Pain in the back - a common complaint and the first symptom of the disease. Pathologies of the spine lead to a deterioration in the quality of life and are a catalyst for diseases of many internal organs and body systems. It is important not only to know how to check the spine, determine the diagnosis, but also to do it at the initial stage of the disease, and then strictly adhere to the doctor’s recommendations in order to avoid the development of the disease or its exacerbation.
Alarms
By the age of 30, a rare person can boast of no back pain. More often the situation arises when one thinks about how to check the spine to find the cause of the ailment much earlier. Over 80% of the world's population is faced with back problems.
The most common pathologies are osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, scoliosis and radiculitis. Where can I check my spine? Such problems are addressed to any medical institution - to a polyclinic at the place of residence, to a private consultative diagnostic center, outpatient clinic, etc. Specialists in the field of back diseases are vertebrologists and orthopedists, for certain indications, a neurosurgeon or neurologist needs to be consulted.
Diseases of the spine develop almost imperceptibly, but at one, far from perfect moment, a sharp pain occurs. For a specialist, such a symptom is eloquent - this indicates an exacerbation of the disease, while the patient did not even suspect that he was sick. If you are attentive to the signals of the body, then to identify the onset of the disease is not difficult.
For any pain or condition you need to see a doctor to find out how to check your spine and find a focus of the disease:
- Injury
- Symmetrical or on only one side of the body numbness of the limbs.
- Localized in any part of the spine pain.
- Frequent headaches, dizziness.
- A sharp drop in visual acuity, hearing.
- Unmotivated pre- syncope and fainting.
- Drawing pains of unknown origin in one or both legs.
- Limitation of mobility of any part of the body.
- Decreased sensitivity in the limbs.
There is also a layer of symptoms that indirectly indicate problems in the spine, for example, pain in the heart, difficulty breathing, weak memory, loss of orientation, and many other seemingly unexpected signs. Such symptoms can signal diseases of those organs that are indicated by signs, and may be the result of pinching of the nerve roots emerging from the spinal column.
Who to contact
To dispel doubts and get an accurate picture of the condition, you need to contact a specialist. You can make an appointment with a doctor in a clinic, an outpatient clinic of any form of ownership. If well-being has come to a critical point, then hospitalization is necessary. Specialists in a hospital will quickly diagnose and be able to prescribe treatment. It is better not to reach this state; irreversible consequences may begin.
Which doctor checks the spine? Specialists in the pathology of the musculoskeletal system, and especially the spine,
- Orthopedist.
- Neurosurgeon.
- Vertebrologist.
- Neuropathologist.
A vertebrologist can consider the problem from any point of view, since his specialization is spinal diseases. Unfortunately, specialists in this area are still poorly represented in clinics.
Identify intervertebral hernia
A hernia of the intervertebral disc is a lot of trouble, pain and is considered one of the most dangerous diseases. Pathology is accompanied by the destruction of the fibrous ring and protrusion of the disk, as a result of which the nerve roots are compressed. In some cases, the disease can put a person in a wheelchair.
If untreated, nerve inflammation occurs in the site of the lesion, and swelling of the surrounding tissues. In the future, dysfunctions appear, the destruction of the organ to which the transmitted nerve is directed. A hernia of the intervertebral disc is always accompanied by acute pain at the site of pinching of the nerve and spreads along its entire length.
How to check the spine for a hernia? First of all, it is necessary to determine the localization of pain and symptoms of pathology:
- A hernia in the cervical spine is accompanied by dizziness, sudden changes in pressure, headaches. Pain may also occur in the upper limbs and shoulder girdle, sometimes numbness of the fingers is felt.
- If a hernia is in the thoracic region, while storing the posture for a long time, chest pain occurs, often in the area of the heart.
- A hernia in the lumbar region is a pain syndrome in the back or side of the thigh, often extending to the ankle. Numbness of the toes, pain in the lower leg, lower back, numbness of the groin and pain in the gluteal muscle.
