to weaken. ...

Can a lumbar hernia be life-threatening?

A lumbar hernia is a type of abdominal wall hernia. Although rare in itself, complications of strangulation or incarnation of the hernia can develop. Intestinal blockage is also rare but can develop with lumbar hernias. Complication can be life-threatening, especially when not treated early.

What causes a lumbar hernia?

What Causes Lumbar Hernia?

• Aging and degeneration
• Excess weight
• A sudden stress from heavy lifting

How is a lumbar hernia diagnosed?

Lumbar hernia can be diagnosed during physical examination. When symptoms develop, they often involve a bulge in the lumber (lower back) region that is tender or painful. Depending on the symptoms, the doctor may suspect lumbar hernia and confirm the diagnosis with CT scan. Show More.

How painful is a lumbar hernia?

Back and abdominal pain is common to many patients with lumbar hernias. It will typically be a vague soreness, with varying levels of intensity, but may be described by the patient as a specific site of tenderness.

What causes lumbar hernia?

These hernias are associated with rib and vertebral anomalies. Primary, or spontaneous, lumbar hernias comprise about 54% of the reported cases and are associated with age, rapid weight loss, chronic disease, muscular atrophy, and strenuous physical labor.

How do you treat a hernia in the lower back?

Treating Back Pain & Hernias Hernias typically need to be surgically repaired by a general surgeon. If you are diagnosed with a hernia, your physician will refer you to a skilled general surgeon for the procedure.

Do lumbar hernias go away?

The good news is that in most cases — 90% of the time — pain caused by a herniated disc will go away on its own within six months.

Can a hernia cause hip and back pain?

The pain may not just be in the area of the hernia; it can radiate to your hip, back, leg — even to the genitals. As your hernia gets worse, many aspects of your life will get worse right along with it. Even if it isn't painful (yet), the sensation and pressure may cause you to avoid certain activities.

Can a hernia cause sciatic nerve pain?

Sciatica occurs as a result of compression of the sciatic nerve by the herniated sac [2, 7]. Ureteric obstruction can occur if a ureter is included in the herniated tissue. Sciatic hernia can also lead to abscess formation in the gluteal region, particularly after perforation of a strangulated bowel [7].

Where do you feel pain from a hernia?

The symptoms that lead most people to the doctor, and eventually a hernia diagnosis, typically include pain in the abdomen, particularly in the groin area. The pain tends to get worse if you sneeze, cough, lift something heavy or strain. But different types of hernia can cause other symptoms.

What are symptoms of bulging disc in lower back?

3 Telltale Signs You Have a Slipped or Bulging DiscPain while sitting. An activity that exerts tremendous pressure on your lower spinal discs is sitting. ... Radiating pain into your leg (sciatica) ... Pain aggravated by specific activities.

Common Lumbar Herniated Disc Symptoms

It is common for a herniated disc to press against, or inflame, a nearby nerve, causing pain to radiate along the length of the nerve. A lumber her...

Rare but Dangerous Symptoms of Lumbar Herniated Disc

A loss of bladder or bowel control, lower back pain, numbness in the saddle area, and/or weakness in both legs are signs of a rare but serious cond...

Location of Nerve Impingement Is Key

Symptoms of a herniated disc can vary depending on the location of the nerve, as nerve pathways are different at each level of the spine. For examp...

How do you know if you have a lumbar hernia?

However, some of the lumbar hernia symptoms include: Back pain and swelling around the area of the bulge. Abdominal cramping and tenderness. Numbness or a tingling sensation in the leg and foot. Pain that worsens when coughing or straining.

What age do lumbar hernias occur?

Lumbar hernias or flank hernias, typically occur in individuals aged 50 to 70 and are more common in men.

What is the best treatment for lumbar disc herniation?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs): Medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen helps relieve pain caused by herniated lumbar disc. Epidural steroid injection: An injection of a drug (like cortisone) into the around the nerve provides pain relief by reducing inflammation.

How to help lower back pain?

Avoid sitting for long periods make all your physical activity slow and controlled, especially lifting and bending forward. Physical therapy: Specific stretching exercises and massage will help strengthen your lower back and abdominal muscles.

Is lumbar hernia surgical or nonsurgical?

