What is dorsopathy? Many are afraid of this word, taking it for some dangerous disease. In fact, this is a fairly common pathology, which has recently been diagnosed very often. In this article we will talk more about it.
general information
Dorsopathy refers to a whole group of diseases of the connective tissue and the musculoskeletal system of a person, the main sign of which is recognized as repeated pain in the limbs and throughout the body. The most common form of this pathology is dorsopathy of the lumbar spine. The primary clinical sign is severe, but short-term back pain.
It is important to note that dorsopathy is not an independent disease; rather, it is a consequence of other ailments associated with the back. This pathological condition, as a rule, affects not only the spine itself, but also the ligaments, muscles, nerves, vessels located in this area.
Main reasons
The lumbar region most often suffers from excessive loads. As a result, it is this area that prematurely "wears out", and as a result, numerous diseases appear, which include the so-called intervertebral hernias.
The main consequence of dorsopathy is considered dysfunction of some systems of internal organs. If earlier only elderly patients complained of this kind of pathology, today today the problem is increasingly diagnosed in the younger generation.
Dorsopathy of the lumbar spine mainly occurs for the following reasons:
- Hereditary predisposition. Metabolism, physique, immunity - all these factors play a direct role in the formation of pathology.
- Excessive / insufficient load on the back. If you exercise too much, there is a risk of injury. On the other hand, with hypodynamia, the body loses its usual tone, which is also a prerequisite for the occurrence of pathology.
- Overweight and malnutrition. Excess weight plays the role of an additional load on the spine, so it wears out much faster. As for malnutrition, in this case, the body has a deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals. It also affects bone composition.
- Mechanical injuries and poor posture. Previous damage (for example, in athletes) with age can again remind of themselves. Improper posture contributes to an uneven load on the spine, which is often a direct basis to diagnose lumbar dorsopathy.
- Colds, as a rule, adversely affect the body's immune defenses.
How is the pathology manifested?
- Dull pain in the lumbar region, which only intensifies when walking.
- Frequent cramps in the leg.
- Cutting pain and discomfort during sudden movements.
- Lameness due to a person’s unwillingness to strain the leg.
- Pain in the buttocks, which does not go away even after taking the medicine.
Development
Dorsopathy of the lumbar spine at the initial stage is characterized by deformation of the cartilage tissue. As a rule, the patient does not complain of any painful sensations and, accordingly, does not seek the help of a doctor. When bone tissue is connected to this process, the vertebrae noticeably shift and begin to compress the intervertebral disc, affecting the nerve endings. At this stage, the patient already experiences discomfort and even pain.
Further displacement is most often irreversible and is possible with any sudden movement or excessive load on the back. From such a strong displacement of the vertebrae , the so-called fibrous membrane of the disk is most often destroyed. The pain in this case becomes intolerant.
So the dorsopathy of the lumbar spine develops consistently. Symptoms, it is important to note, appear from problems not only directly with the musculoskeletal system, but also with some internal organs.
Classification
Today, a complex of degenerative changes in this area is commonly called the term "dorsopathy of the lumbar spine." ICD 10 (international classification of diseases X revision) conditionally distinguishes several groups of pathologies depending on the nature of the changes:
- Deforming osteopathy (curvature and slight displacement of the vertebrae).
- Spondylopathy (damage to the vertebrae due to tumors, mechanical injuries or other diseases).
- Discogenic group (displacement of the vertebral discs, the formation of protrusion and hernia). One of the most common manifestations is dorsopathy of the lumbar spine with radicular syndrome.
Diagnostics
If primary symptoms appear, it is recommended to seek medical advice. At the consultation, the specialist collects a detailed medical history, during which it is specified:
- localization of pain;
- early injuries and injuries of the spine, including tumors;
- dependence of pain on body position;
- emotional condition.
In this case, the main purpose of the diagnosis is to detect infectious processes in the lumbar region, neoplasms or somatic diseases. During a neurological examination, a specialist checks for paralysis, loss of reflexes, and sensitivity disorder.
Then an additional examination is prescribed to finalize the diagnosis. It implies a x-ray of the spine in several projections, MRI, a biochemical blood test.
Based on the results of all the tests described above, the doctor can confirm the presence of such a pathology as dorsopathy of the lumbar spine.
What should be the treatment?
Therapy in this case is complex. It is aimed at stopping the pain syndrome, preventing the formation of dystrophic processes in the spine itself, and preventing possible relapses.
Note that only a qualified approach allows you to overcome such an ailment as dorsopathy of the lumbar spine. Treatment for each individual patient is selected individually, depending on the stage of development of the problem, the degree of manifestation of the pain syndrome and some other factors.
This pathology, according to experts, has two phases (acute and chronic). The treatment in each case is slightly different. So, in the acute period, all therapeutic measures should be aimed at reducing pain. The patient, as a rule, is recommended complete rest and drug treatment. If it is impossible to be without pain in a horizontal position, you can use a special corset, which helps to fix the position of the spine through special orthoses.
In case of intense pain, novocaine blockades, opioid analgesics (Tramadol) are prescribed , along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. With sufficiently strong muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are recommended (for example, "Midokalm"). For pain of low intensity, non-opioid analgesics and special warming ointments are prescribed (Espol, Fastum-gel, Efkamon).
In the stage of remission, drug treatment implies:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nimesulide, Cefecon, Diclovit).
- The use of chondroprotectors to improve metabolic reactions in damaged cartilage ("Chondroxide").
- Vascular drugs to improve blood circulation, B vitamins, biogenic stimulants.
- Sedatives.
It is important to note that even prolonged use of all of the above drugs is far from always effective for a pathology such as dorsopathy of the lumbar spine.
Drug-free treatment
- Physiotherapy (ultraviolet radiation, electrophoresis, Bernard currents). These procedures are designed to remove existing swelling of tissues, reduce pain, improve blood circulation.
- Manual therapy. A person skilled in the art can quickly eliminate a block in the structure of the spine based on x-rays and a visual examination before each session. It is important to note that this method has numerous contraindications (inflammatory processes in the body, tumors, injuries, osteoporosis).
- Massage.
- Traction treatment. This method implies a gradual extension of the spine, which allows you to slightly increase the distance between the vertebrae, stretch the tissue, reduce compression of the nerve root.
Possible complications
In addition to the above deformations of the spine and intervertebral hernias, it is necessary to mention the diseases that develop due to the constant compression of most nerve endings with intervertebral discs.
Dorsopathy of the lumbar provokes not only pain, but also dysfunction of some systems of internal organs. Very often, the pelvic organs can be affected. For example, a patient develops involuntary urination and a number of other related problems.
The role of physical therapy
Special exercises for the muscle corset not only allow you to relieve pain and discomfort, but also act as a prevention of relapse.
Such a treatment complex should be focused on the continuous development of the patient’s weakened muscles, therefore it is selected exclusively by a qualified specialist with knowledge in this field.
It is not recommended to try to do video lessons yourself, as in this case the risk of getting injured increases several times.
Well-proven traditional medicine to combat this pathology. A variety of lotions, rubbing and compresses using natural ingredients help relieve pain and cope with edema. It is important to note that traditional medicine recipes are best used in conjunction with traditional therapy and under constant medical supervision.
Conclusion
In this article, we have described in as much detail as possible why dorsopathy of the lumbar spine occurs, what it is and what are the main ways of treating this pathology. We hope that all the information provided will be really useful to you.