CT is just a screening machine, or way, to check the whole body or part of it.
CT machine is a computerized x-ray tomography machine, which was developed from the X-ray machine. Its resolution and qualitative diagnostic accuracy is much higher than that of a general X-ray machine.
Generally speaking, CT can be used to examine all organic diseases, especially for the density difference of organic space-occupying lesions can be examined and make a qualitative diagnosis. However, the most suitable CT examination of the disease is brain disease, which is the best for tumor, hemorrhage and infarction, followed by abdominal parenchymal organs occupational lesions, such as liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney, prostate and other parts of the tumor, breast, thyroid and other parts of the mass can also be displayed and make a diagnosis; and then the next is the thorax, lungs, the cardiac cavity of the mass, the spine, the spinal cord, the pelvis, the gallbladder, the uterus, and other parts of the mass examination. CT is less effective in the examination of diffuse inflammatory and degenerative lesions, such as hepatitis, CT examination is of little value, the examination of lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, CT is not as good as endoscopy.
CT is easy to detect tumors, masses, bleeding, etc.; but the lesions are too small, especially those less than 6 mm, CT is difficult to detect.
CT machine belongs to the radiation examination machine, so there is a certain amount of radiation damage, but the human body is subjected to very few X-rays, each examination is subjected to radiation is only slightly higher than the general X-ray examination, generally can not cause damage, but blindly many times the CT examination is not good.
During pregnancy, it is important to be cautious about doing abdominal CT exams, and when doing other parts of the body, you should also take certain protective measures for the abdomen to avoid X-rays from affecting the fetus.
The relationship between lumbar flash and lumbar spine instability
The lumbar flash is a manifestation of lumbar spine instability, and an occasional flash does not necessarily result in lumbar spine instability, but a recurring flash can easily cause lumbar spine instability. Normal lumbar vertebrae are connected by 5 bones, with intervertebral discs, posterior joints, joint capsules, ligaments, etc. Ligamentous connections play a very important role in the stability of the lumbar vertebrae, when the patient has a flashback or recurrent flashbacks actually indicate that the normal structure may have been damaged, and the cartilaginous discs are an important factor in the destabilization of the injuries caused by the injury, through the bending and stretching of the waist when the X-ray can be seen in the lumbar vertebrae to occur in the unstable X-rays of the lumbar spine during the bending and stretching phases show increased intervertebral mobility, which in itself indicates damage to the normal structures. The vertebrae were originally connected to each other neatly, but some of them actually move forward during the abnormal phase, which is also a sign of lumbar spine instability.
Generally speaking, the moisture in the nucleus pulposus accounts for 80% before the age of 18, and the moisture in the nucleus pulposus gradually decreases after the age of 30, the elasticity also decreases, and the ligaments tend to relax after the height of the intervertebral disc decreases, which can cause some abnormal stresses to increase in the presence of abnormal stresses, and this can easily lead to lumbar sprains and instability. We have seen children as young as ten years old with herniated discs, and we think this may be due to genetic factors or other reasons.
What are the causes of flashbacks?
The main reason is that the intervertebral discs are damaged and the stabilizing structure is cut down, which requires a lot of muscle strength to protect them. When you are paying attention to the movement, the muscles are under tension, and it is not easy to flash your back. When doing movements with little attention and insufficient muscle strength, due to the poor stabilizing structure, there will be flashbacks. Such flashbacks are in fact very much related to the usual long life and working conditions, such as keeping a posture for a long time without moving or having some postures that require a lot of strength to maintain, which will result in damage to the cartilage, and the cartilage needs nutrients, which need to be increased through activities rather than through the direct supply of the blood.
What should I do if I have a flashback?
Once the lumbar pain has appeared, we must find a professional doctor to check, in the past to do lumbar spondylolisthesis surgery generally need to remove more structures, the surgery to the normal structure of the removal of a lot of discs are also removed a lot of, although at that time the nerve compression is lifted, but later on the emergence of a serious low back pain reflected in the removal of these tissues together with the original factors caused by the lumbar spine is unstable results.
