What should I do if I want to lose weight due to lumbar disc herniation

Patients with lumbar disc herniation who want to lose weight can achieve it through low-intensity exercise, adjusting dietary structure, physical therapy, medication assistance, surgical intervention, etc. The appropriate plan should be selected based on the severity of the condition.

1. Low intensity exercise

recommends aerobic exercises such as swimming, slow walking, yoga, etc. that have low pressure on the lumbar spine. Water buoyancy can reduce the load on intervertebral discs. When walking slowly, it is necessary to wear waist protection equipment and strictly control the duration. Yoga should avoid bending and twisting movements. Exercise 3-5 times a week, no more than 30 minutes per session, and stop immediately if pain occurs.

2. Adjust dietary structure

Adopt a high protein, high dietary fiber, and low-fat diet pattern, with a daily intake of 100-150 grams of high-quality protein such as chicken breast, fish and shrimp, and no less than 500 grams of vegetables and fruits. Reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates, replace staple foods with coarse grains such as oats and quinoa, and use steaming as the main cooking method.

3. Physical therapy

can be performed under the guidance of a doctor for traction therapy, ultrasound therapy, or shortwave diathermy therapy. Traction therapy should be performed by a professional rehabilitation therapist, lasting 15-20 minutes each time, to help reduce intervertebral disc pressure. During physical therapy, it is important to closely monitor the lumbar response and combine it with neuromuscular electrical stimulation for better results.

4. Medication Assistance

During the acute phase, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib capsules and diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets can be used according to medical advice to relieve pain, combined with methylcobalamin tablets to nourish the nerves. When severe edema occurs, short-term use of mannitol injection for dehydration and decompression is recommended, but strict monitoring of renal function is necessary.

5. Surgical intervention

For patients whose conservative treatment is ineffective and seriously affects their daily life, endoscopic nucleus pulposus removal or minimally invasive discectomy may be considered. After surgery, braces should be worn for 3 months, and vigorous exercise is prohibited within 6 months. Core muscle training should be gradually restored under the guidance of a rehabilitation therapist. Patients with lumbar disc herniation should maintain correct sitting posture during weight loss, avoid sitting for more than 1 hour, and use a hard bed with lumbar pads for sleep. Perform core stability training such as hip bridge and dead worm exercises daily, and warm up and stretch before and after training. The recommended weight control goal is to lose no more than 5% of body weight per month. During acute attacks, the weight loss plan should be suspended and imaging examinations should be promptly reviewed.