Spinal stroke: symptoms, causes, first signs and consequences

In the article, we consider the symptoms of spinal stroke, diagnosis and treatment.

These are pathological changes that occurred during blood circulation in the spinal cord, which impaired its functioning. A similar type of stroke is quite rare, but it is a serious pathology. A spinal stroke can provoke a person’s disability, as well as death. Pathology will require long-term recovery and treatment of the complex type.

Description

What are the symptoms of spinal stroke? The disease is characterized by a disorder that occurs during the blood circulation of the spinal cord. The pathological process can be presented in the form of ischemic, hemorrhagic and mixed stroke. With any type of disease, active death of white and gray matter occurs, as well as the death of tissues and neurons.

During normal functioning of the body, blood is delivered through the anterior and posterior arteries of the spinal cord in the required volume. The anterior artery supplies the cervical and thoracic spine in its upper part, and the back artery is responsible for the blood supply to the sacrococcygeal and thoracic spine in its lower part.

Arteries of the spinal cord merge with radicular vessels and transform into radicular-spinal arteries. They, in turn, ensure the delivery of oxygen and various nutrients to the spinal cells. The largest vessel in this system is located in the lumbar spine. In case of blood supply disturbance, pronounced spinal cord lesions occur in it. This process is accompanied by characteristic signs.

Varieties

In medical practice, the following types of spinal stroke are distinguished:

1. Spinal cord infarction, otherwise called ischemic stroke. Pathology occurs due to a clot with a thrombus of arteries that supply blood to the back area.
2. Hemorrhagic. It occurs as a result of hemorrhage in the subarachnoid space or brain substance.
3. Mixed type. It occurs against the background of a combination of arterial perforation (with further hemorrhage) and ischemic stroke. This type of spinal stroke is quite rare in medical practice, as a rule, it is preceded by severe damage to the arteries due to trauma.

As a rule, the disease is accompanied by damage to the cervical thickening or spinal neurons in the lower part of the spine under the chest.

The duration and symptoms of spinal stroke may vary depending on the type of pathology. It can come suddenly, and can develop within a few days.

Causes

Spinal stroke develops under the influence of the following factors:

1. Severe vascular damage, such as myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis of the spinal arteries, etc.
2. An inflammatory process localized in the vascular walls.
3. Pathological changes that occur in the structure of blood vessels, as well as malformations, expressed in stenosis and aneurysms.
4. Oncological formations in the spinal column.
5. Osteochondrosis.
6. Hernia in the intervertebral space.
7. Vertebral tuberculosis.
8. Varicose veins outside the vessels of the spine.
9. Diseases of the meninges of infectious genesis, arachnoiditis.
10. Fracture of the spine with impaired spinal cord bone fragments.
11. Spinal surgery.
12. Endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus and adrenal dysfunction.
13. Hematologic disorders, leukemia, hemophilia, etc.
14. Enlarged lymph nodes located in the chest area.

The causes of the symptoms of spinal stroke should be identified by the doctor.

Stages

The causes of symptoms of spinal stroke are of interest to many. In this case, the pathological process goes through several stages:

1. The stage of the appearance of precursor symptoms that appear both immediately before the stroke itself, and before its development.
2. Active stage of stroke. This stage can be characterized by moderate progression of the disease, and a sudden blow.
3. Stage of reverse development. At this stage, the restoration of all impaired functions occurs, which is made possible thanks to modern methods of diagnosis and treatment.
4. Stage residual phenomena. These are complications that prevent the full recovery and restoration of all lost functions.

Symptoms of Spinal Stroke

The disease can manifest itself in different ways, depending on the stage of development of the pathology, the localization of the lesion and its vastness. It is important to identify the symptoms and first signs of spinal stroke as early as possible.

The main harbingers of collapse are numbness in the fingers and toes, accompanied by weakness of the limbs, lameness of the intermittent type, impaired sensitivity, convulsive syndrome, soreness in the back, delayed or incontinence.

Signs of circulatory disorders

During the acute stage of the disease, the patient has symptoms of spinal stroke, which indicate a violation of blood circulation, namely:

• Weakness of a pronounced nature.
• Headache.
• Nausea.
• Dizziness.
• Numbness of the extremities, especially of the legs.
• Acute pain in the spine.
• Paralysis of unilateral or bilateral type.
• Sensation of goosebumps.
• Urinary and fecal incontinence.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Vomiting

With the above symptoms and the first signs of a spinal stroke, women and men need first aid. This can be done by laying the victim on his back and calling the doctors.

