Back pain can have a variety of origins. However, in most cases, the cause is a disappointing diagnosis - osteochondrosis of the lumbar, thoracic or cervical spine. Should we consider osteochondrosis as a result? Is it possible to return your buttocks to a lightweight container? Is surgery a necessary step?
The answer to the above question is known for sure for osteopathic practitioners. But first things first.
The disease is rapidly rejuvenating
Osteochondrosis is a type of spinal pathology, the essence of which lies in dystrophic degenerative changes in the articular-cartilaginous tissue.
It affects the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions, causing pain and limiting the dynamic activity of its prey.
Recently, it is believed that the above diseases are something that is inevitably related to age. However, current statistical information shows that among our contemporaries who suffer from osteochondrosis, there are more young people who have recently crossed the age line of thirty or are just approaching it.
At the same time, medical research confirms the fact that the disease can, if it cannot be cured without leaving a trace, then prevent or slow its progression.
The stage of development of lumbar osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis develops gradually. In the early stages, the symptoms are mild. That is why, during this period, the disease is rarely diagnosed.
- The first stage is marked by displacement of the core of the intervertebral disc. In this case, squeezing the ends of the neurons on the fibrous annulus occurs. Pain can manifest itself as lumbago or pain.
- In the second stage, the fibrous fibers of the disk begin to decompose. As a result, the vertebrae lose stability, acquire unhealthy mobility, and spinal dysfunction is observed. There is constant tension in the muscles located close to it.
This leads to a feeling of back fatigue that almost never ends.
- Sooner or later, the fibrous fibers break, releasing the nucleus from themselves - a hernia is formed, pressing on the nerve.
There are now complaints of severe back pain, thus restricting his motor function.
- With the progression of the disease, there is a deceptive relief. The pain subsided, but vertebral motor function remained limited.
- The last and most severe stage of osteochondrosis is characterized by proliferation of bone tissue.
Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis
There is nothing specific in determining the cause of this disease. It is believed that osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is provoked by a combination of several adverse factors related to lifestyle and habits:
- physical inactivity - lack of physical activity, inactive work, lack of walking and exercise cause weakness of the back muscles that support the spine;
- endocrinological and metabolic diseases cause disturbances in the saturation of the spinal zone with nutrients;
- previously acquired problems related to the musculoskeletal system (scoliosis, flat feet, etc. );
- abuse of physical activity - at risk are professional athletes, loaders, etc . ;
- poor nutrition;
- overweight;
- lack of sleep;
- pressure.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The first and foremost symptomology that catches the patient’s attention is pain. The intensity of pain directly depends on the degree of osteochondrosis, on the degree of destruction of cartilage and discs. In addition, the characteristics of pain are determined by the presence and degree of development of the hernia or protrusion. Usually the pain is excruciating, increasing sharply with quick and sloppy movements, bends, and turns. It tends to increase with prolonged in one position, most often sitting.
The rest of the symptoms of lumbar spine osteochondrosis are described below:
- feeling weak, fatigue in the lower legs;
- lack of reflex manifestations in the tendon region;
- curvature of the spine in the lumbar region; osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is often the result of scoliosis (bending to the left or right), lordosis (bending forward) or kyphosis (smoothing of pathological bends);
- numbness in the legs, lack of control over stool and urine (if during the development of osteochondrosis, spinal cord neurons are compressed);
- drop in temperature in the lower part of the body;
- dryness and pallor of the skin in the lumbar region;
- excessive sweating.
In addition to physiology, psychological symptoms of the disease often appear. The patient feels "fatigue", itching and withdrawal appear. Sleep disorders tend to appear as insomnia and also excessive drowsiness.
Possible complications
A reckless attitude towards the problem of osteochondrosis will not cause a person to be well. This dangerous enemy of your health brings with it a variety of complications that have a very negative impact on your quality of life, your ability to perform daily activities and meet various needs.
The most common consequence arises from osteochondrosis
- sciatica - inflammation of the sciatic nerve caused by its pinching in the sacro -lumbar region;
- hernial formation;
- osteophytosis - pathological growth of bone tissue;
- spondyloarthrosis - destructive changes in the facet joints;
- stenosis - narrowing of the spinal canal, which causes spinal cord dysfunction;
- lameness and disturbance of walking due to thinning of the ilium;
- leg paresis, i. e. a decrease in their muscle activity.
