A vertebral neurologist is a medical specialist who studies destructive pathologies that affect the musculoskeletal system and treat them. The specialization of a vertebral neurologist is diseases of tissues, nerve roots and nerve trunks of the spine.
A distinctive feature of this medical specialty from the neuropathological one is an extremely conservative approach in the treatment of various diseases and pathologies of the spine, provoked by a violation of the state and functioning of nerve endings.
What diseases does this doctor deal with?
The specialization of the vertebroneurologist mainly includes those diseases of the spine and the musculoskeletal system that have arisen due to damage to the nerve endings. These include the following:
- curvature of the spine;
- pinched nerves;
- protrusion;
- kyphosis;
- encephalopathy;
- lumbago;
- ishalgia;
- spondylolisthesis.
The vertebroneurologist also deals with patients who experience frequent painful sensations in the spine after suffering herbs, surgical interventions, due to constant physical exertion. The specialist not only removes pain, but also finds the cause of its appearance, which means that the risks that the disease will return after therapy are extremely small.
What signs indicate the development of pathologies?
Most diseases of the spine, which were provoked by a violation of the condition and functioning of the nerve roots, are manifested by pain of a different nature and intensity.
In addition to the pain syndrome, the following symptoms appear, in the presence of which it is necessary to consult a vertebroneurologist:
- frequent and prolonged headache;
- pains of a pulling, dull nature in the chest;
- unpleasant, painful sensations in the cervical, lumbar spine;
- numbness of the upper or lower extremities;
- a feeling of "creeping" on the legs or arms;
- after a long stay in one position in the back, along the spine, there is a feeling of stiffness.
If these signs are found, it is necessary to visit a doctor as early as possible, until the pathology has worsened. With early detection, it is possible to get rid of the disease with conservative methods, without performing surgical intervention.
Diagnostic and therapeutic measures
At the reception, the vertebroneurologist interviews the patient regarding complaints, clinical symptoms, makes an anamnesis. After a physiological examination, the specialist directs the patient to pass a number of laboratory tests and undergo instrumental examinations. Diagnostics includes the following types of research:
- general and detailed blood count;
- computed tomography (performed mainly in cases where there is a suspicion of an oncological neoplasm compressing the nerve);
- Back ultrasound;
- Magnetic resonance imaging;
- X-ray of the bone structures of the back;
- myelography.
What types of instrumental diagnostics to use to determine the causes of unpleasant symptoms, the doctor decides after examining the patient.
Treatment is selected individually. A vertebroneurologist is a medical specialist who does not use surgical intervention in the treatment of diseases of his profile. Medicines are only prescribed if there is severe, prolonged pain in the back, which has an extremely negative effect on the patient's quality of life.
The vertebroneurologist uses the following techniques in his therapy:
- massages;
- exercise therapy exercises;
- method of stretching the spinal column;
- acupuncture;
- physiotherapeutic procedures - electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, iontophoresis, etc.;
- pharmacopuncture.
Of the medications, the doctor prescribes the intake of vitamin complexes to maintain the immune system, sometimes homeopathic remedies are prescribed. In the case when a cancerous tumor has become the cause of the compression of the nerve, the vertebral neurologist refers the patient to a consultation with an oncologist.
Back pain, acute or aching, is an alarming sign, with which you should immediately contact a narrowly focused specialist. If the symptoms of the disease are ignored, this will lead to an aggravation of the situation, the appearance of serious complications, and you cannot do without surgery.
Doctor vertebrologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the spine. The consequences of even the most seemingly harmless diseases can be very serious and lead to loss of working capacity. Therefore, it is necessary to contact a vertebrologist if any complaints appear in the field of his specialization.
What does a vertebrologist do
Vertebrology examines the human body as a whole. Vertebrologist- a relatively new specialization, which has become widespread in clinics and is in high demand. The specialist deals not only with the problems of the spine. Among those what heals doctor, all adjacent tissues and systems, nervous system. An integrated approach is used to effectively help patients, combining knowledge in the fields of orthopedics, neurosurgery and neurology.
Among the main tasks:
- Determination of the relationship between pathologies of the spine and the state of internal organs.
- Determination of the source of the problem and the ensuing consequences.
- Effective treatment of diseases and their prevention.
If the pathology is detected at an early stage of development, its elimination will be much faster and easier, without complications. In the arsenal of a specialist there are advanced developments, effective methods of diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases.
Sphere of work of a vertebrologist
The specialist deals with the spine, joints, nerves and blood vessels in the back. Help can be provided for:
When to see a vertebrologist
The reason for contacting a specialist may be:
How is the appointment
At the first visit to the doctor:
- Conduct a survey, learn about the symptoms that disturb the patient.
