Causes of scoliosis of the lumbar spine
There are many causes of the disease. These may include the presence of thoracic scoliosis, which is accompanied by the occurrence of a similar pathology in the lower back. In addition, scoliosis in the lumbar spine can be provoked by:
- unequal pressure on the discs between the vertebrae;
- lack of movement and physical activity;
- back injury;
- excess weight, leading to additional stress on the lower back;
- congenital causes of the disease;
- rickets, tuberculosis and infections;
- cerebral palsy (in childhood);
- rheumatism;
- woman's pregnancy;
- clubfoot, flat feet;
- tight clothes;
- tumor diseases;
- hernias;
- metabolic disorders.
In addition, the lack of prevention is essential in the formation of scoliosis in this part of the spine.
What causes spinal diseases?
Despite the seemingly extensive list of spinal diseases, it has long been believed that most of them are acquired and provoked by a lifestyle in which the spine is subjected to various force loads.
Heavy lifting, sudden bending, turning, prolonged sitting or standing, professional sports, and age are all factors that are believed to contribute to the development of spinal diseases.
However, it is quite difficult for a modern person to completely remove physical activity, prolonged sitting or standing (for example, during professional activities) from his daily life, and even more difficult not to grow old.
Thus, it turns out that every person has a predisposition to the occurrence of spinal diseases.
It is worth noting that the age of the patients is completely different. Back pain and neck pain bother not only older people, but also fairly young people.
Degrees of lumbar scoliosis
Scoliosis of the lumbar region comes in different forms and degrees. They all vary depending on the severity of the disease. There are four degrees in total, and in the final stages scoliosis often needs to be treated surgically, since exercise alone is no longer enough.
Scoliosis of the lumbar spine 1st degree
The first degree of scoliosis is considered to be a curvature of the spinal column of 5–10 degrees. It is difficult to notice it during this period, since the disease does not manifest itself in any other way, or mild pain may occur. Often the onset of the disease is discovered by chance when a person examines his back in connection with the search for other diseases. Meanwhile, grade 1 scoliosis in the lumbar spine is the easiest to cure. To do this, it is enough to follow simple rules regarding the organization of a place to sleep and rest, as well as regularly do exercises. But this will require observation by a doctor who will note the dynamics of the disease.
Scoliosis of the lumbar spine, 2nd degree
Scoliosis in the lumbar region of the 2nd degree is easier to detect. This type of disease occurs if stage 1 was not noticed and eliminated in time. In this case, the angle of curvature is 10–25 degrees, distinct pain appears, and the curvature of the back is visible even to a non-specialist.
Spine surgery
Surgical intervention in the spine area, perhaps, has been and will remain in the minds of many doctors and patients as a last resort. And, nevertheless, such operations are carried out when the disease progresses and begins to threaten the life of the body.
The essence of these methods usually comes down to fixing one or more vertebrae in a certain position using various metal devices and implants.
However, the effect of such operations is short-lived, and relapses of the disease are possible, which may lead to the need for new surgical intervention.
Symptoms
The most important symptom of lumbar scoliosis is that the hip girdle is asymmetrical. In this case, the lower limbs visually have different lengths. But at the same time, the symptoms will depend on what type of scoliosis the person has. The types of lumbar scoliosis are:
- right-sided;
- left-handed;
- S-shaped.
The most important symptom is the presence of pain in the lower back, the person stoops, there is pain in the sternum, severe weakness, and changes in gait may also be observed. A person with lumbar scoliosis becomes less mobile due to pain, and his limbs are not as sensitive as before. Neck pain, foot pain, swelling in the lower back, and numbness in the arms and legs may occur. Often the picture is complemented by disturbances in the functioning of internal organs.
Back pain and atlas adjustment
What causes lower back pain? What causes lead to these and other spinal diseases? Why are these diseases so difficult to cure?
In medicine, it has been known since ancient times that identifying the real cause can cure the disease or, at least, alleviate the symptoms.
In this article we will try to highlight one of the most important reasons affecting the health of the spine and the functioning of the musculoskeletal system in general, and we will also talk about the Swiss method of adjusting the atlas and how this technique can be useful for people suffering from various pains in the atlas. neck, back and lower back areas.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of lumbar scoliosis of 1st degree is carried out only by an experienced neurologist
. Of course, you can look at your back yourself and determine how straight the spine is, but when you contact a specialist, in addition to examination and questioning, you will be referred to diagnostic procedures, which will allow you to be sure of the presence or absence of scoliosis, as well as associated abnormalities. Diagnostics may include:
- Blood and urine tests.
