Back pain can be of different origins. However, in most cases, the cause is a disappointing diagnosis - lumbar, chest or cervical spine osteochondrosis. Should we consider judgment for osteochondrosis? Is it possible to restore your back to its former lightness? Is surgery a necessary measure?
The answers to the above questions are certain for osteopathic practitioners. But first the first things.
Rapidly rejuvenating disease
Osteochondrosis is a type of pathology of the spine, the essence of which lies in dystrophic-degenerative changes in the articular cartilage tissue.
This affects the neck, chest and lumbar regions, causing pain and limiting the victim’s dynamic activity.
More recently, it has been thought that the above disease is an age-related inevitability. However, current statistical information suggests that among our contemporaries with osteochondrosis, there are an increasing number of very young people who have recently crossed or are approaching the age of thirty.
At the same time, medical research confirms the fact that if this disease cannot be cured without a trace, it can prevent or slow its progression.
Stages of development of lumbar osteochondrosis
Osteopondrosis progresses gradually. In the initial stage, your symptoms are mild. This is why the disease is very rarely diagnosed during this period.
- The first stage is characterized by displacement of the nucleus of the intervertebral discs. In this case, the nerve endings of the annulus fibrosus are compressed. The pain can present as a lumbago or can be painful.
- In the second stage, the fibrous fibers of the disc begin to decompose. As a result, the vertebrae lose their stability, gain unhealthy mobility, and experience spinal dysfunction. There is constant tension in the muscles in the immediate vicinity.
This leads to almost endless back fatigue.
- Sooner or later, the fibrous fibers tear, releasing the nucleus from themselves - a hernia is formed, compressing the nerves.
They now complain of severe back pain, limiting its motor function.
- As the disease progresses later, deceptive relief is experienced. The pain subsides, but motor function of the vertebrae remains limited.
- The last, most severe stage of osteochondrosis is characterized by the proliferation of bone tissue.
Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis
There are no specifics in determining the causes of the disease. Lumbar spine osteochondrosis is thought to be caused by a combination of a number of lifestyle and habit-related factors:
- physical inactivity - lack of physical activity, sedentary work, walking and exercise leads to weakening of the back muscles supporting the spine;
- endocrinological and metabolic diseases involve disruption of nutrient saturation of the spine;
- previously musculoskeletal problems (scoliosis, flat legs, etc. );
- abuse of physical activity - professional athletes, loaders, etc. are at risk. ;
- poor nutrition;
- overweight;
- lack of sleep;
- tension.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The first and most important symptom that attracts the patient's attention is pain. The intensity of the pain depends directly on the stage of osteochondrosis, the degree of destruction of the cartilage and the disc. In addition, the characteristics of pain are determined by the presence and level of development of the hernia or protrusion. Usually, the pain increases sharply with painful, rapid, careless movements, bends, and twists. It tends to increase when you stay in a position for a longer period of time, most often sitting.
Other symptoms of lumbar spine osteochondrosis are described below:
- feeling weak, tired 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 caused by scoliosis (bending to the left or right), lordosis (bending forward), or kyphosis (abnormal smoothing of bends);
- numbness in the legs, lack of control of stools and urine (when the nerve cells in the spinal cord are compressed as osteochondrosis progresses);
- a decrease in temperature in the lower body;
- dryness and pallor of the skin in the lumbar region;
- excessive sweating.
In addition to the physiological and psychological symptoms of the disease, they often appear. The patient feels exhausted, irritability and withdrawal appear. Sleep disorders manifest as insomnia and excessive drowsiness.
Possible complications
A frivolous attitude toward the problems of osteochondrosis does no one any good. This insidious enemy of your health brings with it a number of complications that have a very negative impact on your quality of life, your ability to perform daily activities, and the satisfaction of a wide variety of needs.
The most common consequences of osteochondrosis are:
- sciatica - inflammation of the sciatic nerve caused by a sting in the sacro-lumbar region;
- hernial formations;
- osteophytosis - pathological growth of bone tissue;
- spondyloarthrosis - destructive changes in the facet joints;
- stenosis - narrowing of the spinal canal, leading to spinal cord dysfunction;
- paralysis and gait disturbance due to thinning of the ilium;
- paresis of the legs, i. e. a decrease in their muscle activity.
