Back pain can have a variety of origins. However, in most cases, their cause is a disappointing diagnosis - osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, chest or cervix. Should we consider osteochondrosis a decision? Is it possible to turn your back on the previous ease? Is surgery a necessary measure?
The answers to the above questions are safe for osteopathy practitioners. But first things first.
Disease of rapid renewal
Osteochondrosis is a type of pathology of the spine, its essence lies in the dystrophic-degenerative changes in the articular-cartilaginous tissue.
Affects the regions of the cervix, chest and lumbar region, causing pain and limiting the dynamic activity of its victim.
Recently, it was believed that the above disease is an age-related inevitability. However, current statistical information suggests that among our contemporaries suffering from osteochondrosis, there are more and more young people who have recently crossed the age limit of thirty or are just approaching it.
At the same time, medical research confirms the fact that this disease can, if not cured without leaving a trace, then prevent or slow down its progression.
Stages of development of lumbar osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis progresses gradually. In the initial stages, its symptoms are mild. This is why, during this period, the disease is rarely diagnosed.
- The first stage is marked by the displacement of the nucleus of the intervertebral discs. In this case, squeezing of the neuronal endings in the ring fibrosis occurs. The pain may appear as lumbago or aching.
- In the second stage, the fibrous fibers of the disc begin to break down. As a result, the vertebrae lose stability, gain unhealthy mobility, and spinal dysfunction is observed. There is a constant tension in the muscles located near it.
This leads to an almost endless feeling of back fatigue.
- Sooner or later, the fibrous fibers break down, releasing the nucleus from itself - a hernia forms, compressing the nerves.
There are now complaints of severe back pain, limiting its motor function.
- With the subsequent progression of the disease, there is a deceptive relief. The pain subsides, but the motor function of the vertebrae remains limited.
- The last, most severe degree of osteochondrosis is characterized by the proliferation of bone tissue.
Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis
There are no specifics in determining the root causes of the disease. It is believed that osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is provoked by a combination of a number of opposite factors related to lifestyle and habits:
- physical inactivity - lack of physical activity, sedentary work, lack of walking and exercise lead to weakening of the back muscles that support the spine;
- endocrinological and metabolic diseases lead to cessation of saturation of the spinal area with nutrients;
- previously acquired problems associated with the musculoskeletal system (scoliosis, flat feet, etc. );
- abuse of physical activity - at risk are professional athletes, loaders, etc . ;
- poor nutrition;
- mbipesha;
- lack of sleep;
- stress
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The first and main symptomatology that attracts the patient's attention is pain. The intensity of the pain depends directly on the stage of osteochondrosis, on the degree of destruction of the cartilage and disc. In addition, the characteristics of pain are determined by the presence and level of development of the hernia or elongation. Usually the pain is aching, increasing significantly with rapid, careless movements, twists and turns. It tends to intensify with prolonged standing in one position, more often sitting.
The rest of the symptoms of lumbar spine osteochondrosis are described below:
- feeling of weakness, fatigue in the lower extremities;
- lack of reflex manifestations in the tendon area;
- curvature of the spine in the lumbar region; osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is often a consequence of scoliosis (left or right curvature), lordosis (forward flexion) or kyphosis (pathological smoothing of curves);
- numbness in the legs, lack of control over bowel movements and urination (if during the progression of osteochondrosis, the spinal cord neurons are congested);
- decrease in temperature in the lower part of the body;
- dryness and pallor of the skin in the lumbar region;
- excessive sweating.
In addition to physiological, psychological symptoms of the disease often appear. The patient feels "exhausted", nervousness and withdrawal appear. Sleep disorders tend to manifest as insomnia as well as excessive drowsiness.
Possible complications
An unserious attitude towards osteochondrosis problems will not lead anyone to good. This secret enemy of your health brings with it a range of complications that have a very negative impact on your quality of life, your ability to perform daily activities, and meet a wide variety of needs.
