Spinal cord treatment is performed after diagnosis and determination of the provoking factor. This is the central organ of the nervous system that is involved in many functions.
It is localized in the spinal canal and the roots of nerve endings depart from it. Its diseases lead to disruption of the functioning of the anatomical structure and the occurrence of intense pain. The origin of the pathological process may be different, however, the symptoms of the lesion are usually similar in all cases of the course of the disease.
The main classification of diseases
Various problems in the spinal cord are divided into several types according to the particular course of the pathological process that provokes damage to the tissue of this organ. There are such types of this pathology:
- injuries
- tumors;
- myelopathy
- infections
- inflammatory processes;
- vascular lesions;
- combined violations.
All these pathologies have their own specific symptoms, and diagnosis is required to determine the disease.
Injuries
Among the most frequent injuries, it is necessary to distinguish a compression fracture, which is formed as a result of increased pressure on individual fragments of the spine, changing and destroying it. This occurs mainly as a result of a fall on the lower limbs.
Among the provoking factors of the compression spine, it is necessary to highlight age-related osteoporosis and a change in the state of the intervertebral discs. A natural cause of a compression fracture is a deterioration in bone density, which leads to a significant deterioration in the ongoing processes. At the initial stage of spinal deformity, changes are noted in the discs located between the vertebrae. This leads to the drying of their fragments, causing the formation of cracks and then cracks.
With a compression fracture, several bone fragments are formed that affect the nerve endings, which leads to their numbness and a decrease in muscle strength. At the same time, due to blood pressure, there is a violation of the blood circulation of the base of the affected organ. This can cause the development of paresthesia or even sciatica. In the case of an extensive lesion, a similar pathology can lead to paralysis.
Treatment involves surgery, wearing a corset, massage and physiotherapy exercises. Physiotherapeutic procedures may also be required.
In addition, trauma refers to a bruise. This can happen in the event of a fall or other types of injury. Treatment of spinal cord injury is carried out with the help of medications, physiotherapeutic techniques. With a particularly severe lesion, surgery is required.
Inflammatory processes
Inflammation mainly occurs during the course of myelitis. This syndrome develops over several days or weeks. Often the cause of its occurrence is a viral infection. With the onset of myelitis, a person complains of the presence of pain in the back and muscle weakness, which increases very quickly. In addition, asymmetric paresthesia in the legs is often observed.
Among the main risk factors for the development of myelitis, it is necessary to highlight a decrease in immunity and hypothermia. The development of inflammation can trigger:
- infections
- injuries
- radiation therapy;
- toxic poisoning;
- the introduction of certain vaccines.
This disease is characterized by acute and subacute course. At the same time, general signs of inflammation are observed, in particular, such as rapid and constant fatigue, a slight increase in temperature, a feeling of weakness, pain and aching muscles, headaches.
For diagnosis, a cerebrospinal fluid is taken. The nature of the lesions and the assessment of nerve structures can be obtained by performing tomography. Treatment of spinal cord myelitis is selected taking into account the provoking factor. For this, therapeutic methods such as:
- in non-infectious course - glucocorticosteroids;
- with bacterial - antibiotics;
- muscle relaxants;
- diuretic drugs;
- analgesics;
- vitamins.
In case of violation of excretory function, catheterization of the bladder is performed, and the skin is also oiled with various ointments to prevent the development of complications. The rehabilitation program, which includes a specially selected course of exercise therapy and massage sessions, is very important. A full recovery may take several years.
Inflammatory processes also include arachnoiditis. This is a disease in which damage occurs in the arachnoid. The reasons for this may be previous various acute and chronic intoxications, diseases of the nasal sinuses. During treatment, the source of infection must first be eliminated. For this, antibiotics, metabolic and pathogenetic therapy are prescribed.
Myelopathy
Paracarcinomatous and radiation myelopathies are considered diseases that are difficult to distinguish between. When conducting tomography, severe swelling of the brain is observed, the treatment of which is performed with the help of radiation therapy.
Necrotic myelopathy in the course of an exacerbation immediately affects several parts of the spine. The reason for this is the strong growth of tumors, which are additionally accompanied by the course of the inflammatory process. Patients may have paralysis, and many other disorders are also possible.