Which doctor treats lumbar osteochondrosis?
Starting to cause discomfort due to obsessive painful feelings in the lumbar region, a person asks which professional to turn to for help. What doctor diagnoses and treats osteochondrosis of the lumbar, chest, and neck? 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. However, in osteochondrosis, the nervous system suffers because many of its components are located in the immediate vicinity of the spinal column. Accordingly, it will be useful for the patient to be examined by a neurologist.
There is another such little-known professional as a vertebrologist. The above-mentioned physician is closely involved in the treatment of the spine and is therefore said to be mastering the methods of diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis. Unfortunately, not all clinics, especially in one state, have such a specialist on their staff.
Because these are physicians who do not meet at a clinic near the house, no special attention can be paid to a physician practicing osteopathy. This unique therapeutic area specializes in the identification of hidden causal relationships between organs and structures of the human body. Therefore, very often the osteomedic is able to treat diseases that others are helpless against. Most often, the specific doctor is dealing with problems with the musculoskeletal system.
Diagnostics
Thus, after receiving medical advice, the subject is subjected to diagnostic procedures by the following methods.
X-rays provide information about the condition of bones, joints, intervertebral discs, and the ability to detect hernial protrusions and protrusions. Computed tomography, in addition to information on the condition of the disc, shows whether the spinal cord is damaged. Finally, magnetic resonance imaging, as the most accurate research method, provides an almost complete picture of the disease, suitable for clarifying the diagnosis and its details.
There are also a number of diagnostic tests that do not require the operation of technically sophisticated equipment. It is most often used by osteotherapists in practice.
These include:
- various passive and active controls;
- fascial tension test (light tissue tension in different directions);
- stretching inspections;
- axial load tests;
- analysis of craniosacral rhythm.
The latter coincides with the rhythm of the pulsation of the cerebrospinal fluid, according to the consciousness of the osteoscience carrier, and indicates various dysfunctions in it.
With the above-mentioned diagnostics, the osteopathic therapist identifies the weakest points of the spine, determines changes in the position and size of internal organs, examines muscle overload, and examines the level of wear on intervertebral discs.
Treatment
Medicine is trying in every possible way to stop the progression of lumbar osteochondrosis, relieve pain, return to its previous motor activity. However, treatment should simply be comprehensive. The patient should develop a lifestyle, monitor nutrition, physical fitness, muscle tone, avoid stressful situations and lack of sleep.
Choosing a good sleeping place plays an important role - an orthopedic mattress with sufficient rigidity.
Physicians should expect therapy designed to provide anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in the injured area. Blood flow should be stimulated and lower body sensitivity restored if it resulted in partial or complete loss of disease.
If your osteochondrosis does not currently have an exacerbation phase, your doctor will prescribe physiotherapy exercises (exercise) and a course massage.
In addition, spa treatment is highly recommended for victims of lumbar spine osteochondrosis. Under bath or sauna conditions, tensed muscle fibers heat up and relax, stimulate blood movement in the blood vessels, and start metabolic and regenerative processes.
Medicines
As part of the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the doctor prescribes various medications to the client.
They are available as ointments, tablets and injections.
These include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and corticosteroid drugs, chondroprotectors (prevent cartilage destruction), muscle relaxants (relieve muscle cramps), and vitamins, minerals, and other biologically active additives.
The goal of pharmacological treatment is to relieve pain and fight inflammation. Please note that most of the above medications have a certain list of side effects and should not be used without the appointment of a healthcare professional.
An alternative to the indicated drugs is homeopathy.
Many people believe that its products only have a placebo effect, but that is fundamentally wrong. Modern homeopathic remedies are unique combinations of the successful work of talented scientists and the wisdom of nature.
Homeopathic preparations contain vitamins and trace elements that are needed not only to treat the pathology but also for the normal functioning of the body in the future. They stimulate the internal structures and organs that promote their healing. The symptoms of other diseases also disappear in the background of such treatment.
