Back pain can have many different origins. However, in most cases their cause is a disappointing diagnosis - osteonecrosis of the lumbar, thoracic or cervical spine. Should we consider osteonecrosis a verdict? Is it possible to restore your former lightness? Is surgery necessary?
The answers to these questions are certainly known to those who practice chiropractic. But first things first.
Rapid rejuvenation disease
Osteoma is a pathology of the spine, its essence lies in degenerative-dystrophic changes in articular cartilage tissue.
It affects the cervix, thoracic and lumbar regions, causing pain and limiting the victim's active activities.
More recently, it is believed that the disease is an age-related inevitable. However, current statistical information shows that among our contemporaries with osteonecrosis, an increasing number of very young people have recently passed the thirties or are just approaching it.
At the same time, medical research confirms the fact that the disease can, if not cured without leaving a trace, then stop or slow its progression.
Developmental stages of lumbar osteonecrosis
Osteochondrosis progresses gradually. In its early stages, its symptoms are mild. That is why, in this stage, the disease is very rarely diagnosed.
- The first stage is marked by displacement of the nucleus of the intervertebral discs. In this case, compression of the nerve endings in the annular fibrosis occurs. The pain may manifest as low back pain or soreness.
- In the second stage, the fibrous capsule of the disc begins to break down. As a result, vertebrae instability, poor mobility and spinal dysfunction are observed. There is constant tension in the muscles located near it.
This leads to an almost never-ending feeling of back fatigue.
- Sooner or later, the capsule ruptures, releasing the nucleus from itself - a hernia is formed, compressing the nerves.
Now there are complaints of severe back pain that limits its motor function.
- With subsequent progression of the disease, there is a significant remission. The pain subsides, but the movement of the vertebrae is still limited.
- The last, most severe degree of osteonecrosis is characterized by proliferation of bone tissue.
Causes of lumbar osteonecrosis
There are no specific details in determining the root cause of the disease. Lumbar spondylolisthesis is believed to be caused by a combination of several adverse factors related to lifestyle and habits:
- sedentary - sedentary, sedentary, lazy to walk and exercise leading to weakening of the back muscles that support the spine;
- endocrine and metabolic diseases entail disruptions in the saturation of the spinal region with nutrients;
- previously acquired problems with the musculoskeletal system (curvature of the spine, flat feet, etc. );
- abuse of physical activity - at risk are professional athletes, porters, etc. v . . . ;
- poor nutrition;
- overweight;
- Sleepless;
- emphasize.
Symptoms of osteonecrosis
The first and main symptom that attracts the patient's attention is pain. The intensity of pain directly depends on the stage of bone necrosis, on the degree of destruction of cartilage and discs. In addition, the characteristics of pain are determined by the presence and extent of development of a hernia or protrusion of the eye. Usually, the pain, increases sharply when moving quickly, carelessly, bending, turning. It tends to increase with prolonged stay in one position, most often sitting.
The remaining symptoms of osteonecrosis of the lumbar spine are outlined below:
- feeling of weakness, fatigue in the lower extremities;
- manifest lack of reflexes in the patellar tendon region;
- curvature of the spine in the lumbar region; osteonecrosis of the lumbar spine is most often the result of scoliosis (bending to the left or right), scoliosis (bending forward) or kyphosis (pathology when bending);
- numbness of the legs, inability to control stools and urination (if during osteonecrosis the nerve cells of the spinal cord are compressed);
- decrease in temperature in the lower body;
- dryness and pallor of the skin in the lumbar region;
- sweat too much.
In addition to physiological symptoms, psychological symptoms of the disease often appear. The person feels "exhausted", appears irritable and withdrawn. Sleep disturbances tend to manifest as insomnia as well as excessive sleepiness.
Possible complications
A frivolous attitude towards the problems of osteonecrosis will lead no one to good. This archenemy presents you with a host of complications that have a negative impact on your quality of life, your ability to perform daily activities, and meet a variety of needs.