Which doctor treats lumbar osteochondrosis?
Beginning to get discomfort due to a painful obsessive sensation in the lumbar region, one asks a question to which specialist to contact for help. What types of doctors diagnose and treat lumbar, thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis? From the point of view of classical medicine, there are several answers in this case.
Orthopedic doctors handle the treatment of the musculoskeletal system. At the same time, with osteochondrosis, the nervous system suffers, because many of its elements are located close to the spinal space. Therefore, the patient will be examined by a neurologist.
There are also specialists who are less known as vertebrologists. The above doctor is narrowly involved in the treatment of the spine, therefore he is the one who should master the diagnostic skills and methods of dealing with osteochondrosis. Unfortunately, not every clinic, especially in a state, has this specialist for its staff.
Since we are talking about doctors who do not see at a clinic near home, one cannot pay special attention to doctors who practice in the field of osteopathy. This unique area of therapy specializes in identifying hidden causal relationships between organs and structures of the human body. Therefore, often osteomedics are able to treat those diseases for which others were previously incapable. Often, the prescribed physician deals precisely with the problems of the musculoskeletal system.
Diagnostics
Therefore, after obtaining medical advice, subjects were sent to undergo diagnostic procedures using the following methods.
X-ray examination provides information on the condition of bones, joints, intervertebral discs, as well as the ability to detect bulges and hernial bulges. Computed tomography, in addition to information about the condition of the disc, indicates whether there is damage to the spinal cord. Finally, magnetic resonance imaging as the most accurate research method provides an almost complete picture of the disease, it is suitable to be used to clarify the diagnosis and its details.
There are also a number of diagnostic tests that do not require the operation of technically advanced equipment. Often it is used in practice by osteotherapists.
Among them are:
- various passive and active inspections;
- facial tension test (mild tissue tension in different directions);
- stretch examination;
- axial load test;
- craniosacral rhythm analysis.
The latter, in accordance with the knowledge brought by osteoscience, coincides with the rhythm of the pulse of the cerebrospinal fluid and signals various damages in it.
With the diagnostics mentioned above, the osteopathic therapist identifies the weakest points of the spine, determines changes in the position and size of internal organs, probes muscle tension and the degree of wear of the intervertebral disc.
Treatment
Medicine in all possible ways aims to stop the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, relieve pain, return to his previous motor activity. At the same time, treatment should only be thorough. Patients need to lead a lifestyle, monitor nutrition, physical fitness, muscle tone, avoid stressful situations and lack of sleep.
An important role is played by the selection of good bedding - orthopedic mattresses with sufficient rigidity.
Physicians should expect therapy aimed at providing anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the damaged area. It is needed to stimulate blood flow and restore the sensitivity of the lower body if the disease results in partial or total loss.
If osteochondrosis at this time has no degree of exacerbation, the doctor prescribes physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy) and course massage.
In addition, bathing procedures are highly recommended for victims of lumbar spine osteochondrosis. In a bath or sauna state, the tightened muscle fibers are heated and suffocated, the movement of blood through the blood vessels is stimulated, metabolic and regeneration processes are triggered.
Medications
As part of the treatment of lumbar spine osteochondrosis, doctors prescribe a variety of medications for clients.
They are available in the form of ointments, tablets and injections.
Among them are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers and corticosteroid drugs, chondroprotectors (prevent cartilage destruction), muscle relaxants (relieve muscle spasms), as well as vitamins, minerals and biologically active additives.
Pharmacological treatments are designed to relieve pain and fight inflammation. Please note that most of the above medications have a list of specific side effects and should not be used without the appointment of a healthcare professional.
An alternative to the medicine indicated is homeopathy.
Many believe that the product only has a placebo effect, but this is fundamentally wrong. Modern homeopathic medicine is a unique combination of the success of talented scientists and the wisdom of nature.
Homeopathic formulations contain vitamins and trace elements that are necessary not only for the treatment of pathology, but also for the normal functioning of the body in the future. They stimulate the structure and internal organs, which helps its recovery. Against the background of such treatment, the symptoms of other diseases also disappear.