He also says that depends on the severity of the condition the treatment of lumbar hernia can be either nonsurgical or surgical.

Can a lumbar hernia be treated with surgery?

Only a few patients with lumbar hernia require surgery. This is recommended when the nonsurgical treatment has not relieved the painful symptoms of the herniated lumbar disc or for those who are experiencing muscle weakness and difficulty walking. Surgical treatment for a lumbar or flank hernia includes:

How to treat lumbar hernia?

The only efficient way to treat a Lumbar Hernia is through surgical procedures because these hernias are prone to incarceration and strangulation. Also, the gradual increase in size could make it more difficult to treat, which means that healthcare providers will have to work as quickly as possible to fix the issue.

Why do lumbar hernias occur?

Several medical experts state that a Lumbar Hernia develops over time due to a weakness of the abdomen wall and loss of muscle and fatty tissue. More often than not, such issues are inherent to aging, illness, or trauma. While in some cases, they may also occur as complications ...

What is the peritoneum of a lumbar hernia?

The peritoneum is a thin, yet solid membrane made up of several layers, of which two are the most important. Those two layers are the Omentum, which is in front of the stomach and intestine;

What is the name of the area where a hernia protrudes?

When an abdominal hernia develops toward the back of the abdomen wall, it can protrude through the Superior Lumbar Triangle, and that causes Lumbar Hernia.

Can a lumbar hernia cause abdominal cramps?

But in the case of this condition becoming a more complicated issue due to external or internal factors, then the Lumbar Hernia causes more severe symptoms including abdominal cramping, bowel obstruction, and an irreducible hernia bulge. While some people could list potential symptoms, such signs vary so much that they could confuse most doctors as ...

Is a hernia a rare form of abdominal wall hernia?

Is a rare form of abdominal wall hernia, which is very difficult to diagnose. Those who are familiar with the concept of hernias are aware that such conditions’ main defining feature is the protrusion of an organ or tissues outside their rightful place in the body.

Can lumbar hernias grow?

Also, just like some medical experts point out, Lumbar Hernias can and will grow larger if left untreated.

How do you know if you have a herniated disc?

Symptoms of a lumbar herniated disc vary widely—from moderate pain in the back and buttock to widespread numbness and weakness requiring immediate medical care.

Where do you feel pain from a disc herniation?

Depending on variables such as where the disc herniates and the degree of herniation, symptoms may be experienced in the low back, buttock, front or back of the thigh, the calf, foot and/or toes , and typically affects just one side of the body. Neurological symptoms.

What causes pain in the back of the leg?

It is common for a herniated disc to press against, or inflame, a nearby nerve, causing pain to radiate along the length of the nerve. A lumber herniated disc is the most common cause of sciatica, leg pain along the sciatic nerve down the back of the leg.

What nerve impingement causes numbness and pain in the toes?

S1 nerve impingement (at the L5-S1 level) from a herniated disc may cause loss of the ankle reflex and/or weakness that makes it difficult for patients to stand on their toes or on the ball of the foot. Numbness and/or pain can radiate along the outside of the calf, down to the sole or outside of the foot and the toes.

How to relieve lower back pain from herniated disc?

If the herniated disc causes lower back muscle spasm, the pain may be alleviated somewhat by a day or two of relative rest, applying ice or heat, sitting in a supported recliner or lying flat on the back with a pillow under the knees. See Causes of Lower Back Pain. Pain that worsens with movement.

What is the abnormal reflex of a herniated disc?

This is called the patellar reflex. Pain from an L3 or L4 impingement usually radiates to the quadriceps femoris muscle at the front of the thigh.

What are the symptoms of a herniated toe?

Foot drop. Neurological symptoms caused by the herniation may include difficulty lifting the foot when walking or standing on the ball of the foot, a condition known as foot drop.

Where is a lumbar hernia located?

There are two lumbar triangles, which lie between the bottom of the 12th (last) rib and the hipbone and are situated around the back of the body.

Can a hernia be bruising?

It is also the hernia that can present after a sudden trauma, although this is rare and presents with bruising on the side of the abdominal wall. Diagnosing a lumbar hernia can often prove difficult with further tests required in some cases.