Diagnostics
How to check the spine for a hernia in a hospital? First of all, consult a doctor, he will conduct a visual diagnosis and, based on its results, will give directions to the following types of diagnostics:
- Roentgenography. The study is done in two projections (full face, profile). It allows you to determine the causes of the development of pathology - trauma, developmental abnormalities, acquired deformities. Contraindications - pregnancy, intense bleeding.
- CT scan. CT makes it possible to assess the condition of each part of the spine and disk, to obtain accurate data on the size of the lesion, to make an early diagnosis of the beginning process, and to identify the causes that led to the damage. Contraindications - pregnancy, obesity (weight more than 150 kg), claustrophobia, inadequate patient behavior.
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most popular and informative type of research. Using MRI, a specialist examines the condition of the spine and surrounding tissues, spinal cord, nerve roots and individual discs, evaluates the general condition of the spine, finds the causes of the lesion, can accurately determine the location of the hernia, its size, and the degree of inflammation of the nerves and tissues. Contraindications - any implants (pacemakers, prosthetics, tattoos with metallic paints, ear prostheses, Ilizarov apparatus, etc.).
- Invasive CT myelography - computed tomography with the introduction of contrast agents around the spinal cord to determine the degree of compression, the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid. This type of study is available only in a hospital setting. Contraindications as with conventional CT, as well as an allergy to contrast agents.
Symptoms of Neck Disorders
To determine how to check the cervical spine, it is necessary to identify the area where the pain is localized, pay attention to the symptoms:
- Often recurring neuralgia in the neck.
- Pain in the heart, fainting, headache, numbness or loss of sensation, cold in the fingers, sudden jumps in blood pressure.
- Drawing pains passing from the neck to the shoulder blades, shoulder girdle, unjustified tension of the muscles of the shoulders, cervical region. Pain syndrome intensifies with sudden movements, which significantly limits motor activity.
- Occasionally spasms of muscles, weakness of the upper limbs or their overstrain.
- Manifestations of neurological symptoms - "frost on the skin", "goosebumps", decreased sensitivity and temperature of the limbs, impaired motor skills of the fingers.
- Manifestations of tinnitus, decreased vision, dizziness, headaches.
Most often, the patient experiences a complex of symptoms indicating damage to the cervical spine. Detailed diagnostics and a professional examination by a doctor will help to make the right conclusion and begin treatment.
Neck diagnostics
Patients go to the hospital with signs of the disease that have already manifested, most often the symptoms indicate an exacerbation or intensive development of the pathology. Early detection of the disease is diagnosed during professional examinations, which should be done regularly, in which case the disease stops at the stage of the first changes.
How to check the cervical spine:
- The specialist collects a history of patient complaints.
- An external examination is carried out, palpation of the cervical spine, determination of the state of the vertebrae (protrusion, sagging, displacement along the axis, etc.).
- The patient is prescribed studies - X-ray, MRI or CT.
A feature of the study of diseases of the spine in the cervical region is the mandatory removal of an electrocardiogram. This type of diagnosis confirms or rejects vein compression.
Scoliosis: manifestations
Scoliosis is sometimes difficult to suspect, often it is simply not noticed for a long time. In childhood, parents can note that their child is hunched over, raises one shoulder above the other, the asymmetry of the protruding shoulder blades, chest deformation and many other external manifestations of spinal changes are noticeable. The child may complain of back pain, he quickly gets tired if he sits for a long time or stands in a static pose.
There are several degrees of severity of damage to the spine, the types of curvature relative to the straight axis differ and a number of other features in determining the type of pathology. Mild scoliosis does not cause symptoms, does not complicate daily life, its identification is possible only at the doctor’s appointment or after screening.
Tests for determining scoliosis
How to test spinal curvature using tests:
- The patient is asked to take a few steps on his toes, then on his heels, alternately bouncing on one leg. A physical test demonstrates balance, the development of leg strength. Visually, the doctor assesses the length of the lower extremities; in the back of both legs he looks for stiff tendons. The specialist checks the reflexes, testing neurological disorders, nervous sensations, muscle functions.