Transverse myelopathy develops as a result of the course of trophic disorders and is associated with the gradual atrophy of all tissues of the affected organ. In addition, toxic effects or ischemic manifestations can provoke the disease. In particular, osteomyelitis, tuberculosis, oncological diseases, and diabetes can provoke the development of such a pathology.
Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases are quite common. It is worth noting that viral pathologies of the spinal cord are accompanied by various, rather specific types of myelitis. The most common is polio, in which there is a defeat of the gray matter.
The cause of viral damage can also be herpes zoster, HIV, lymphotropic virus. In this case, treatment of the spinal cord must be comprehensive and timely in order to prevent the development of complications.
Tumors
Tumors can be located directly on the surface or even inside the organ itself. The rate of occurrence of the first signs of the disease largely depends on the progression of the neoplasm, as well as the degree of sensitivity of the patient to painful manifestations. The treatment of a spinal tumor is very complicated. Many neoplasms are incurable and lead to the death of the patient.
Neoplasms develop mainly in middle-aged people. This is a whole group of diseases that differ in localization, the nature of the lesion and the type of neoplasm. Treatment must be carried out at the initial stages of occurrence, since the consequences of this pathology can be very serious. A person is at risk of disability or even death. The danger of neoplasms lies in the fact that they develop rather slowly and often the symptomatology resembles other diseases. With timely treatment of a spinal cord tumor by surgical removal, the prognosis is quite favorable.
The most malignant nature are extradural neoplasms. They are characterized by a high growth rate and a destructive effect on the spine. They grow from the hard tissues of the brain membrane or from the vertebral bodies themselves. The most effective treatment for spinal tumors is considered only surgical intervention. Conservative therapy can provoke some improvement and contributes to remission, however, they are often incomplete and short-lived.
Additionally, doctors use x-ray therapy, which allows you to somewhat inhibit the growth of the tumor, and also helps to more quickly reduce the existing neurological signs.
A cyst is referred to a separate group. This is a kind of cavity completely filled with cerebrospinal fluid. With the growth of the neoplasm, the patient experiences rather severe pain due to squeezing of nerve endings, and neurological signs are also observed. A cyst can form in any part of the spine. They can be congenital or acquired, which arise under the influence of injuries, excessive physical exertion, as well as various infectious diseases.
Treatment of spinal cysts can even be performed using conservative techniques, especially if a neoplasm is detected at the initial stage. Therapy implies compliance with a stationary regimen, the use of medications, as well as the restriction of physical activity.
In the later stages of the spinal cyst, treatment involves surgical removal. The success of the operation depends largely on the type and location of the neoplasm. A laminectomy with tumor excision is often prescribed. This allows you to eliminate significant compression and normalize well-being.
Treatment of spinal cancer after removal of a tumor implies radiation and chemotherapy after removal. In many cases, it is impossible to completely get rid of such a problem due to the presence of metastases. During the operation, the doctor tries to preserve as many tissues as possible so as not to impair the function of this organ.
Vascular pathology
Diseases of the vessels of the spinal cord are provoked by disorders in the vascular system. They can develop when squeezed. In addition, such a violation can occur with various kinds of congenital pathologies and abnormalities. There are cases when, as a cause of the occurrence of vascular diseases and pathologies, there is an incorrect structure of capillaries, as well as a violation of the venous channel. Such deviations over several years may not manifest themselves at all and progress in different ways.
Treatment is prescribed very carefully and only after a complete diagnosis. Incorrectly selected methods can provoke a deterioration in well-being. In some cases, the disease begins to progress rather quickly.
In addition to the conservative treatment of spinal cord diseases, sometimes an operation is required that helps restore blood circulation in the affected area.
If during the examination, acute violations in the vessels and circulatory system were found, then urgent treatment is required under strict medical supervision. In case of untimely treatment, rather serious deviations and complications may occur. Among vascular diseases, it is necessary to distinguish lesions of the vascular system that feeds the spine, in particular, such as thrombosis, hemangioma, and pressure. The clinical manifestations of such pathologies are due to various kinds of ischemic symptoms.
The cause of a heart attack of this organ often becomes a rather severe circulatory disorder, as a result of which there is a serious disruption in the functioning of this organ, since blood flows through it with great difficulty. A similar manifestation can be observed in absolutely any person. A heart attack develops in the department that is most affected. The cause of its occurrence may be an infectious lesion or even a minor injury. The treatment for spinal cord stroke is mostly symptomatic.
