Can I do push-ups for acute lumbar disc herniation? What exercises can I do to relieve lumbar disc herniation?

Lumbar disc herniation is a very common disease. The most direct manifestation is severe back pain, and there will also be numbness and pain in the lower limbs. In case of acute lumbar disc herniation, you actually need to stay in bed and rest, and you cannot do strenuous exercise. So can you do push-ups?

Can I do push-ups if I have acute lumbar disc herniation?

You should not do strenuous exercise during the period of acute lumbar disc herniation.

It is best not to do push-ups and pull-ups during the acute stage of disc herniation. In terms of exercise, you need to lie flat and rest during the acute stage, and avoid strenuous exercise. Because exercising in pain will lead to the wrong pattern, which may aggravate the injury.

Push-ups mainly exercise the pectoralis major and triceps, and have little to do with the stress on the intervertebral disc. If there is pain during the acute phase, symptoms may appear when the core strength is tightened. When the waist is bent or the back is arched, it is also possible to aggravate the lumbar disc herniation.

When doing pull-ups on the horizontal bar, although the gravity of the lower body can reduce the pressure on the intervertebral disc, some patients will feel relieved, but this is only some patients. For some people, the pain will increase when they pull up, so this should not be done. Besides, pull-ups are different from pulling on the horizontal bar. They exercise the arm and back muscles.

In the acute phase, in addition to resting in bed, you should also try to reduce the pressure on the intervertebral disc as much as possible, avoid bending over, and avoid constipation and other problems.

What exercises can be done to relieve lumbar disc herniation?

If it is mild, physical therapy and hot compress can be used to relieve local chronic inflammation and nerve edema to relieve pain. For severe compression edema and acute sudden onset, spinal surgery can be consulted and drugs to eliminate nerve root edema can be used for symptomatic treatment to relieve pain. Of course, for particularly severe protrusions, surgery can be considered when conservative treatment is ineffective.

After the acute phase, you can do some exercise. There are two main aspects of exercise. On the one hand, you can improve the strength of the waist and back muscles to relieve the burden on the intervertebral disc. On the other hand, you can directly pull and relax the pressure on the intervertebral disc. The corresponding exercises are the little flying swallow and hanging on the horizontal bar. Of course, you should also exercise according to your personal situation. In addition to exercise, you should also pay attention to yourself and avoid sitting for a long time, excessive weight bearing, etc.

What is acute disc herniation?

Acute disc herniation refers to the period when the nucleus pulposus in the disc breaks through the annulus fibrosus and compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots at the rear edge due to external force or long-term vertebral pressure, causing acute edema of the spinal cord and nerve roots, affecting the transmission of nerve signals, and then causing abnormal sensations and numbness in the lower back and lower limbs. In addition to the nerve roots, there is also chronic inflammation caused by the long-term traction of the surrounding muscles and tendon attachment points, which can also cause soreness, especially in the lower back.