The spine is an important structure situated at the area of the core of the trunk, having the duty of protecting the spinal cord and the nerves, as well as bearing the weight and the movement of the body. The intervertebral disc has the duty of receiving impact force between each segment of bone. When a state of degeneration of the spine arises, it may have an effect on the quality of life and on doing the daily routine. Understanding the cause, the symptoms, and the method of treating degeneration of the spine is therefore extremely important
What is the disease of degeneration of the spine
The disease of degeneration of the spine (Spondylosis) is a state in which the structure of the spine comes to have a change and a state of degeneration, with the result that symptoms of pain and of feeling unwell arise, particularly at the area of the intervertebral disc and the facet joint (Facet joint), which is the joint situated at the back of the spine, having the duty of bearing the weight and helping in movement. When the spine comes to a state of degeneration, it is considered a natural process arising with age. Besides the factor of age, degeneration of the spine can also arise from other factors. When there are symptoms, a doctor should be consulted quickly about the method of treating degeneration of the spine. Do not leave it for long, because that will make the symptoms even worse
The causes that make the spine degenerate
The problem of degeneration of the spine is a symptom that gives rise to pain, until sometimes it may have an effect on living daily life. Understanding the causes that make the spine degenerate can be used very well as an approach to prevention. The causes that make the spine degenerate can arise from 2 main factors, as follows
An abnormal structure of the bone
Some people may have an abnormality of the structure of the spine from birth, making the bone less strong than normal, with the result that a state of degeneration can arise more easily and faster than in people in general, even while still young in age. Besides this, in a case where a person in the family has the problem of degeneration of the spine, this is another cause that increases the chance of the risk of the disease of degeneration of the spine arising as well
Using the spine heavily
Using the spine heavily and continuously for a long time can hasten the process of degeneration. The more it is used continuously, the more the intervertebral disc comes to have accumulated injury. When this arises repeatedly, it leads to a state of degeneration that is faster
- Lifting heavy things regularly
- Sitting and working in the same posture for a long time
- Occupations that require bending down and looking up often, such as construction work, agriculture, or a porter
- Playing sports that have severe impact, such as rugby or American football
The symptoms of degeneration of the spine
The disease of degeneration of the spine has varied symptoms, depending on the position and the severity of the state of degeneration. When you have surveyed yourself and found that you have these various symptoms, you should quickly find a method of treating degeneration of the spine so that the symptoms do not become heavier
- Chronic back pain, particularly when standing or walking for a long time
- Having symptoms of pain in the shoulder blade
- Pain radiating down the leg or the arm, when there is pressure on a nerve
- Having symptoms of numbness along the arm or the leg
- Weakness of the muscles of the arm or the leg
- Moving the spine in a limited way, making bending down, looking up, or turning the body difficult
- If it is degeneration of the spine at the part of the neck, there will be symptoms of pain in the neck and the base of the neck
- When there is movement or bearing of weight, the symptoms of pain usually become worse
- In a case where the symptoms are severe, there may be a problem in controlling excretion
The approach of the method of treating degeneration of the spine
The method of treating degeneration of the spine has several methods, depending on the severity of the symptoms. For those who have slight symptoms, the physician usually recommends changing behaviour, such as reducing weight, avoiding lifting heavy things, and adjusting the postures of sitting and standing so that they are correct, together with the use of pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medicine only in a case where it is necessary. But if the symptoms do not improve, the doctor will have a method of treating degeneration of the spine. Doing physiotherapy and exercising the muscles of the core of the trunk will help strengthen and reduce the symptoms of pain. In a case where the symptoms become severe, the physician may consider injecting steroid medicine into the area of the spine in order to reduce the inflammation, and if there is no response to the methods of treating degeneration of the spine that have been recommended, surgery may be the last choice for patients who have severe symptoms or a complication of the nervous system
The programme of the method of treating degeneration of the spine at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic
PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic is a clinic specialising in medical practice, in the branch of rehabilitation medicine, which emphasises caring for and treating symptoms of pain at every stage. And because the symptoms of pain and the symptoms of tightness have one part of their cause in the muscles and the tendons around the joints of the spine, which come to have an abnormality as well, the forms of treatment, namely Western needling, the use of electromagnetic waves to stimulate the nerves directly, and the use of high-power laser, are methods of high effectiveness that can reduce the symptoms of pain effectively, and help the quality of life of the patient improve, without having to depend on medicine or on surgery at the early stage. For anyone who usually has symptoms of pain at the base of the neck, pain in the shoulder blade, and headache, or who sometimes may have symptoms of pain radiating down the leg and the arm as well, they can come in to see the physician in order to receive an assessment of the symptoms, in order to find the approach in treatment that is correct and suits the symptoms
FAQ
A gathering of the questions that can be met often about the symptoms of degeneration of the spine
If the disease of degeneration of the spine is not treated, what are the risks in the long term
When the physician has diagnosed that you have the symptoms of the disease of degeneration of the spine, but instead you leave it without having treatment, symptoms of back pain radiating down the leg, neck pain, arm pain, and symptoms of weakness can arise. Besides this, it can also make the spine curved, hunched, and tilted
Does the method of treating degeneration of the spine have a chance of curing it completely or not
Although degeneration of the spine cannot go back to being like a normal bone, it can be cared for and further degeneration can be prevented, as well as behaviour being adjusted, the strength of the muscles of the core being increased, and the symptoms of pain from the muscles, the tendons, and the nerves around it being put right. Therefore the patient can live together with the state of degeneration of the spine, with the least symptoms of pain, if they follow the method of treating degeneration of the spine in the correct approach
When the spine degenerates, what is good to eat
When the problem of degeneration of the bone arises, food that has an amount of calcium and phosphorus should be chosen to be eaten, because these nutrients have a part in helping strengthen the bones and the teeth and slow their degeneration effectively