- Carry out an examination, feel the neck and back.
- Assess sensitivity, muscle tone.
- He will prescribe an additional examination - X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
- Will hold consultation according to the information received.
On admission the vertebrologist will conduct diagnostic tests, ask you to tilt, turn the torso. Based on the indicators he saw, he can draw conclusions about possible pathologies and determine the algorithm for further actions. Whether additional research methods and analyzes are needed, which ones, is determined individually.
Treatment is usually complex. In most cases, it dispenses with injections, medications, and surgeries. Hirudotherapy, reflexology, physiotherapy can be used. The specialist uses remedial gymnastics. With the right choice of the course, relief comes already in the first session. Muscle tension decreases, pain goes away, the effect of other applied techniques is fixed.
Where to visit a vertebrologist
Attend a qualified professional appointment in Moscow proposes clinic Central Design Bureau of the Russian Academy of Sciences. High-tech equipment is used in the work, the best doctors of the highest category are accepted. Learn more about prices, timetables a specialist can be records by phone or through the website. The administrator will help you choose a convenient time for your visit and answer all your questions. Also on the site you can see reviews patients. Make an appointment necessary in case of any complaints related to the back and spine. You can call a specialist at home.
A vertebroneurologist is called a doctor who treats destructive processes of the spine, nearby tissues, nerve trunks, roots and endings passing through the vertebral trunk.
A new narrow direction in medicine studies the influence of pathologies of the ridge on the state of the whole organism, namely: on the joints, the brain and the nervous system as a whole. The competence of neuropathologists includes a very extensive list of diseases associated with pathological changes in the conduction of the nerve trunks and fibers of the spine, brain and peripheral parts of the nervous system. In this regard, back problems have always been solved by neuropathologists.
The vertebral neurologist deals not only with the pathology of the nervous system, covering the central trunk, but also with problems of the osteoarticular nature, which initially provoke the development of nerve entrapment. These two areas go hand in hand in modern medicine, so they are very often combined into one whole, called vertebral neurology.
Symptoms of diseases treated by a doctor
Who is a vertebral neurologist and that he treats all parts of the ridge, taking into account the pathology of neurological origin, is already clear. But patients cannot independently determine the warning signs in which they should contact this specialist. Timely started treatment is a very important aspect in practical vertebral neurology. and, therefore, each person should be extremely careful about the manifestation of spinal symptoms. The most frequent subjective complaints with pathological changes in the spine:
- prolonged headaches with normal blood pressure;
- pulling and aching pains in the neck;
- soreness in the chest area;
- a feeling of crawling on any part of the body;
- paresthesia (numbness) of the fingers of the extremities;
- violation of posture and skewed silhouette;
- soreness in the lumbar back;
- back stiffness after being in a repetitive position for a long time.
If such symptoms appear, you need to visit a doctor. When you first contact a medical institution about the manifestation of this symptomatology, you need to consult a therapist for disturbing pain. The specialist will prescribe certain examinations to exclude pathologies of internal organs, which can manifest themselves identically to problems with the spine. If no internal etiological factors are found, the therapist gives a referral to a vertebro-neurologist.
Common diseases in the practice of a specialist
A vertebral neurologist is a highly qualified doctor who diagnoses and treats destructive changes in the spine, mainly through a variety of manual therapy. The doctor can help stop the progression of the process in the following diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- intervertebral hernia;
- osteochondrosis;
- protrusion of the vertebrae;
- rachiocampsis;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- flat feet;
- entrapment of the sciatic nerve;
- lumbago in the lumbar spine is also within the competence of the vertebroneurologist.
Elimination of destructive manifestations in the osteoarticular system helps to restore the transmission of nerve impulses in the trunks and fibers of the central nervous system.
With back pain, you cannot self-medicate, rely on homemade ointments, dubious procedures from the field of alternative medicine. The best option is to visit a vertebrologist. Who is this and what is the doctor treating? The specialist is engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the spine, paravertebral zone, parts of the nervous system, located nearby arteries and veins.
Many people face problems in the area of the support pillar throughout their lives, especially after 40-50 years. Information about the work of a narrow specialist can help make the right decision in case of diseases of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and other elements of the spine.
Vertebrology: what kind of science
The direction of medicine, the main task of which is the identification, treatment, prevention of pathologies of the support column and the paravertebral zone, appeared in the second half of the 20th century. Vertebrology combines advanced technologies in the diagnosis and complex treatment of diseases of the spine.