- How to check the curvature of the spine? In a hospital setting, curvature is determined using a scoliograph. Most doctors believe that a scoliograph determines the presence of a problem, but it is impossible to determine the degree of deformation with its help, so further diagnosis is carried out by other methods.
- In childhood, patients undergo a Reisser test to complete ossification of the tissues of the spinal column. It allows you to determine the maturity of bone tissue (biological age) and the end of the development of scoliosis. The method is based on determining the degree of ossification of the ilium.
The severity of scoliosis, the strategy for its treatment is determined by the degree of curvature of the spine (more than 11 degrees) and the angle of rotation of the body (ATP). According to the observations of doctors, treatment of patients with complaints of scoliosis begins from the moment when the curvature of the spine reaches 30 degrees, and the ATP is at least 7 degrees.
Visual diagnosis of scoliosis
The technical equipment of modern clinics provides several options for visual diagnosis. All methods used are informative enough to determine the degree of curvature of the spine, to assess damage to surrounding tissues and organs.
How to check the spine using modern methods:
- X-ray It is considered the most effective method for detecting scoliosis. Screening gives a complete visual picture, and the patient is registered. Children under the supervision of a doctor are screened once every few months. Tracking the development of pathology helps determine the severity of the lesion. Identify hyperlordosis, kyphosis, determine maturity for bone tissue.
- MRI Diagnostics are prescribed to detect disorders of the spinal cord with idiopathic scoliosis (found in childhood). Also, MRI is prescribed before surgery, to identify congenital features or pathologies in order to avoid complications.
Which doctor checks the back (spine) for scoliosis? Patients with this diagnosis are observed by an orthopedist or vertebrologist. With the intensive progress of the pathology, the patient may begin to have dysfunctions of the internal organs, which requires additional consultations with narrow specialists (pulmonologist, gastroenterologist, cardiologist, etc.). Scoliosis therapy is carried out by operational and conservative methods, the choice depends on the degree of development, severity, cause of the disease.
Home diagnostician
Even if you know where to check the spine, the question often arises whether it matters if the back hurts. Perhaps the person on the eve was engaged in hard, unusual work for him, in this case there will be fatigue and a slight muscle tone in the lumbar region, shoulder girdle. In a couple of days, if there are no diseases, everything will return to normal.
If the pain syndrome does not go away within a week, stiffness of movements appears, it is difficult to straighten out, the focus of pain is indicated, pulling pains in the leg appear and after a night's sleep the symptoms do not go away, it is necessary to find out what the condition is connected with.
How to check the spine at home:
- With intervertebral hernia, the patient takes unnatural poses - this partially removes the pain syndrome, which always accompanies the destruction of the intervertebral disc and irritation of the nerve roots. The most common form of exacerbation of this pathology is sciatica. Intense pain also appears with awkward, sudden movements.
- Checking the spine in a child and an adult for manifestations of scoliosis is quite simple - you need to carefully consider posture. In a person with a curvature, you can see the shoulder blades unnaturally protruding or located at different levels, the waist line will not be parallel to the ground, the head may deviate from a straight axis. Also a sign of scoliosis is asymmetrically located shoulders, hips; the general position of the body tends to one side.
- Almost no one thinks how to check the spine in the cervical spine. With the appearance of a crunch, stiffness, and later pain in the neck, it becomes clear that there is a problem, and it is necessary to consult a doctor for a verdict and prescriptions for treatment.
Experts agree that it is necessary to consult a doctor much earlier than the disease knocks down. With early diagnosis and conservative treatment, practical exacerbations do not occur; almost always it is possible to maintain complete mobility and continue to live a normal life.
Everyone knows a way to early diagnosis of various diseases - this is a medical examination. In the process of a multidisciplinary study, diseases are detected at an early stage. The routine inspection procedure allows you to examine many organs and systems of the body, including checking the spine. MRI, CT, X-ray are effective instruments in the hands of an experienced specialist. Through early diagnosis, the patient avoids exacerbating most diseases.