Many people are wondering about the spondylolysis, wanting to know exactly what it is and how it can cause this problem that can cause so many problems and episodes of pain and discomfort. So that you can solve any doubts you may have about it, we have prepared this article in which we are going to reveal everything you need to know about this health problem..
Index
what is the spondylolysis
The spondylolysis is a fracture that occurs in the form of a break or crack in a vertebra, that is to say, of a spinal bone. May be due to repetitive use stress or injuries that may occur to the spine. Sometimes this problem can occur from birth, so they can appear in children.
The spondylolysis is a common cause of lower back pain in children, adolescents and young adults; and although it may seem a complicated subject, Keep in mind that it can heal over time., although for this it will be necessary to resort to a treatment that combines rest with physiotherapy. Nevertheless, although sometimes it is necessary to go through surgery, in the vast majority of cases no need to operate.
How does the spondylolysis
The spinal column is made up of a total of 33 vertebrae, which are small bones that compose it. Nine of these vertebrae are fused together to form the coccyx while the 24 The rest are located in the lower part of the back., close to the coccyx. It is in the latter that usually suffer the spondylolysis .
The spondylolysis it is una fractura que se da lugar en la parte de la vértebra llamada porción interarticular o “istmo”. Each vertebra is composed of two of these portions , one on the right side and one on the left. The spondylolysis also known as the defect in the isthmus or a stress fracture, which can affect either one side of the bone or both.
Signs and symptoms of spondylolysis
Among the main signs and symptoms of spondylolysis we meet him pain in the lower back, since it is its most common symptom. This pain is usually worse during exercise or physical activity., especially in those activities in which you have to bend your back backwards repeatedly.
The spondylolysis can also cause pain problems in the buttocks and legs, as well as tight hamstrings. Sometimes children and adolescents who suffer from this problem do not present any obvious signs and are not aware that they suffer from this problem., although in reality they do suffer.
Younger people are the ones with the greatest exposure to being able to develop a spondylolysis, which is because their bones are still in full development and growth. In the case of those children or adolescents who do sports or physical activities that involve a constant bending of the back, how can football be, gymnastics, football, volleyball or golf, make them more likely to suffer this injury.
Diagnosis of spondylolysis
The specialist in this field of health will be in charge of carrying out a physical examination of the patient, for which you will have to press the back or ask the patient himself to bend backwards to achieve a hyperextension of the spine. If doing so causes back pain, it is very possible that it is a fracture in the isthmus.
Other symptoms that may indicate that you suffer from spondylolysis are muscle pain, pinched nerves or compressed and herniated discs that become protruding and can cause lower back pain.
To rule out these possibilities or confirm the diagnosis that you have this back problem, it is possible to carry out different tests, among which are the x-rays of the spine to look for possible fractures; computed tomography (TC) for the detection of small fractures; or lumbar MRI (RM).
Treatment of spondylolysis
Most of the pain that is caused by the spondylolysis tend to improve when the condition is caught early and treated appropriately. If a minor suffers from this problem, It is possible that the doctor bets on giving you some indications such as the following:
- A break from sports and other intense physical activities, so that the back is allowed to rest from practice that may have negative consequences on the injury.
- Going to have a life with a lot of rest during the time of recovery and treatment of the spondylolysis .
- Carry out training exercises that are based on trying to achieve greater flexibility.
- Core-strengthening exercises that don't involve straining your lower back when performing different tasks or movements.
- Put yourself in the hands of professionals to carry out physiotherapy tasks.
- Provision of medicines that help in relieving pain and inflammation.
- In some cases it is necessary to use a back brace to effectively treat the spondylolysis.
Most children and adolescents will notice an improvement in spondylolysis in approximately three months if they follow the indications of the professionals. there will be more pressure on the lower back, You will always have to wait until your back no longer hurts and you can do all kinds of movements before returning to sports or any other type of intense physical activity..
It is very important to follow the instructions of the specialists to be able to return without the spondylolysis recur and cause discomfort and pain.