The competence of a vertebrologist includes solving the problems of a patient who has complained about lesions of the sections of the musculoskeletal system, but this area of medicine pays the main attention to the support column, nearby tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. Doctors use modern technologies: ultrasound, CT, with radioactive isotopes, electromyography. With the defeat of the spine, it is imperative to appoint in several projections.
Vertebrology tasks:
- to identify the relationship between damage to the elements of the spine and neurological symptoms;
- choose the best treatment methods to solve the problem in a conservative way;
- to offer the patient measures for the prevention of diseases of a vertebrogenic nature.
What the specialist treats
What kind of doctor is a vertebrologist? The doctor specializes in the treatment of pathologies of the spine, conducts therapy for damage to joints, back muscles, sciatic nerve, vertebral artery. Important direction- identification, elimination of cerebral disorders against the background of damage to the intervertebral joints, pinching of the spinal cord and nerve roots.
The vertebrologist has a higher medical education, receives a baggage of knowledge not only in the field of orthopedics, but also traumatology, neurology, restorative medicine, neurosurgery. It is no coincidence that the vertebrologist successfully treats both vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Consultation with a vertebrologist is required when negative signs appear:
- decreased mobility in the joints of the spine;
- appearance, regardless of the nature and frequency of negative symptoms;
- sudden surges in pressure, causing dizziness, increased heart rate;
- an unaesthetic bulge appeared at the bottom of the neck or a large wen grew -;
- weakness in the arms and legs, decreased sensitivity of the skin in these areas;
- worried about soreness against the background of muscle spasm in the lumbar region or cervical zone (often), thoracic region (less often);
- discomfort in the region of the heart against the background of a good cardiogram;
- a disruption of the pelvic organs joins the pain syndrome: urinary and / or fecal incontinence, acute urinary retention;
- gait disorder appears, muscles weaken;
- for prophylactic purposes, if the patient has previously suffered spinal injuries, operations on the support column, bruises of the paravertebral zone;
- the pain radiates to other organs, limbs, painful ones occur, extending to the phalanges of the toes.
Diseases that a vertebrologist treats:
- , arthralgia;
- and bones;
The vertebrologist helps patients with the following problems:
- congenital defects in the structure of the support column;
- post-traumatic syndrome;
- deforming changes in the spine;
- tumor process in the spine, arteries, paravertebral zone;
- pathologies of a degenerative-dystrophic nature;
- narrowing of the bone tube that contains the spinal cord;
- there was a weakness in the muscles of the back, limbs, combined with pain in the spine;
- various types of vertebral fractures (complicated / uncomplicated);
- violation of the structure, functions of bone and cartilage tissue, damage to the ligamentous apparatus of the supporting column.
Diagnostic methods in vertebrology
Important points:
- some patients do not understand why the doctor meticulously asks about things that are not directly related to the condition of the spine. The desire to find out as much information as possible is a sign of the doctor's interest in the correct diagnosis, a scrupulous approach to the choice of a treatment method;
- incomplete information does not allow us to understand the causes of some pathologies. For example, excessive consumption of strong coffee and smoking negatively affect cartilage and bone tissue, osteoporosis develops with hormonal disruptions, active leaching of calcium. can be a sign of destruction of the vertebrae, a tumor process in the zone of chronic trauma. Sometimes acute discomfort in bone tissue occurs against the background of the development of metastases in cancer of the mammary glands, prostate gland, and other organs.
On a note! At the first stage, the specialist collects data about the patient's lifestyle: it is important to know the characteristics of the diet, the presence of bad habits, information about the transferred pathologies, chronic diseases of various kinds. The patient must answer all questions related to health.
After talking with the patient, the doctor performs other actions:
- examination, palpation of the back and the problem area;
- performs functional tests: tilts, turns of the body and head;
- prescribes x-rays and CT;
- if an infectious disease is suspected, a blood test for C-reactive protein, leukocyte count, ESR is needed;
- if metastases, tumors, osteoporosis are suspected, skeletal scintigraphy gives a good result;
- in addition, you may need an ultrasound of the pelvic organs and abdominal cavity, electromyography.
View a selection of spine treatments for children and learn about the likely consequences of an injury.
Indications and contraindications for ozokeritotherapy for diseases of the back and spinal column are described on the page.
Go to the address and read about the symptoms and features of therapy for radiculopathy of the lumbosacral spine.
Effective treatments
The vertebrologist uses conservative therapy, the neurosurgeon performs spinal surgery. With the timely diagnosis of orthopedic pathologies, clarification of the cause of pain of a vertebrogenic nature, treatment gives a positive result.
In case of a chronic form of the disease or a late visit to a doctor, the vertebrologist prescribes a set of measures to prevent relapses and reduce the risk of surgery. If you cannot do without surgical treatment, then the patient is sent to a hospital for consultation with a neurosurgeon.