The most common consequences arising from osteonecrosis:
- sciatica - inflammation of the sciatic nerve due to its compression in the lumbar region - sacrum;
- hernial formation;
- bone pathology - pathological development of bone tissue;
- spondylosis - destructive changes in the joints;
- stenosis - narrowing of the spinal canal, which leads to dysfunction of the spinal cord;
- lameness and gait disturbance due to cecum;
- paralysis, i. e. reduced muscle activity.
Which doctor treats lumbar osteonecrosis?
Starting to be annoyed by haunting painful sensations in the lower back, a person wonders which specialist should look to for help. Which doctors diagnose and treat lumbar, thoracic, and cervical fibroids? From the point of view of classical medicine, there are several answers in this case.
Chiropractors deal with the treatment of the musculoskeletal system. At the same time, with osteonecrosis, the nervous system is affected, since many of its elements are located near the spine. Accordingly, it will be very helpful for the patient to be examined by a neurologist.
There is also a lesser known specialist such as a chiropractor. The aforementioned doctor is only involved in the treatment of the spine, so he must master the diagnostic skills and methods of dealing with osteonecrosis. Unfortunately, not all clinics, especially a state-owned one, have this specialist on their staff.
Since we are talking about doctors who do not meet at the local clinic, one cannot help but pay special attention to a doctor who practices in the field of osteopathic medicine. This unique field of therapy specializes in identifying potential cause-and-effect relationships between organs and structures of the human body. Therefore, very often chiropractors are able to treat diseases that were previously powerless to others. Usually, the doctor appoints to solve the problems of the musculoskeletal system precisely.
Diagnose
Therefore, after warranted medical advice, the subject will be brought to undergo diagnostic procedures using the following methods.
X-ray examination provides information on the condition of bones, joints, and intervertebral discs as well as the ability to detect condyle and condyle of the skull. Computed tomography scans not only provide information about the status of the discs, but also indicate whether there is damage to the spinal cord. Finally, magnetic resonance imaging as the most accurate research method gives 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 complex technical equipment. Most often they are used in practice by chiropractors.
Among them are:
- different passive and active tests;
- muscle tension test (slight tissue tension in different directions);
- prolonged test;
- axial load tests;
- craniosacral rhythm analysis.
The latter, in keeping with the knowledge that orthopedic science offers, coincides with the pulsation of the cerebrospinal fluid and signals various internal problems.
With these diagnoses, the chiropractor identifies the weakest points in the spine, identifies changes in the position and size of internal organs, probes muscle overstretching, anddisc wear level.
Treatment
Medicine can by all means find a way to stop the degenerative process of the lumbar bone, reduce pain, and return to previous motor activities. At the same time, treatment simply has to be comprehensive. Patients need to set up a lifestyle, monitor their nutrition, fitness, toned muscles, avoid stress and lack of sleep.
An important role is played by the choice of a good place to sleep - an orthopedic mattress with sufficient firmness.
Physicians should expect therapy to provide anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the affected area. It is required to stimulate blood flow and restore sensitivity of the lower body if the disease has partially or completely lost it.
If osteonecrosis is not yet in an advanced stage, the doctor will prescribe physical therapy exercises (exercise therapy) and massage according to the course.
In addition, bathing procedures are highly recommended for victims of osteonecrosis of the lumbar spine. In bath or sauna conditions, tight muscle fibers are warmed and relaxed, the movement of blood through the vessels is stimulated, metabolism and regeneration are activated.
Drugs
As part of the treatment process for lumbar spondylosis, the doctor will prescribe many different drugs for the client.
They are available in the form of ointments, pills, and injections.
Among them are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and corticosteroids, chondroprotectors (prevent the destruction of cartilage), muscle relaxants (reduce muscle spasms), as well as vitamins, minerals and active additives. other biology.
Drug therapy is designed to relieve pain and fight inflammation. Please note that most of the above medicines have certain side effects and cannot be used without the advice of a healthcare professional.
An alternative to the indicated drugs is homeopathy.
Many people believe that their products only have a placebo effect, but this is fundamentally wrong. Modern homeopathic remedies are a unique combination of the successful research work of talented scientists and the wisdom of nature.