- Measuring height while standing, sitting, determining body weight.
- X-ray
or
MRI
of the lower back. - Fluorography
. - Muscle tone study.
- Ultrasound of organs
. - Cardiography
, etc.
Based on the results of such studies, the doctor will determine whether you have grade 1 or 2 scoliosis of the lumbar spine, and if it is present, he will select the optimal treatment method.
Treatment of back pain with warming ointments and patches is not a cure
Taking advantage of the high prevalence of spinal diseases, various ointments, patches and electrical devices are widely advertised on television and radio.
However, you need to understand that applying a warming and anesthetic composition to a sore back will only hide for some time and certainly will not delay the onset of pathological processes in the spine, such as the destruction of intervertebral discs and the formation of intervertebral hernias and protrusions.
Therefore, treatment of osteochondrosis at home is unlikely to be effective.
Treatment
Spinal deformities are treated only in a complex manner. During the treatment process the following are used:
- medicines;
- exercise therapy;
- operations.
The treatment method is determined individually.
Drug therapy
To relieve inflammation caused by scoliosis in the lumbosacral region, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. You may also need to use painkillers and muscle relaxants that help relieve muscle spasms.
Exercise therapy
Treatment of scoliosis of the lumbar spine also necessarily involves taking a course of professional massage, visiting a chiropractor, using acupuncture and physiotherapy. It will not be superfluous to follow a special diet during the treatment process. The first degree of scoliosis is often treated with corsets and exercises, which are selected by a neurologist
individually.
Surgery
Scoliosis of 1st or 2nd degree of the lumbar region, as a rule, is not treated with surgery. However, if the disease progresses, unbearable pain, neurological manifestations, cardiac or pulmonary failure, etc. occur, surgical intervention is inevitable.
Manual therapy and its disadvantages
Manual therapy refers to a complex of forceful effects on the patient’s spine using the hands of a doctor.
Using various manipulations, the doctor warms up the muscles surrounding the vertebra, and then forcefully adjusts it, returning it to the correct anatomical position.
Forceful impact on the spine is associated with certain risks, so there is still controversy surrounding manual therapy, and the methods themselves cause a lot of criticism.
There is a so-called muscle memory that strives to keep the spine in a certain state. This explains the inconsistent results of manual therapy: after a certain period of time, the reduced vertebra may return to its previous painful position.
The connection between back pain and spinal health
What distinguishes a healthy person from a sick person? Why do some people rarely have back pain, while others suffer from it all the time? Where do low back pain, cervical osteochondrosis, radiculitis, intervertebral hernias and protrusions come from?
Obviously, all people suffering from various diseases in the spine have one thing in common - the health of their spine is undermined.
The first cervical vertebra (atlas) is an important component of spinal health.
Sometimes the cause of a disease is not where the patient expects to find it. If a person suffers from back pain, then he is inclined to think that the cause is located exactly in the place where it hurts.
In the case of the spine, this is not always the case. Each part of the spine is very closely connected to the others. A problem in one part of the spine will inevitably affect neighboring parts.
Recent studies in Switzerland (in the 90s) found that the vast majority of people suffering from various diseases of the spine are diagnosed with displacement of the first cervical vertebra - the atlas.
At the same time, a person may not know that his atlas is displaced, and live with such a displacement (sometimes significant) all his life.
The atlas has a very important function - it connects the spinal column to the skull and forms a balance point at the junction.
Unlike other vertebrae, displacement of the atlas can affect the entire spine as a whole and can bend it, cause scoliosis and premature abrasion of the intervertebral discs, which in turn can lead to radiculitis, intervertebral hernias and, of course, osteochondrosis.
What makes the spine sick?
The desire to keep the head straight is an innate feature of the human body, acquired over thousands of years of evolution of the human body.
However, with a displaced atlas, this desire leads to curvature of the spine, scoliosis and other serious consequences that only progress with age.
Thus, back pain, neck pain, lower back pain, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia and other diseases are becoming an integral part of modern life.
Is there an effective method to combat spinal diseases?
Today, a doctor trained in the Atlas-Standard technique can identify displacement of the atlas, and also carry out a procedure to correct it without surgery and without sudden force on the cervical spine.
An important feature of the technique is its safety, since the effect on the first cervical vertebra is not direct, but indirect, through the muscles of the cervical spine.
The method allows the Atlas to return to its natural place in one procedure and for life.
Correction of the atlas allows you to eliminate the main reason why the spine is in the wrong position. As the experience of using the procedure shows, after the atlas is realigned, the process of self-straightening of the spine begins in the body.