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Kyphosis of the lumbar – This is a pathological curvature of the spine posteriorly in the region of the five largest vertebrae. Most often, the pathological process involves the two upper vertebrae of the lumbar spine and the two lower vertebrae of the thoracic spine.
Normally, by 9-12 months, the child’s lumbar flexes backward, which makes it possible for him to stand and move on two legs. This natural deflection is called lumbar lordosis, and kyphosis is not typical for this part of the spine. But it can be formed under the influence of some pathological factors.
Causes of kyphosis of the lumbar
The causes of kyphosis of the lumbar can be both congenital and acquired:
Anomalies in the development of the skeleton: wedge-shaped vertebrae, their underdevelopment, accessory vertebrae, pathologies of their formation during the formation of the spine.
Congenital or acquired difference in the length of the lower limbs.
Rickets transferred in childhood.
Transferred poliomyelitis, pleurisy.
Cerebral palsy.
Senile paralysis.
Tick-borne encephalitis and tuberculosis.
Spinal injuries, compression fractures.
Spinal tumors.
Wrong posture.
Genotypic kyphosis, which is inherited.
Mobile kyphosis, which occurs due to weak back muscles. Often they lose their strength when leading a sedentary lifestyle.
The natural aging of the body and the degenerative-dystrophic changes that develop for this reason can lead to a curvature of the spine in the lumbar region.
Total kyphosis in adulthood develops against the background of ankylosing spondylitis.
Leukemia can cause the formation of kyphosis of the lumbar.
Surgical interventions on the spinal column.
Osteochondrosis.
Working conditions associated with regular weight lifting.
Hernias of the spine. The risk of developing kyphosis with multiple large hernias increases.
The presence of highly developed lumbar muscles can lead to kyphosis of the lumbar region, which is often observed in young people involved in heavy sports.
Scheuermann-Mau disease.
Symptoms of kyphosis of the lumbar
Symptoms of kyphosis of the lumbar:
Pain in the lumbar region. Pain can radiate to the buttocks, to the legs, going along the sciatic nerve.
As the disease progresses, when the nerve roots are clamped, the patient will experience numbness of the extremities, loss of skin sensitivity, cold feet and hands, not associated with low temperatures.
Jumps in blood pressure are possible.
Movements after a night’s rest are constrained, mobility in the lumbar spine is limited and provokes pain.
Perhaps the absence of the knee and tendon reflexes with segmental loss of the reflex of the muscles of the posterior-outer surface of the lower leg.
The tone of the gluteal muscles suffers, weakening as the disease progresses.
Men will experience difficulties in the sexual sphere, potency disorders often develop, which is due to circulatory failures.
Excessive pressure on the internal organs located in the small pelvis will provoke fecal incontinence, increased urge to urinate.
Intercostal neuralgia is characteristic of lumbar kyphosis.
Perhaps the formation of a secondary hump above the lower back.
In addition, the appearance of the patient changes. The upper part of the body leans forward, the shoulders are lowered, brought forward. As the disease progresses, the whole body begins to suffer: the volume of the chest decreases, problems with the respiratory and cardiovascular systems appear, and oxygen deficiency increases.
Treatment of kyphosis of the lumbar spine
An orthopedic doctor is engaged in the identification and treatment of kyphosis of the lumbar spine. Perhaps, both conservative and surgical elimination of the problem. Conservative methods include performing physiotherapy exercises, wearing corsets and manual therapy.
If a person experiences severe pain, then non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as analgesics, are used to eliminate them.
Manual therapy involves warming up the patient’s back. Treatment should only be carried out by an experienced specialist with an appropriate diploma.
An integrated approach to treatment is achieved through a combination of physical exercises with massage, breathing exercises and physiotherapeutic methods of influence. Useful reflexology and mud therapy. Well helps to relieve the load from the spinal column swimming.
It is important that a place for a person with kyphosis to rest at night is properly organized. The mattress should be hard, have an orthopedic base. On the recommendation of an orthopedist, a rigid wedge-shaped chest support can be used.
As for orthopedic corsets, they should be worn no more than 4 hours a day. Wearing a corset for too long can lead to weakening of the back muscles, which will negatively affect the condition of the spine and the disease will progress. Corset selection is carried out on an individual basis.
In some cases, it is not possible to do without the help of a surgeon. Indications for spinal surgery are severe pain, the presence of neurological disorders. It is also necessary to get rid of the problem if it carries a serious cosmetic defect. In addition to eliminating existing deformities and correcting a pathological bend, sometimes it is necessary to get rid of intervertebral hernias, which helps prevent the progression of the disease. Sometimes with the help of a single operation it is not possible to completely get rid of the problem, therefore, repeated interventions are required.