The homeopathic formula contains vitamins and trace elements that are necessary not only for the treatment of pathologies, but also for the normal functioning of the body in the future. They stimulate internal structures and organs, supporting their recovery process. Against the background of such treatment, the symptoms of other diseases also disappear.
Physical therapy
Which other doctor should you contact with osteonecrosis?
As part of the complex treatment, the patient receives a referral to the physical therapy office. Physical therapy is designed to stop or at least slow down the destruction in the disc area.
Within its framework, the following procedures are performed:
- phonophoresis;
- electrophoresis;
- darsonvalization;
- amplitude-pulse treatment;
- diadynamic current therapy;
- magnetic resonance contact.
Surgery
No matter how complicated the principle of eliminating the pathology in question, its results are far from successful. Surgery is the primary solution. In the simplest case, its essence lies in the excision of a piece of cartilage that has exceeded the normal limits. But in some cases, treatment requires replacing the disc with an artificial graft.
One of the indications for surgery is a lack of active activity for several months. Of course, such an indication 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 degenerated disc.
During a laminectomy - and this is the name of surgery to remove the causes of lumbar osteonecrosis - degenerated structures are removed. In the case of large-scale resection, which must be grafted to the spine, the graft is attached to its own bone with metal plates. As it takes root and bone grows together, this part of the surgical patient's visual area will remain immobile for the rest of his life.
In another technique, a modern elastic disc prosthesis is implanted in the spine, which is almost identical from a biomechanical point of view to 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 please anyone until the end of his day. Many people, fearful of such scenarios, postpone the surgery, degrading their health. However, there is a great way to avoid surgery for a large number of people with lumbar osteonecrosis.
Osteopathy
When neither medication nor exercise therapy helps, and a neurologist and a chiropractor helplessly raise their hands and nod toward the operating table, even the most ardent followers ofClassical medicine also began to think about whether to seek help from some other physician. And someone who had the first signs of this disease weighed all the pros and cons, analyzed the positive reviews from friends and from the Internet, and went to see an osteopathic doctor.
The main task of the osteopath treating lumbar osteochondrosis is to return the spine to its normal position, relieve pain, and stop destructive processes.
With osteopathic treatment, one can expect significant success in the shortest possible time - the osteopathic physician can relieve the pain of a person with osteonecrosis in the first session.
However, to fully heal the lower back, you must complete a full course of treatment. 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 will evaluate the specifics of the condition, accompanying symptoms and complications, age, etc. v.
The uniqueness of osteopathic medicine as a way to eliminate bony lesions in the lumbar, cervical, and thoracic regions lies in the fact that such treatment can be delivered with expensive drugs that are difficult for clients to obtain. feel. Although their use is not strictly excluded.
First of all, this aspect is relevant for people with allergies, liver disease, etc. v.
Osteotherapy heals all sides of the human body, replacing joints, bones and organs. Metabolism, the functioning of all parts of the body is normalized. The general condition of the medical area is improving rapidly. An osteopathic physician can also help treat muscle spasms, compression, or overactivity. It is a frequent companion to the pain discussed and can exacerbate it. A chiropractor is capable of treating not only pain that affects the low back but also other types of pain, due to a variety of causes and conditions.
The above doctor relieves the patient's pain by using a variety of techniques. These include structural, craniosacral, manual, and reflexology. Excellent results are demonstrated by the kinesio tape method - the application of special elastic tapes to damaged areas. Using kinesio tape, the doctor not only relieves pain, but also helps with healing.
Although osteopathy treats many diseases, it has a (very small) list of contraindications:
- feverish conditions, high temperature;
- blood clots;
- benign and malignant tumors;
- severe infection;
- epilepsy.
Bone practice is also a great preventative measure. Its general healing and restorative effects on the body are simply priceless. In addition, prevention sessions allow you to deal with a multitude of problems that are in their infancy. The disease tends to be invisible and does not cause inconvenience for a long time, without losing the possibility of diagnosis. By comprehensively monitoring your health and regularly visiting the Osteopathy Center, you will save yourself from countless difficulties that await you on your life's journey.