Can a lumbar hernia be a pain?

A Lumbar hernia is usually noticed as a lump on the back, which can be painful on coughing. A lumbar hernia can also have other vague symptoms of general back pain or discomfort. The lump may still be apparent on lying flat and also be aggravated by exercise.

What is a flank hernia?

A flank hernia, also known as a lumbar hernia, results from defects in the postero-lateral abdominal wall that allows the tissues inside the abdomen to protrude.

Why is flank hernia surgery so difficult?

Surgical repair of flank hernias can be very challenging because of the anatomic location of the hernia. The area to be repaired is often bordered by bone and other weak tissue structures that generally do not support the use of mesh.

Can a lumbar hernia be asymptomatic?

Individuals suffering from a lumbar hernia may be completely asymptomatic. If symptoms are present, they include back or flank pain or a dragging sensation. Left untreated, lumbar hernias can grow to large proportions.

How do you know if you have a herniated disk?

Arm or leg pain. If your herniated disk is in your lower back, you'll typically feel the most pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf.

What does it feel like to have a herniated disk in your neck?

If your herniated disk is in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm. This pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain is often described as sharp or burning. Numbness or tingling.

What causes a herniated disc?

Factors that can increase your risk of a herniated disk include: 1 Weight. Excess body weight causes extra stress on the disks in your lower back. 2 Occupation. People with physically demanding jobs have a greater risk of back problems. Repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting also can increase your risk of a herniated disk. 3 Genetics. Some people inherit a predisposition to developing a herniated disk. 4 Smoking. It's thought that smoking lessens the oxygen supply to the disk, causing it to break down more quickly.

What causes a herniated disk to break down?

Genetics. Some people inherit a predisposition to developing a herniated disk. Smoking. It's thought that smoking lessens the oxygen supply to the disk, causing it to break down more quickly.

How to prevent herniation in the back?

Keep your back straight and aligned, particularly when sitting for long periods. Lift heavy objects properly, making your legs — not your back — do most of the work. Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts more pressure on the spine and disks, making them more susceptible to herniation.

Can a disk herniation cause paralysis?

Rarely, emergency surgery might be required to avoid permanent weakness or paralysis. Seek emergency medical attention if you have: Worsening symptoms.

Can a herniated disc cause weakness?

A herniated disk, which can occur in any part of the spine, can irritate a nearby nerve. Depending on where the herniated disk is, it can result in pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. Many people have no symptoms from a herniated disk. Surgery is usually not necessary to relieve the problem.

What does a ventral hernia feel like?

Q: What Does a Belly or Abdominal (Ventral) Hernia Feel Like? A: If you have a ventral hernia in the belly area, you may see or feel a bulge along the outer surface of the abdomen. Typically, patients with ventral hernias describe mild pain, aching or a pressure sensation at the site of the hernia.

How to tell if a hernia is a hernia?

A: When most hernias start, the internal tissue that pushes through the muscle gap is usually fat. But it’s also possible for part of the bowel to protrude through the opening. The risk of this is very low, but when it happens, it needs emergency repair. Seek immediate medical attention if you have: 1 A painful bulge that doesn’t reduce in size when you lay down and rest 2 Worsening pain 3 Nausea and/or vomiting 4 Difficulty having a bowel movement 5 Bloating 6 Racing heart rate 7 Fever

How long does it take to heal a ventral hernia?

However, repairing more complicated hernias may require a hospital stay of one to five days.

Where do hernias occur?

There are different types of hernias, but the most common hernias occur in the belly or groin areas .

Can a hernia be repaired?

Nearly all hernias can be surgically repaired. Adrales explains how to recognize hernia signs in men and women, the most common types, and what surgery and recovery are like.

Can you repair a hernia before surgery?

For both men and women, repair is recommended for most abdominal hernias. The exception is if you have risk factors for complications or hernia recurrence, such as obesity or poorly controlled diabetes. It’s better to get those conditions under control before surgery. Some patients do not have symptoms and may decide to delay repair after discussion of the risks and benefits with their surgeon.

Can an inguinal hernia be repaired?

Women also have a greater chance of developing complications than in men. So, we typically recommend surgical repair after diagnosis.