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’s office. Physiotherapy is designed to stop or at least slow down the destructive processes in the area of intervertebral discs.
In this context, the following procedures will be implemented:
- phonophoresis;
- laser aphoresis;
- darsonvalization;
- amplitude pulse treatment;
- treatment with diadynamic current;
- magnetic resonance exposure.
Surgery
No matter how complicated the principle is for getting rid of the pathology in question, the result is far from always successful. Surgery is the cardinal solution. In the simplest case, the point is to remove a section of cartilage that has exceeded the normal range. In some cases, however, treatment requires the replacement of the intervertebral disc with an artificial graft.
One sign of surgery is the lack of positive dynamics for several months. Of course, such an indication must be accompanied by the results of diagnostic tests which determine the cause of the disease in the form of the location of the degenerate plates.
During discectomy - and this is the name of the operation to eliminate the causes of lumbar osteochondrosis - degenerate structures are removed. In the case of a large excision, a graft must be inserted into the spine, which is attached to its own 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 remains immobile for the rest of his life.
According to another technique, a modern flexible plate prosthesis is implanted in the spine, which is almost identical to real cartilage in terms of biological mechanics and allows mobility to be maintained in the lumbar region.
However, the prosthesis described above is very expensive. It’s unlikely there’s a foreign body inside, probably no one will like it until the end of their days. Many, fearing such prospects, postpone the operation, exacerbating their well-being. Nevertheless, there is an excellent way to avoid surgery for many people who suffer from osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
Osteopathy
When neither medication nor therapeutic therapy helps, and a neurologist and an orthopedist with weakness toss his hand up, nodding toward the operating table, even the most ardent adherents of classical medicine begin to wonder if it is worth seeking help from another doctor. And someone, after the first signs of the disease, weighed all the pros and cons, analyzed the positive opinions of friends and the internet, and visited a chiropractor.
The main task of an osteopath treating lumbar osteochondrosis is to restore the spine to a normal position, relieve pain, and stop destructive processes.
Using osteopathic techniques, significant success can be expected in the shortest possible time - an osteopath can relieve the pain of osteochondrosis right from the first treatment.
However, complete treatment of the lower back is required. Its duration is determined individually and depends on the characteristics of the patient and the severity of the lesion.
Before starting treatment, the specialist will assess the specifics of the situation, the accompanying symptoms and complications, age, etc.
Osteomedicine as a way to get rid of lumbar, cervical and thoracic osteochondrotic lesions lies in the fact that such treatment is essential with expensive drugs that are difficult for the client to perceive. Although their use is not strictly excluded.
This aspect is especially important in allergies, liver diseases, etc. Relevant for sufferers.
Osteotherapy heals all the interiors of the human body, replacing joints, bones and organs. Metabolic processes, the functioning of all parts of the body are normalized. The general well-being of the osteomedic ward improves rapidly. An osteopathic practitioner can also help with a muscle spasm, sting, or overload. It is a common companion to the pain discussed and can exacerbate it. An osteotherapist can treat not only pain in the lumbar region, but also other types of localization and etiology.
The above mentioned doctor uses various techniques to relieve the pain of his class. These include structural, craniosacral, manual, and reflexology. The kinesio taping method shows excellent results - applying special flexible adhesive tapes to the damaged areas. With the help of kinesia tapes, the doctor not only relieves the pain but also helps in the healing.
Although osteopathy treats many diseases, the list of contraindications (very small) is:
- febrile conditions, high temperature;
- blood clots;
- benign and malignant tumors;
- severe infections;
- epileptic seizures.
Osteopathy is also an excellent preventative measure. Its overall healing and restorative effect on the body is simply invaluable. In addition, preventive sessions allow you to deal with a myriad of problems that are in the bud. The disease usually does not manifest itself and does not cause discomfort for a long time without allowing the diagnosis. By comprehensive monitoring of your own health and regular visits to the Osteopathy Center, you can save yourself from many of the difficulties that await you along the way of life.