Diagnostics

At the first symptoms and signs of spinal stroke, it is necessary to diagnose using the following research methods:

1. Neurological and visual examination of the patient.
2. Conducting magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of the spinal cord.
3. X-ray examination of the spinal column.
4. A general type of blood test.
5. Puncture for the purpose of collection and further cytological examination of fluid from the cerebrospinal space.
6. Blood test for coagulation.
7. Rheoencephalography.
8. Electroneuromyography.
9. Doppler ultrasound.

All these research methods help to establish the presence of disorders in the spinal cord and prescribe the correct and timely therapy. Symptoms and treatment of spinal stroke are interconnected.

Treatment

The choice of treatment methods depends on the location of the stroke and the degree of damage to the spine. Therapy may be conservative or surgical.

Drug treatment for spinal stroke involves taking the following drugs:

• "Midokalm" reduces muscle tone.
• Fenilin, Curantil, Heparin, responsible for the prevention of blood clots.
• Cavinton helps normalize the blood circulation process.
• "Tanakan", "Riboxin" prevent the death of neurons.
• "Lasix" is a diuretic.
• Actovegin, Mildronate increase the resistance of neurons to oxygen deficiency.
• "Ascorutin", "Troxerutin" are able to reduce the permeability of the vascular walls.
• Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
• Milgamma is a source of vitamins from group B, which contribute to the restoration of connections between nerve impulses.
• "Aescusan" - strengthens the vascular walls.

Surgical intervention

If a spinal cord injury occurs or in the presence of malignant neoplasms, surgery is performed to eliminate the stroke provocateur. The operation is performed by a neurosurgeon in the amount determined by him in agreement with the attending physician.

Proper patient care during treatment and rehabilitation is of great importance in the healing process. It is very important to prevent pressure sores, for which the patient needs to be turned over every 1.5 hours. The skin needs to be disinfected and bed and underwear regularly changed.

Rehabilitation

As a rule, the recovery period after a spinal stroke is quite long, it can reach up to three years. During the rehabilitation period, the patient undergoes several courses of drug therapy. On average, treatment should be done once every six months. The main goal of rehabilitation is to eliminate the complications and consequences of a stroke, restore all impaired functions, as well as mobility.

For recovery, a number of physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed, among which:

• Applications with paraffin.
• Physiotherapy.
• Massage.
• Acupuncture.
• Magnetotherapy.
• Hydrogen sulfide and carbon baths.
• Electrophoresis
• Electrical stimulation.

With damage to the lower extremities, the biological attack method is used. This procedure involves fixing the electrodes on the patient's legs. Sensors not only send a signal to the muscles, but also increase their biopotential. This procedure allows you to restore neural communication and increase range of motion.

Patients who have suffered a spinal stroke need to use special devices for independent movement. In addition, you need to wear special orthopedic shoes. Less important are classes with a psychotherapist who helps patients socially adapt.

What are the consequences for symptoms of spinal stroke?

Forecast

Recovery depends on the extent of the lesions and the presence of other pathological processes in the patient's history. If the stroke was mild, then qualified medical care and timely treatment will allow the patient not only to survive, but also to fully recover.

However, the prognosis for spinal stroke is far from always favorable. Sometimes the following complications arise:

• Muscle weakness, which does not allow the patient to fully service himself.
• Lameness.
• The absence or marked decrease in sensitivity in certain areas of the body.
• Fecal or urinary incontinence.
• Decreased visual function.
• Impaired speech function.
• Amyotrophy.
• Epilepsy.
• Pressure sores.
• Impotence.
• Dementia.

Changes that occur in the body can lead to a complete loss of a person's ability to work. With a favorable prognosis, a person can return to work, depending on their capabilities.

We examined the causes, symptoms, and consequences of a spinal stroke.

Prevention

To prevent pathology, it is necessary to remember the following preventive measures:

• Constant pressure control in the arteries.
• Preventive examinations twice a year.
• Timely treatment of pathological processes in the spine.
• Prevention of back injuries.
• A balanced, balanced diet.
• Monitoring indicators of cholesterol in the blood.
• Prevention of significant strain on the back.
• Hard mattress.
• Performing therapeutic exercises.
• Maintaining an active lifestyle.
• Rejection of bad habits.

An important preventive moment is the treatment of diseases that are factors that can trigger a stroke. We are talking about such pathologies as osteochondrosis, hernia in the intervertebral space, atherosclerosis, etc.

As early as possible, symptoms and first signs of spinal stroke should be identified in men and women.

Preventive measures should also be followed by those who have experienced a stroke. This is due to the fact that relapse can be much more difficult, and the recovery period will be much longer.

Conclusion

Spinal stroke is a severe circulatory disorder in the vessels located in the spinal cord. Pathology can make a person disabled or even fatal. Therefore, it is extremely important to listen to your own body and take preventive measures to prevent stroke.