Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Reasons of Cervical Disc Herniation?
Lumbar Disc Herniation and Risk Factors?
Brain Tumor and Causes?
Are there any risk of complications during surgery and what are they?
When is it necessary to do a surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation?
Which method is the most successful for Lumbar Disc Herniation?
Are complaints same for every patient suffering from Lumbar Disc Herniation?
In what circumstances I should suspect Lumpar Disc Herniation?
What should I do to avoid Lumbar Disc Herniation?

What are the Reasons of Cervical Disc Herniation?

Its etiologies are traffic accidents, traumas, occupations like driver or banker, stress, wrongful action or positioning of neck, emotional tension, weakness of neck muscle, degenerative changes in bone structure due to aging, neck arthritis, some frequently seen inflammatory rheumatic pain ( Ankylosing spondylitis, Rheumatoid arthritis ), Fibromyalgia, wrong posture, psychological stress, exposure to cold, fatigue, typing for a long time in keyboard, continuously focusing on one point…

Lumbar Disc Herniation and Risk Factors?

It is a slippage or an outburst of cartilage tissue which serves like a pillow in between two lumbar spines. When this cartilage dislocates, it causes pain by generating a pressure to the sciatic nerve which extends to our foot. The leg and lumbar pain increases with coughing, straining, sneezing. Most of the patients get rid of their complaints with medication and bed rest. If the pressure on nerve and spinal cord continues, complaints such as loss in leg muscle strength, sensation loss, reduce in reflexes, unable to hold urine may occur. Treatment is surgical.

Brain Tumor and Causes?

Human body is composed of various cells with different tasks. Most of these cells grow and die during a lifetime. Dead cells are replaced by a segmentation of other cells. In this way, the body is kept healthy and functioning. This segmentation process is strictly limited by rules, which developed after millions of years of evolution, and it functions without a problem for most of the people. However, due to diseases, hereditary factors and exposure of body to the environmental factors, the functioning of this system is disrupted and cells lose their control over segmentation and start to segment very frequently and rapidly, which is way higher than necessary. These disordered cells form a cell colony which is called tumor. Same situation is applicable for cells of the nervous system. Every year, approximately 16.000 is diagnosed with brain tumors.

Are there any risk of complications during surgery and what are they?

There are a risk of complication with specific rates for every surgery. There are risks for these surgeries around %1 such as infection, spinal cord injury, Cauda Equina syndrome. Nowadays, risks are minimized with microdiscectomy method..

When is it necessary to do a surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation?

A progressive neurological symptom in an examination is an indication of surgery. In other words, it is required and fit to do a surgery to these patients. The main decisive factor for surgery is findings in the examination of the patient.

Which method is the most successful for Lumbar Disc Herniation?

The method of microdiscectomy is the most successful one. Other surgical methods are;
– Laser Discectomy : It is a method in which heat is applied in order to shrink the hernia under local anesthetic. It can be preferred for applicable patients. Success rate is %40-50.
– Endoscopic Discectomy : It is the fixing of the hernia in an endoscopic way ( with a probe that is sent from skin to the location). It is not a method for every lumbar disc herniation. It is fit for applicable patients. Its advantages are that it does not require a skin cut, patient can be discharged early because it causes less damage to the tissues.
– Nucleoplasty : It is the shrinking of the hernia for a small amount by entering with a scope and applying radiofrequency. It can be preferred for simple neck and lumbar hernias.
The best method should be chosen for patients who is decided to be applied surgery by considering factors lik patient’s age and condition, location and type of hernia.

Are complaints same for every patient suffering from Lumbar Disc Herniation?

Complaints caused by lumbar disc herniation are not the same for every patient. There may be pain only lumbar pain, only leg pain or both pains. Similarly, there may be only pain, only numbness or both the pain and the numbness. Variety and intenseness of the pain can vary patient to patient. Complaints may vary due to the location of lumbar disc herniation. While pains cause severe limitations in movement for some patients, in severe cases, patient cannot even reach out. Even the examinations of these patients are sometimes difficult. In even more severe cases, there may be a problem to hold or extract urine and stool and it requires immediate surgery.

In what circumstances I should suspect Lumpar Disc Herniation?

Along with the lumbar pain, leg pain, numbness, weakness can be an indication for lumbar disc herniation. Also, frequent urination complaints may be caused by this and patient should be taken into surgery immediately. There may be increase in pain due to the increase in pressure while coughing, sneezing etc.

What should I do to avoid Lumbar Disc Herniation?

Regular walks and lumbar exercises should be done in order to strengthen lumbar muscles. Also, sports like swimming are helpful. Lifting heavy objects should be done with care and an inactive life should be avoided. It should be noted that it is seen three times frequent for people who smoke cigarettes. If you have excessive weight, you should make an effort lose weight until the ideal weight is reached.