The most common consequences that come from osteochondrosis:
- sciatica - inflammation of the sciatic nerve caused by its constriction in the sacro-lumbar region;
- hernial formations;
- osteophytosis - pathological growth of bone tissue;
- spondyloarthritis - destructive changes in the joints of the face;
- stenosis - narrowing of the spinal canal, leading to spinal cord dysfunction;
- lameness and restlessness of walking as a result of dilution of illum;
- paresis of the legs, i. e. a decrease in their muscular activity.
Which doctor treats lumbar osteochondrosis?
Starting to get embarrassed by painful obsessive feelings in the lumbar region, a person asks which specialist should he turn to for help. What kind of doctor diagnoses and treats osteochondrosis of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical? From the point of view of classical medicine, there are several answers in this case.
The orthopedic doctor deals with the treatment of the musculoskeletal system. At the same time, with osteochondrosis, the nervous system suffers, as many of its elements are located near the spine. Therefore, it will be helpful for the patient to be examined by a neurologist.
There is also such a specialist little known as a vertebrologist. The aforementioned physician is closely involved in the treatment of the spine, therefore he is the one who is supposed to possess the diagnostic skills and methods of treating osteochondrosis. Unfortunately, not every clinic, especially one state, has this specialist in its staff.
Since we are talking about doctors who do not meet at the clinic near the house, special attention can not be paid to a doctor who practices in the field of osteopathy. This unique therapeutic area specializes in identifying hidden causal relationships between organs and structures of the human body. Therefore, very often osteomedia is able to treat those diseases before which others are powerless. Most often, the specified doctor addresses precisely the problems of the musculoskeletal system.
Diagnosing
So, after you have provided medical advice, the subject is sent to undergo diagnostic procedures using the following methods.
X-ray examination provides information about the condition of bones, joints, intervertebral discs, as well as the ability to detect hernial extensions and extensions. Computed tomography, in addition to information about the condition of the disc, shows if there is spinal cord damage. Finally, magnetic resonance imaging as the most accurate research method gives an almost complete picture of the disease, it is suitable for use to clarify the diagnosis and its details.
There are also a number of diagnostic tests that do not require the operation of technically sophisticated equipment. Most often they are used in practice by osteotherapists.
Among them are:
- various passive and active controls;
- fascial tension test (slight tissue tension in different directions);
- stretch controls;
- axial load tests;
- craniosacral rhythm analysis.
The latter, in accordance with the knowledge carried by osteoscience, coincides with the pulse rate of cerebrospinal fluid and signals various malfunctions within.
With the aforementioned diagnosis, the osteopathic therapist identifies the weakest points of the spine, determines the change in position and size of the internal organs, the strain of the probe muscles, and the wear level of the intervertebral discs.
treatment
Medicine in every possible way seeks to stop the progression of lumbar osteochondrosis, pain relief, return to its previous motor activity. At the same time, treatment simply needs to be comprehensive. The patient will need to establish a lifestyle, monitor nutrition, physical fitness, muscle tone, avoid stressful situations and lack of sleep.
An important role is played by the choice of a good sleeping place - an orthopedic mattress with sufficient rigidity.
Doctors should expect therapy aimed at providing anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in the affected area. It is required to stimulate blood flow and restore the sensitivity of the lower body if the disease has resulted in its partial or complete loss.
If osteochondrosis does not currently have an exacerbation phase, the doctor prescribes physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy) and a course massage.
In addition, bath procedures are highly recommended for victims of lumbar spine osteochondrosis. In the conditions of a bath or sauna, tight muscle fibers are warmed and relaxed, the movement of blood through the vessels is stimulated, metabolic and regenerative processes are triggered.
medicaments
As part of the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the doctor prescribes various medications for the client.
They are available in the form of oils, tablets and injections.
These include anti-inflammatory drugs of non-steroidal origin, pain relievers and corticosteroids, chondroprotectors (prevent cartilage destruction), muscle relaxants (relieve muscle spasms), and other vitamin, mineral, and biological supplements.
Pharmacological treatment is designed to relieve pain and fight inflammation. Please note that most of the above medications have a definite list of side effects and cannot be used without the appointment of a healthcare professional.
An alternative to the medications shown is homeopathy.
Many believe that its products have only a placebo effect, but this is completely wrong. Modern homeopathic remedies are a unique combination of the successful work 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 internal structures and organs, which helps in their recovery. Against the background of such treatment, the symptoms of other diseases also disappear.