Physiotherapy
What other doctors should you contact with osteochondrosis?
As part of the complex treatment, patients receive referrals to the physiotherapy office. Physiotherapy is designed to stop or at least slow down the destructive process in the intervertebral disc area.
In the framework, the following procedures are performed:
- phonophoresis;
- lasertophoresis;
- darsonvalization;
- pulse-amplitude treatment;
- treatment with diadynamic currents;
- magnetic resonance exposure.
Surgery
No matter how complicated the principle of getting rid of the pathology in question, the result is far from always successful. Surgery is the main solution. In the simplest case, the point lies in the removal of parts of the cartilage that are beyond normal range. But in some cases, treatment requires replacement of the intervertebral disc with an artificial graft.
One of the indications for surgery is the lack of positive dynamics for several months. Of course, such indications should be accompanied by the results of diagnostic studies that determine the cause of the development of the disease in the form of determining the location of the degenerative disc.
During dyscectomy - and this is the name of the operation to remove the cause of lumbar osteochondrosis - the degenerative structure is removed. If excision is large -scale, the graft must be inserted into the spine, which is attached to the bone itself using a metal plate. Once it takes root and the bones grow together, the lumbosacral portion of this operated patient will remain mobile for the rest of his life.
In accordance with different techniques, modern elastic disc prostheses are implanted into the spine, which is very similar from a biological mechanical point of view to actual cartilage and allows you to maintain mobility in the lumbar region.
However, the prostheses described above are very expensive. And the prospect of having a foreign body does not please any person until the end of his life. Many, fearing such a prospect, postponed operations, worsening their well -being. Even so, there are best methods to avoid surgery for a large number of people who suffer from lumbar spine osteochondrosis.
Osteopathy
When medications or exercise therapy don’t help, and neurologists and orthopedists are powerless to raise their hands, nod toward the operating table, even the most avid adherents of classical medicine begin to wonder whether to seek help from another doctor. And someone who is already at the first signs of the disease weighs all the pros and cons, analyzes positive reviews from friends and from the Internet and goes to see an osteopor.
The main task of an osteopath who treats lumbar osteochondrosis is to return the spine to a normal position, relieve pain and stop the destructive process.
With treatment using osteopathic techniques, one can expect significant success in the shortest possible time - the osteopath can relieve the pain of osteochondrosis patients who already have it in the first session.
However, for complete lower back healing, a complete course of treatment must be completed. The duration is determined individually and depends on the characteristics of the patient and the severity of the lesion.
Before starting treatment, the specialist assesses the specifics of the condition, symptoms and complications, age, etc.
The uniqueness of osteomedicine as a way to get rid of osteochondrotic lesions of the lumbar, cervical and thoracic lies in the fact that such treatments can be removed with expensive drugs that are difficult for the client to feel. Although its use is not excluded.
This aspect is relevant, first of all, for people suffering from allergies, liver disease, etc.
Osteotherapy heals all parts of the human body, replacing joints, bones and organs. Metabolic processes, functions of all parts of the body are normalized. The general well -being of osteomedic wards is improving rapidly. Osteopaths can also help with muscle cramps, pinches or tension. It is often the suffering of the pain discussed and can be exacerbated. Osteotherapists are able to treat not only pain that affects the lumbar region, but also other types, from a variety of localizations and etiologies.
The above doctor relieved the pain of his ward by using various techniques. These include structural, craniosacral, manual and reflexology. Excellent results are shown by the method of kinesio recording - the application of special elastic adhesive tape to the damaged area. By using kinesio tape, doctors not only relieve pain, but also aid healing.
Although osteopathy treats many diseases, it has a list of contraindications (very small):
- feverish condition, high temperature;
- blood clot;
- benign and malignant neoplasms;
- severe infection;
- epileptic seizures.
Osteopractics is also an excellent preventative measure. The general healing and restorative effects on the body are invaluable. In addition, prevention sessions allow you to deal with many of the problems that occur. The disease tends not to manifest itself and does not cause discomfort for a long time, without giving up on the diagnosis. By monitoring your health thoroughly and regularly visiting the Osteopathy Center, you will save yourself from a number of difficulties that await you on the path of life.