The name of the specialty “vertebrologist” comes from the Latin word vertebra, that is, the spine. Doctors are involved in the treatment and prevention of diseases of this major organ. All internal organs are connected to the spine through the spinal cord , so a vertebrologist has to work at the junction of orthopedics, neurosurgery and neurology.
Who is a vertebrologist?
The answer to the question of what a vertebrologist treats can be unequivocally - the spine. So far, there are few specialists in this field, because one must have colossal experience in various fields of medicine in order to analyze the symptoms, find their cause and prescribe adequate treatment. A vertebrologist is called upon to treat not a consequence, but a cause. Its task is to establish a connection between disorders in various parts of the spine and internal organs, to establish the source of the problem and to conduct treatment.
Consultation with a vertebrologist is recommended for patients who are being prepared for surgery, and is necessary to find an alternative and more gentle treatment.
What diseases does a vertebrologist
In the first place should be put diseases such as sciatica, osteochondrosis and scoliosis. Since they are found in every second person, the relevance of this direction is not in doubt. The next most popular diseases among those treated by a vertebrologist are intervertebral hernias, protrusions, and vertebral displacement.
In treatment, the doctor uses an integrated approach, given that the problems of the musculoskeletal system are reflected in the whole body, and in the cardiovascular system in the first place. It is logical that a vertebrologist treats those diseases caused by spinal cord injuries. Among them are arthrosis, neuralgia, joint diseases, cardiology and many others.
The bodies with which the vertebrologist works
This is not only the spine, but also the joints surrounding the tissue and nervous system. Therefore, the list of what a vertebrologist treats includes vegetative-vascular dystonia. Very often, the initial request is headaches, heartaches, stomachaches, problems with the pancreas and kidneys, but these symptoms are only a consequence of the disease of one or more parts of the spine.
In such a situation, it can be quite difficult for a doctor to make a diagnosis without a preliminary examination, since the problem may be beyond his competence.
Symptoms you can contact this specialist
There are a lot of them, and if it is difficult to figure it out on your own, pre-make an appointment with a therapist. After hearing your complaints, he will say whether you need a vertebrologist, that this specialist is treating . Most likely, he will advise you to seek advice if:
- You are worried about back pain and frequent dizziness. It is especially important not to delay treatment if discomfort is localized in the cervical region.
- Frequent headaches in the temporal or occipital areas, which intensify or arise when the head is tilted and turned.
- Legs or hands hurt, numbness of limbs appears.
- Prolonged pain in the heart, intercostal neuralgia.
- Stiffness of movements, decreased spinal mobility.
- Sharp or chronic pains in the spine and limbs, which are aggravated by walking or deep breathing.
An experienced vertebrologist is able to diagnose and find the cause of the disease at the first appointment.
Diagnostic methods used by the doctor
The first appointment with a vertebrologist is very important.
In addition to analyzing your medical history, the doctor will conduct an examination, which includes:
- Inspection of the back for distortion of posture.
- Palpation.
- Functional tests (various inclinations and turns of the head and body, in which the doctor diagnoses abnormalities in the behavior of the spine).
Sometimes, on the basis of this, a diagnosis is made and a treatment regimen is built. But it happens that the doctor doubts, and then additional methods are connected.
Survey by a vertebrologist
Today, a whole arsenal of special equipment has been provided to help the doctor, with which you can quickly determine the cause of the disease. A vertebrologist uses methods such as:
- X-ray of the spine. It is prescribed only in cases where the doctor needs to see the condition of the bones.
- Computed tomography - if there is a suspicion of various tumors.
- Ultrasound examination.
- Magnetic resonance imaging - this method is the most popular because the image shows bone structures, discs and soft tissues (spinal cord).
In each case, there is no need to conduct all studies, the attending physician will choose what will give him more information.
Treatment methods
In most cases, vertebrologists are treated without injections and drugs. Surgery is considered as an extreme measure, as far as possible they try to avoid it. To solve problems, special therapeutic massage and manual therapy are widely used .
Osteopathic methods of treatment help to alleviate the condition: already at the first session, the tension decreases and the blood supply to the diseased organ improves. As a result, the pain goes away.
Therapeutic spinal traction is another method that gives good results in osteochondrosis. Be sure to ask your doctor what his experience with such procedures is, because if he does not calculate the effort, then it will seriously harm you. Physiotherapy is often used, as it has a very wide range of indications.
