Schmorl’s hernia, also known as schmorl’s nodule, consists of a herniated disk that occurs in the vertebra, usually found on an MRI or spinal exam and is not in all cases of concern, as it does not cause pain. in most cases, unchanged.
This type of hernia is most common in the final part of the chest and lumbar spine, between L5 and S1, but is found in people over the age of 45, but in a serious condition does not indicate cancer.
- The Schmorl nodule may occur in a healthy spine and because it is usually asymptomatic.
- However.
- In some cases it can develop into painful wounds.
Although less common, when the nodule suddenly appears, as in a traffic accident, it can cause small local inflammation, causing pain in the spine.
In most cases, the Schmorl nodule does not cause pain, being a feature of imaging tests, however, when the hernia injures some nerves that can be painful, this situation is rare.
Las causas no son totalmente conocidas pero existen teorías que indican que la hernia de Schmorl puede ser causada por:
The best way to see this nodule is MRI, which also allows you to see if there is swelling around it, indicating a recent, inflamed nodule; when the nodule formed a long time ago and there is calcification around it, it can be observed on an x-ray plate, in which case it is usually not painful.
Treatment is only necessary in case of symptoms and will depend on the cause. Therefore, your doctor may indicate the use of pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications, and several sessions of physical therapy.
When there are other major changes in the spine, the orthopedist may indicate the need for surgery to reach the vertebrae in the spine, for example.