Chronic pathology
Spondylosis is a chronic disease of the spine that provokes changes in the intervertebral disc, which provokes the squeezing of nerve endings and the spinal cord. Such a disease provokes the formation of osteophytes, which lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal and intervertebral openings. Pathology develops as a result of age-related malnutrition of the spine, overload and with injuries. The main symptom is pain, which can trigger sleep disturbance. In addition, some restriction of mobility may be observed.
In this case, the treatment of the spinal cord is complex, aimed at slowing down the development of pathology, as well as reducing symptoms. The range of activities includes massage, warming up, physiotherapy exercises, the use of folk remedies.
Lumbar stenosis is a narrowing of the central spinal canal, which causes squeezing of this organ. An abnormality of the development of the vertebrae, as well as trauma, can provoke a similar pathology. Among the provoking factors, it is necessary to highlight:
- hernia of the intervertebral disc;
- osteophytes;
- neoplasms;
- protrusion of the disc.
Treatment of the spinal cord involves the use of conservative techniques, and if necessary, an operation is performed.
Combined Disorders
Combined pathologies and non-traumatic disorders occur mainly with a lack of vitamin B12. The essence of the formation of this disease is that a complex lesion of this organ occurs.
Patients have a combination of paraparesis, ataxia, as well as many other pathological processes. The disease proceeds very slowly, therefore, with the timely detection of violations and comprehensive treatment of the spinal cord, good results can be achieved and the development of complications can be prevented.
The main symptoms
Symptoms arising from brain damage directly depend on which part of this organ the lesion is located. In addition to specific signs, there are similar manifestations, among which it is worth highlighting such as:
- decreased muscle tone;
- paralysis;
- decreased sensitivity of the affected area;
- violation of trophic tissue;
- complete disappearance of sensitivity;
- pain when squeezing the affected organ.
It should be noted that the symptoms of the lesion are observed mainly on the side opposite to the localization of the focus of the pathology. This is because the nerve endings are located crosswise. If such a clinic occurs, spinal cord treatment should be started immediately to prevent the development of complications.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of neurological pathologies is based on visual inspection and functional examination of the patient. This requires tests for the sensitivity of the skin, motor functions of the limbs. In addition, a very thorough medical history is required.
For the diagnosis, X-ray examination methods and ultrasound diagnostics are used. Based on this, a specialist can obtain data on the condition of the vessels supplying the spinal cord and the speed of blood flow.
To determine the source of damage to this organ, its features and sizes, tomography is required. After that, the doctor fills out a special questionnaire regarding the frequency of pain. This will allow you to fully assess the condition of the patient and choose the treatment of spinal cord damage.
Therapy Features
Depending on the characteristics of the spinal cord lesion, treatment is selected separately for each patient. Therapy may be conservative or performed by surgery. Moreover, the operation is often performed with mechanical damage to this organ, as well as in the presence of a neoplasm that does not affect the deep structures of the spinal cord.
In some foreign clinics, stem cells are treated with spinal cord. Such a technique gives a very good result, helps to eliminate existing violations and restore the functionality of the affected organ.
In combination with conservative methods, it is recommended to additionally conduct alternative treatment of the spinal cord. However, at the same time, the consultation of the attending doctor is required, as they can provoke a deterioration in well-being.
Conservative therapy
Drug therapy of many diseases of the spinal cord is performed in the same way as with the defeat of nerve endings. Used drugs that belong to such pharmacological groups as:
- analgesics;
- ganglion blockers;
- proofreaders of psycho-emotional disorders;
- means normalizing trophic tissue.
In addition, the patient is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures, which mainly include mud applications, electrophoresis, massage. Also, many recommend treating the spinal cord with folk remedies, however, if there are no contraindications. If it is impossible to perform an operation for some reason, then chemotherapy and radiation therapy are required.
Surgical intervention
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Prophylaxis
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Reviews
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Some patients say that even with the most severe injuries, stem cell treatment helps well, since such a technique helps to restore the functioning of the damaged organ. According to patient reviews, with vascular pathologies, drug therapy has a good result.