Reflexotherapy is an adjunctive treatment recognized by official medicine and has persistent positive results, although it is based on bioenergy. The fact that injections of various strengths of pressure and pressure on certain points of the body can relieve pain or cure the disease was known in ancient times. Today, doctors successfully use the skills accumulated over the centuries.
Hirudotherapy (the use of leeches) is not used to treat the affected organ, but to improve the body as a whole. The vessels are cleansed, the flow of blood and lymph is normalized, which helps to cope with stagnation in the tissues and ensure the flow of oxygen. If there is a direct need, drug therapy is connected, and therapeutic gymnastics completes the course , required to consolidate the effect and reduce the risk of relapse.
As you can see, a vertebrologist has a wide arsenal of ways to help you. This is both a plus and a minus, since it is difficult for a young specialist without proper experience to make the right choice in favor of a particular treatment method.
If a child has spinal problems
Since diseases arise regardless of age, a pediatric vertebrologist works separately. Even newborn children become patients of this doctor. He is responsible for any changes in the structures of the spine (bone tissue of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, spinal cord, ligaments, joints and muscles).
What is the convenience of consulting a vertebrologist?
Previously, when a child had problems with his back, he was led to a pediatrician, who was referred first to a surgeon, and then to a neurologist. If the problem was difficult or the cause was not fully ascertained, the child had to be treated at the same time by a neurosurgeon, orthopedist and neurologist. It is much more convenient to contact one specialist who will provide an integrated approach to treatment.
Most often, a pediatric vertebrologist is treated with scoliosis and kyphosis. More complex, solvable problems are congenital or birth defects of the spine and spinal tumors (both malignant and benign).
Recommendations of a pediatric vertebrologist
- From early childhood, teach your child to sleep on a hard bed and observe the daily routine: sleep, active wakefulness, rest, eating.
- Pay special attention to the choice of shoes - it should be comfortable and fit perfectly in size.
- Cultivate a love of sports, make your baby move, and go swimming together.
- At school age, monitor the maintenance of correct posture at the table and normal load on the shoulders when wearing a satchel.
Vertebrology as a branch of orthopedics
Many vertebrologists are certified orthopedists. Only complete knowledge about the functioning of the body makes it possible to diagnose and build an effective treatment system.
Who is an orthopedic vertebrologist, every parent needs to know. In order to determine the slightest deviations in the development of the spine in time, it is necessary to periodically visit a specialist. After all, diseases of the spine affect the nervous system, well-being, attentiveness and academic performance of the child.
Close connection of neurology and vertebrology
An experienced vertebrologist successfully combines the methods of different areas of medicine, orthopedics and neurology. This is necessary in order to avoid the diverse treatment of several specialists. A doctor who has undergone full training is called a neurologist-vertebrologist, or vertebro-neurologist.
You can safely entrust your back to a doctor who has a specialization in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal diseases. Working in a unidirectional field, he will help to deal with the problem and find its cause. Therefore, if the back worries and there are all the symptoms we listed, the best choice is a neurologist-vertebrologist.
Tips for choosing a good doctor
If you need a consultation with a vertebrologist, then it's time to start looking for a specialist. The task is not as simple as we would like, because they do not treat pills and injections, as in many other cases, but the doctor’s hands. Approach this with great responsibility.
Large centers often offer a free initial consultation service, during which the patient can get acquainted with the doctor, learn more about his previous experience, methods and timing of the proposed treatment. Begin treatment with a doctor only if you fully trust him and do not feel discomfort when communicating with him.
A few words about self-medication. Often with back pain people try to solve the problem on their own: at home, using a heating pad and ointments, or through familiar massage therapists who do not always have sufficient knowledge to choose an effective treatment course. Therefore, be sure to consult a vertebrologist.
He will select for you an individual treatment regimen and therapeutic exercises, which will significantly facilitate the condition and consolidate the effect for many years. Since each person is unique, then, having downloaded a single scheme of classes and massage movements from the Internet, you will not be able to get rid of problems.
Brief conclusions
Vertebrology is a young area in medicine that is successfully developing today. Indeed, diseases of the spine are so frequent that good specialists with extensive knowledge and the latest methods of diagnosing and treating these ailments are necessary for both children and adults.