A woman in her thirties with a herniated lumbar disc

Women in their thirties should pay more attention to lumbar disc herniation and seek timely treatment to avoid recurrence, because this age group is the age group with heavier family burdens, and most of them have elderly parents and young children to take care of. There are many types of lumbar disc herniation. Some have ruptured annular fibers, while others do not. The direction of the herniation is also different, some protruding forward, while others protrude laterally. Let’s take a look at the causes of lumbar disc herniation.

1. Degenerative changes of the lumbar intervertebral disc are the basic factors

The degeneration of the nucleus pulposus is mainly manifested by a decrease in water content, and may cause small-scale pathological changes such as vertebral instability and loosening due to water loss; the degeneration of the annulus fibrosus is mainly manifested by a decrease in toughness.

2. Injury

Long-term and repeated external forces cause minor damage and aggravate the degree of degeneration.

3. Weakness of the intervertebral disc’s own anatomical factors

After adulthood, the intervertebral discs gradually lack blood circulation and have poor repair ability. On the basis of the above factors, some inducing factors that may cause a sudden increase in the pressure on the intervertebral disc may cause the less elastic nucleus pulposus to pass through the annulus fibrosus that has become less tough, causing nucleus pulposus herniation.

4. Genetic factors

There are reports of familial incidence of lumbar disc herniation.

5. Congenital abnormalities of lumbar sacrum

Including lumbar sacralization, sacral lumbarization, hemivertebra deformity, facet joint deformity and articular process asymmetry. The above factors can change the stress on the lower lumbar spine, resulting in increased intra-disc pressure and susceptibility to degeneration and injury.

6. Predisposing factors

On the basis of intervertebral disc degeneration, certain factors that can induce a sudden increase in intervertebral space pressure can cause nucleus pulposus herniation. Common triggering factors include increased abdominal pressure, incorrect waist posture, sudden weight bearing, pregnancy, cold and moisture.