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Diseases of the backbone
Cervical backbone
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Headaches are perhaps the most frequently experienced ailments – they are commonly referred to as cervical migraines. They usually radiate from a head to a forehead as if they formed a helmet. The pain is often accompanied by the so called paresthesia (formication, acanthesthesia). They should not be mistaken for the occiput nerve neuralgia, which radiates from the back of head to the forehead giving the similar sensations. It originates as a result of a bilateral irritation of the back branch of the cervical nerve.
Dizziness, deafness in the internal ear and noise in ears (twitter or buzzing sensation, spinning dizziness or long lasting buzzing and screeching noises.) Sudden dizziness with nausea or vomits or hearing disorders incoordination and nystagmus. This illness which is also refereed to as a Meniere's triad disappears as quickly as it occurs. The exciting cause is unclear, considered should not only be the poor blood supply but also the dysfunctions of the cervical spinal column – and when necessary – make an effort to start therapy.
Facial neuralgia – is caused by the dysfunctions within the cervical spinal column.
Decreased visual acuity – occasionally blurred vision, trembling of the eyeball (nystagmus), “flickering sensation”, scintillating scotoma, and painful compression on the eyeballs – the syndrome of the cervical spinal column is to be blamed.
Dysphagia is also caused by the nerve dysfunctions. Front bone-like swelling on the vertebrae may narrow or dislocate the esophagus.
Increased blood pressure – it can not be assumed that the cervical spinal column is responsible for the hypertension. These ailments may only be regarded as additional stressful factor, which causes higher blood pressure.
Heart problems – The dysfunctions in the cervical and thoracic parts of the spinal column may adversely affect the heart functions. By pressing the special areas on the neck, in particular in the carotid bifurcation, one can cause heart dysfunctions – including the additional cardiac contractions. With the symptoms of the angina pectoris first it has to be established if it is caused by heart or the spinal column.
Allergy - The cervical spiral column syndrome is not the true causes of allergy, since in case of allergy it is about the inborn oversensitivity to the contact with the particular allergy-inducing substance. (allergen)
Why do we discuss this subject while talking about the cervical spinal column syndrome? This phenomenon may also originate in the interior ependyma for example in the mucous membrane or in the spinal cord and nerve’s aureole. If this swelling appears, the pain receipting nerves would be compressed. The pain is the final result of the highly complicated allergic process of which the typical allergic symptoms are pains of the back and joints.
The thoracic backbone syndrome or the thoracic syndrome.
In the thoracic segment of the vertebral column the intern vertebral discs seem to be much flatter than in the cervical and lumbar sections of the backbone. Their width and height grows downwards. From the bodies of the thoracic vertebrae on both sides spread ribs which are flexibly connected with the backbone by the vertebral- intercostal joints.
This is necessary for the chest to increase and decrease in the respiration process. The connection of the vertebral-rib joints with the lower parts of the intervertebral openings in the thoracic section of the backbone is created in such a way that the comparatively big nerve openings do almost no harm as in case of the cervical segment. The thoracic section discs however are constantly subject to huge loads. Due to this fact in its middle part often appear degenerative changes of the discs. Also very unpleasant are the radiating pains along the intercostal nerves arising as a result of the dysfunctions to the structure of thoracic segment of the vertebral column or the inflammatory processes of the nerves bundles.
The lumbar bacbone syndrome or the lumbar syndrome.
The lumbar backbone syndrome is also referred to as lumbago, ischias or the low back pain. Acute lumbago is a sudden onset of the painful illness in the lower part of the backbone. It involves the inability to move, unanatomical body position, muscle tension and very strong pain which occur in almost every movement or an attempt to change position.
Lumbago is pain radiating from the lower part of back to leg, which appears due to the ischiadic nerve dysfunction. The most common reason for these illnesses is attributed to the damaged or degenerated joints, but also may be caused by common cold, inflammations of various types, and tumors of the vertebral canal and the pelvis organs, infectious diseases etc. Lumbago is often accompanied by the disesthesia in a leg, which is characteristic – strips on the outside part of a leg downward.
Back pains may result from damages done to the nerves, muscles, bones, joints or internal organs. They originate as a result of irritating the pain- sensitive fibers near the nerve roots or the nerves itself. Sometimes the ill organs themselves are the reason – liver, kidney, bladder, prostate and many others. The pain may originate in a muscle or the backbone.
The pain sensitive nerves are also located in the vertebral column. The disc itself has no nerves or blood vessels so it does not hurt. The degenerative changes cause the deregulation of the whole system of the perfectly fit, movable elements. The overload of the backbone ligaments and joints increases the back muscle tension, which try to counteract the excessive movability of the whole construction.
The process always develops according to the typical stages:
at first there are strong pains, then the nerve fibres become damaged to such an extend that the disesthesia appears, and in the end even paresis.
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Ischias (lower back pains) – Pain caused by the irritation of the ischiadic nerve which runs from the lowest parts of the backbone and innervates sensorimotoricly vast parts of legs. The ischiadic nerve is the biggest nerve in a human organism; it starts from the lumbar plexus, a substantial bundle of nerves originating from the several intervertebral openings between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebral disc and 1st and 2nd sacral vertebral disc. This nerve leaves the pelvis from the back side (for each leg individually), runs between buttock’s muscles and then runs downward on the back side of a thigh, passing the popliteal fossa, where it is divided into several parts, unnerving calf and foot.
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In case of the ischiadic syndrome along the main core of the ischiadic nerve and its bundles there are typically located painful areas –particularly on the buttocks, lower leg and foot. Damage of some of the discs of the vertebral column is one of the main reasons of ischias. The ischias symptoms may also occur during pregnancy especially during its second half.
Intervertebral discs diseases and iliospinal syndrome.
Iliospinal syndromeoriginates as a result of a dysfunction, irritation or blocking of joints between sacral bone and pelvis (pelvis bone). The dysfunctions of the iliospinal joints may be attributed to the degenerating illnesses of the disco. Most frequently in a lying or sitting position, on both sides of the sacra bone there appears atypically radiating pain.
Currently, in connection with the growing problem of the prolapsing discs, the role of the iliospinal syndrome receded into a background. However, the manual therapy specialist knows this sensitive sphere and knows that by using the special methods sometimes it is possible to remove the ailment instantly.
Cauda equina syndrome.
The bundle of nerves, originating from the lower segments of lumbar, sacral and coccygeal bacbone is called cauda equina.
The spinal cord runs inside the vertebral canal made up of the vertebral openings of the consecutive vertebrae and becomes connected at the level of 12th thoracic disc and 2nd lumbar disc at which point it forms a cone from which nervous fibers intertwine to form a so called “cauda equina”. The dysfunctions in this area caused by the central serious falling out of discs cause an acute pain, dysesthesia, and in more serious cases even paralysis of the leg’s muscles, bladder and large intestine. The pain is bilateral.
Source: "Pains and illnesses of the backbone", by Bernard A. Bäker, Peter Re
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