Most people do not even suspect that all injuries or various diseases of the spine, if no measures are taken, gradually lead to the development of degenerative-dystrophic tissues in the spinal column. As a result, diseases such as hernia, osteochondrosis, and l5 vertebral retrolisthesis appear. What this is can be understood from the article below.
The concept of "retrolisthesis L5"
Retrolisthesis is a disease during which back vertebrae shift. Basically, the fifth lumbar vertebra is displaced , because the l5 vertebra has a larger area than other parts of the spinal column. Accordingly, he receives a considerable load. Retrolisthesis l5 of the vertebra (what it is, of course) is found at any age, but in men more often than in women.
Symptoms of the disease
The following symptoms will help to detect an ailment:
- pain in the lumbar region, which gives to the lower extremities;
- lumbar mobility is limited;
- can paralyze the lower body;
- there is a malfunction in the organs that are located in the lumbar;
- when walking steps are made less.
There are also distinctive symptoms of this disease:
- Sign of Laseg. It is necessary to lie on your back and raise one leg up. A person should feel a sharp pain in the lumbar region, and if the leg is bent at the knee, then the discomfort immediately recedes.
- Sign of Wasserman. It is necessary to lie on the floor on your back and raise one leg up - a person should feel a sharp pain in the groin area.
Disease onset
The causes of retrolisthesis are as follows:
- any trauma to the lumbar spine;
- as a result of overload of the vertebral segments;
- various injuries of the vertebrae, including the musculo-ligamentous apparatus;
- ligament rupture;
- compression fractures of the spine.
Hereditary factors, such as diseases such as arthritis, spondylosis, can also contribute to the development of the disease. In addition to all this, age-related changes in the body, as well as benign neoplasms, can contribute to diseases.
A greater risk of an ailment is people who play sports and get a lot of stress every day. These are weightlifters, wrestlers and others, therefore men mainly fall into this group. In children, retrolisthesis may occur due to an accidentally received injury.
Diagnosis of retrolisthesis
In order to accurately determine the disease, it is necessary to undergo a complete and thorough examination with an experienced doctor. Diagnosis reveals the pathological process and the degree of displacement of the spinal column.
In order to accurately diagnose, the doctor prescribes the following studies:
- MRI of the spine;
- radiography;
- electroneuromyography.
Because retrolisthesis l5 has the property of damaging the soft tissue structures of the body, magnetic resonance imaging is a mandatory procedure. With this examination, various kinds of changes in the spinal cord, discs, or ligaments can be detected. Such a disease of the spinal column is usually characterized by bulging of the vertebra, which radiography may not show.
This type of examination, like electroneuromyography, allows you to analyze the bioelectric activity of the fibers and show their behavior at rest and during muscle tension. With its help, you can determine the degree of damage to the nervous system.
Nevertheless, an MRI of the spine will help to choose a more effective treatment strategy and predict the further development of the disease.
How to treat the spine with a disease?
In order to completely bring the spine to a normal state, it is necessary to carry out complex therapy, eliminating the cause itself. The patient is prescribed medication, which includes taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, physiotherapy procedures are indicated.
The most effective in the treatment of the disease is exercise therapy, but exercises should be performed very carefully so as not to aggravate the situation.
Conservative treatment
This type of therapy brings great effectiveness only in the early stages of the development of spinal column disease, and very good results can be obtained. If the disease is in a neglected state, then in this case, conservative treatment will be ineffective. It includes the following procedures:
- spinal traction ;
- maximum restriction of physical activity;
- laser therapy;
- the use of a special orthopedic corset;
- therapeutic massage and physical education;
- medication treatment.
Drug therapy
The use of drugs is prescribed if the patient has severe pain and muscle cramps. The doctor prescribes, at his discretion, various analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that will help eliminate neurological symptoms.
Surgical intervention
If the symptoms of l5 retrolisthesis are severe, surgical intervention is necessary to eliminate all neurological manifestations of the disease. It is carried out in very rare cases and in the following situations:
- if the patient has a severe retrolisthesis;
- persistent neurological signs;
- if conservative and drug treatment has shown low effectiveness.
Preventative measures
Prevention of a disease such as vertebral l5 retrolisthesis (what it is, is already clear) is to minimize any damage or injury to the spine. Since weight lifting is one of the main causes of the disease, with a strong need to lift something heavy, you need to squat. Thus, most of the resulting load goes to the muscles of the legs, and the back gets it to a minimum.
If it is not possible to avoid lifting and carrying weights, then the load should be distributed evenly on both hands.
In order to avoid such an unpleasant disease as vertebral l5 retrolisthesis (what it is, has already been disassembled above), you must strictly adhere to the following rules:
- daily exercise to strengthen the muscular skeleton;
- avoid spinal injuries as much as possible or treat existing ones in a timely manner;
- periodically take vitamins and calcium;
- if a person is involved in sports professionally, then perform special exercises to avoid vertebral displacement.
Of course, you can perform therapeutic physical exercises, take vitamins, but it is impossible to completely prevent the development of this disease.