If back problems are detected in newborns, preschoolers and adolescents, then parents with a young patient visit a pediatric vertebrologist. The earlier a congenital anomaly of the spine is detected or, the consequences of trauma, rickets, the easier it is to stop the progression of the pathology. The specialist conducts diagnostics, develops a treatment plan, taking into account the characteristics of the child's body.
To eliminate negative symptoms in diseases of the spine, nearby nerves, blood vessels, back muscles, joints, you will need a set of measures:
- prescribing drugs. In the treatment of myositis of the cervical and lumbar muscles, lumbago, several groups of medicines are often used. Effective means: non-narcotic and narcotic, gels and, medicinal. A doctor's advice is needed when purchasing a home physiotherapy apparatus;
- the appointment of orthoses, in particular, the selection of the optimal model for reliable fixation of the cervical zone;
- advice on proper nutrition, information about the dangers of certain foods for cartilage and bone tissue, a proposal to adjust the weight - if necessary;
- recommendations for the equipment of a berth:, small flat;
- explanation of the harm to joints and the spine of the following habits: smoking, alcohol, excessive consumption of strong coffee. The task of the doctor is to warn the patient about the consequences of negative habits, possible complications;
- tips for maintaining the health of the spine. In some cases, your doctor will recommend changing your occupation to reduce the stress on the support post. An important point is the explanation of the benefits of physical activity, the selection of a complex of exercise therapy and general strengthening exercises. The patient should be aware that swimming has a positive effect on the health of the spine;
- advice on the prevention of neurological disorders and cerebral complications against the background of pathologies of the spine. It is important to prevent cerebral hypoxia when the vertebral artery is compressed, to prevent paresis and paralysis of the extremities in the background,. The patient should know that headaches, drops in blood pressure, nausea for no apparent reason, numbness of the extremities are often associated with damage to the vertebral structures.
The vertebrologist has knowledge of the treatment of orthopedic, neurological pathologies, corrects disorders associated with pinched nerves and blood vessels. The main area of activity is diseases of the spine, but a narrow specialist often treats pathologies of the paravertebral zone no less professionally than a neurologist, traumatologist, orthopedist. The more carefully the doctor asks the patient about the state of health, the more complete the pathology picture is for diagnosis and treatment.
Learn more about what vertebrology is and what a specialist doctor treats from the following video:
Diseases of the spine are one of the most common health problems that people of all ages and various professions face nowadays.
In no case do not self-medicate, as in this case it is necessary.
But what kind of specialist treats back diseases?
Not so long ago, the pathologies of the spine were dealt with exclusively by neuropathologists, who, after a proper examination, prescribed various drugs to relieve inflammation and severe pain. However, today such diseases are treated by a vertebrologist.
Who is a vertebrologist?
A vertebrologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats various problems with musculoskeletal system.
Previously, neuropathologists also dealt with similar problems, but more recently a new direction in medicine has appeared, studying the effect of the spine on the entire body.
So what exactly is a vertebrologist examines and prescribes treatment with back ailments.
What diseases does the vertebrologist deal with?
The vertebrologist deals with the following diseases:
- Spondylolisthesis;
- Ishalgia;
- Whiplash injury;
- Spinal stenosis;
- Aneurysmal bone cyst;
- Discomfort in the back, including during pregnancy;
- Other diseases of the spine.
Organs with which the vertebrologist works
It should be noted that the vertebrologist works not only with the spine.
He also deals with the joints, surrounding tissues and the nervous system.
That is why this specialist also treats vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Quite often, the first symptoms of a disease of one or more parts of the spine are heart, head, stomach pains, problems with the kidneys and even the pancreas.
When such a situation arises, it is very difficult for a specialist to make a correct diagnosis without a proper examination, since the problem that has arisen may not be in his competence.
Symptoms that you can refer to this specialist
If the patient is at least sometimes worried about back pain, then, most likely, he will be interested in the question: at what point should you contact a specialist?
With frequent headaches, pain and discomfort in the thoracic, lumbar and cervical spine, you should immediately visit a vertebrologist.
In addition, there are a number of other symptoms that may require the help of this specialist. Among them are:
- Fatigue and constant feeling of weakness;
- Pain in the heart (with normal ECG results);
- Rachiocampsis;
- Tingling sensations and weakness in the legs or arms;
- Frequent back pain, their increase;
- Weakness in the legs or arms;
- Irradiation of pain in the spine to other parts of the body;
- Significant decrease in the motor activity of the spine;
- A sharp rise and fall in blood pressure, which leads to headache, dizziness and increased heart rate.