Physiotherapy
What other doctor will you need to contact for osteochondrosis?
As part of the complex treatment, the patient receives a referral to the physiotherapist office. Physiotherapy is designed to stop or at least slow down the destructive processes in the area of the intervertebral discs.
Within its framework, the following procedures are performed:
- phonophoresis;
- lasertophoresis;
- darsonvalization;
- amplitude-pulse treatment;
- diadynamic current treatment;
- magnetic resonance exposure.
Surgery
No matter how complex the principle of getting rid of the pathology in question is, its result is far from always successful. Surgery is the cardinal solution. In the simplest case, its essence lies in the removal of a portion of cartilage that has gone beyond the normal boundary. 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 an indicator should be accompanied by the results of diagnostic studies that determine the cause of the development of the disease in the form of specifying the location of degenerated discs.
During discectomy - and this is the name of the operation to eliminate the causes of lumbar osteochondrosis - the degenerated structures are removed. In the case of large-scale cutting, a graft should be inserted into the spine, which is attached to its bones by means of metal plates. When it takes root and the bones grow together, this part of the lumbosacral region of the operated patient will remain immobile for the rest of his life.
Consistent with a different technique, a modern elastic disc prosthesis is implanted in the spine, which is almost completely identical in terms of biological mechanics to the real cartilage and allows you to maintain mobility in the lumbar region.
However, the prosthesis described above is very expensive. And the prospect of having a foreign body inside is unlikely to satisfy any person until the end of his days. Many, for fear of such prospects, postpone the operation, deteriorating their well-being. However, there is a great way to avoid surgery for a large number of people suffering from osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
Osteopathy
When neither medication nor exercise therapy helps, and a helpless neurologist and orthopedist throw up their hands, shaking their heads toward the operating table, even the most ardent admirers of classical medicine begin to wonder if it is worth seeking help fromany other doctor. And someone already at the first signs of the disease weighed all the pros and cons, analyzed the positive reviews from friends and the internet and went to see an osteopractor.
The main tasks of an osteopath who treats lumbar osteochondrosis is to return the spine to its normal position, relieve pain, and stop the destructive processes.
With treatment using osteopathic techniques, significant success can be expected in the shortest time possible - osteopathy can alleviate the pain of a patient with osteochondrosis already during the first session.
However, for complete healing of the lower back, a full course of treatment must be completed. Its duration is determined on an individual basis and depends on the characteristics of the patient and the severity of the lesion.
Before starting treatment, the specialist assesses the specifics of the situation, accompanying 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 a treatment can be dispensed with expensive medication that is difficult for the client to understand. Although their use is not strictly ruled out.
This aspect is important, first of all, for people suffering from allergies, liver diseases, etc.
Osteotherapy heals all internal parts of the human body, replaces joints, bones and organs. Metabolic processes, the functioning of all parts of the body are normalized. The overall well-being of the osteo-medical neighborhood is improving rapidly. An osteopathic specialist can also help with a spasm, tightness, or muscle overload. It is a frequent companion of the pain discussed and can make it worse. An osteotherapist is able to treat not only the pain that has affected the lumbar region, but also its other types, of different localization and etiology.
The aforementioned doctor alleviates the pain of his ward using a variety of techniques. These include structural, craniosacral, manual, and reflexology. Excellent results are shown by the method of kinesio taping - the application of special elastic adhesive tapes on the damaged areas. Using kinesio tapes, the doctor not only relieves pain but also helps in healing.
Although osteopathy treats many diseases, it has a (very small) list of contraindications:
- fever conditions, high temperature;
- blood clot;
- benign and malignant neoplasms;
- severe infections;
- epileptic seizures.
Osteopractic is also an excellent preventative measure. Its overall healing and restorative effect on the body is simply worthless. In addition, prevention sessions allow you to deal with the many problems that are in the loop. The disease tends not to appear and cause discomfort for a long time without undergoing diagnosis. By comprehensively monitoring your health and regularly visiting the Osteopathy Center, you will save yourself from a number of difficulties that await you on the path of life.