Diagnostic methods used by the doctor
The development of modern diagnostic methods is of great importance for vertebrology.
If earlier the doctor could afford to send the patient only for X-ray ("photograph" of the bone tissue of the spine), today such specialists are armed with advanced diagnostic methods, such as: magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound.
Only thanks to such studies it is possible to obtain an image of all types of tissues layer by layer (cartilaginous, bone and soft tissues), which will allow specialists to correctly establish the cause of the pain syndrome and dysfunctions of one or another nerve.
It is worth noting that the new techniques are associated with a very small radiation dose on the patient, and with ultrasound it is absent altogether. By the way, back ultrasound has been used over the past few years, but the benefits of it have already been appreciated.
Survey
Nowadays, every doctor is helped by a whole arsenal of modern equipment, thanks to which doctors can quickly and correctly determine the cause of the disease.
The vertebrologist uses methods such as:
- Computed tomography (used if a tumor is suspected);
- X-ray of the spine (prescribed if necessary to see the condition of the bones);
- Magnetic resonance imaging (this method is the most popular, since the resulting image shows discs, bone structures and soft tissues);
- Ultrasound examination.
Of course, in each individual case, there is no need to do all the research at once. The specialist will independently choose what can give him more information.
Treatment methods
Usually, vertebrologists prescribe treatment without the use of injections and medications. Surgical intervention is considered only in the most "extreme cases", trying to avoid it in every possible way.
Massage
In order to solve the patient's problems, as a rule, manual therapy and special therapeutic massage are prescribed.
Osteopathic treatment
Already at the first session, it helps to improve blood supply and reduce the tension of the diseased organ, due to which the painful sensations disappear.
Spinal traction
Another method that gives excellent results for osteochondrosis is spinal traction. Just before such a procedure, you should definitely ask the doctor what experience he has in carrying out this treatment, since, without calculating the effort, he can greatly harm you.
Reflexology
This is an auxiliary therapy method, which is recognized by modern medicine. It gives very good results, although it is based on bioenergy.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is often used, since it has a fairly wide range of indications.
Hirudotherapy
It is used not to treat a diseased organ, but to improve the health of the human body as a whole. The leeches will help cleanse the blood vessels, normalize the flow of lymph and blood, thereby eliminating stagnation in the tissues and supplying oxygen.
Pressure and strong injections on specific points of the body
Since ancient times, doctors have known therapies that quickly relieve pain and can even heal the disease. Today, specialists successfully use skills that have been accumulated over the centuries.
Drug therapy and remedial gymnastics
In exceptional cases, drug therapy is prescribed, and such a course is completed with therapeutic exercises, which is mandatory to consolidate the effect obtained and reduce the risk of recurrence in the future.
If the child has problems with the spine
Since back diseases can appear at absolutely any age, a pediatric vertebrologist works separately.
Even newborn babies can be patients of such a specialist.
He monitors any changes in the structures of the spine (intervertebral discs, bone tissue of the vertebrae, ligaments, muscles, joints, spinal cord).
Previously, if a child had back problems, he was taken to a pediatrician, who then referred the little patient to a surgeon and neurologist. In difficult cases, the child had to be treated simultaneously by an orthopedist, neurosurgeon and neuropathologist.
Now it is much more convenient to contact one specialist, who will definitely prescribe a comprehensive treatment.
The pediatric vertebrologist is most often consulted with kyphosis and scoliosis. More complex, but decisive problems are generic or congenital deformities of the spine and benign / malignant tumors of the vertebrae.
In the event that you need a consultation with a vertebrologist, then such a specialist must be chosen very carefully.
This task is rather difficult, since in this case the patient will be treated not by injections or pills, but by the hands of the chosen doctor.
Popular medical centers, as a rule, offer the services of an initial free consultation, during which the patient can get acquainted with a specialist, learn in detail about his experience, terms and methods of the proposed treatment.
You can start treatment with a vertebrologist only if you do not feel discomfort when communicating with him and completely trust him.
Quite often, when back pain occurs, people try to solve this problem on their own with the help of various ointments, heating pads, or through familiar massage therapists who do not always have sufficient knowledge in order to prescribe an effective treatment course.
It is for this reason that you should definitely go through a consultation with a vertebrologist. He will be able to select for the patient individual therapeutic exercises and a treatment regimen that can significantly alleviate the patient's condition and consolidate the resulting effect for a long period of time.
Undoubtedly, any diseases of the back significantly "spoil" the quality of a person's life - functional activity decreases, severe pains torment. However, today's medicine successfully treats and cures various pathologies of the spinal column. And qualified vertebrologists will help you in such a difficult matter. Be healthy!
Loading...