At present, we are still exploring whether the state of lumbar spine instability has already occurred after the disc herniation, through the film, the symptoms of the position and other checks, if we find that there has been lumbar spine instability, we have to find out the part of the instability, and then fusion and immobilization of the unstable part, if the disc herniation has not appeared to have spinal instability, but only the nucleus pulposus compression of nerves, surgery should be as minimally invasive as possible, the surgery should be done. If the herniated disc does not cause spinal instability, but the nucleus pulposus is pressing on the nerves, the surgery should be minimally invasive, preserving the ligaments and joints as much as possible, so that the symptoms can be relieved and the relatively stable structure can be maintained as much as possible, which can avoid lumbar instability in the future.
The relationship between lumbar spondylolisthesis and lumbar spine instability
Lumbar spondylolisthesis is a special form of lumbar spine instability. Usually there are three kinds of cases.1, congenital factors, the vertebral body in the process of development caused by instability, this kind of slippage is very serious, sometimes even up to 3-4 degrees of slippage.2, in the small time due to an abnormal activity caused by the lumbar vertebrae fatigue fracture, this kind of fatigue fracture at the time is no symptoms, but the structural changes of the fracture exists.3, due to the changes of the intervertebral discs, the water content decreases, and stability Decrease.
Performance of chronic low back pain due to lumbar instability
1, recurring low back pain
2, often aggravated after exertion
3, a kind of unsettled feeling of disconnection of the lumbar region
4, can not adapt to the position of semi-bent position
5, pain in the change of position, the waist and buttocks in the morning
6, can not maintain a position for a long time, in the climate change, and can not be maintained in one position, and can not be maintained for a long time. The pain is often predictable in times of climate change.
What level of chronic low back pain should be treated with surgery?
Chronic low back pain is common, but not always requires surgery. If something unexpected happens, such as a pinched nerve, not only low back pain, but also some weakness and numbness in the legs, then surgery should be considered. In some cases, the pain is so severe that it seriously affects the daily life and work and also for a long time, seriously affecting the quality of life should consider surgical treatment.
Is surgery on the lower back risky?
This is the most important question for the majority of patients, objectively speaking, there will be a certain risk, but with the advancement of medical technology, this risk is also gradually reduced. From our actual work, this surgery is not very dangerous.
Do I need to stay in bed for a long time after the surgery?
In the past, because there was no good fixation method for the surgery, it was necessary to stay in bed for a long time after the surgery to wait for the bone to heal. Nowadays, this method of internal fixation has become relatively advanced and has improved these postoperative factors. You can go down to the floor three days after surgery with a protective girdle, and one of the important goals of the improved surgery is to speed up the patient's recovery.
Post-operative rehabilitation
The patient is asked to exercise the function of the low back muscles after three months, sustained lifting of the head can exercise the isometric contraction of the back muscles for five seconds, and in turn exercise the abdominal muscles, exercise the function of lifting the legs to increase flexibility, and also to wear a protective girdle, which is usually worn for three months to six months.
We should also pay attention to more exercise in general, which can effectively prevent lumbar diseases. For example, sit-ups can exercise the abdominal muscles, you can also lie on the bed to exercise the back muscles, so that the muscles do an isometric contraction. It is also recommended that those who do not exercise regularly or already have low back pain should avoid strenuous exercise similar to soccer, basketball and so on.
The lumbar sprain is commonly known as "flashback". It is common for people to suddenly flash their backs when bending over to lift something heavy, so I hope you will avoid this type of action. First aid focuses on maintaining a comfortable position, resting and applying cold compresses.
Lumbar sprains are caused by the sudden pulling of the lumbar muscles when bending over to pick up heavy objects.
The first thing you need to do when you have a sprain is to keep a comfortable posture and rest quietly. You can lie on the bed with your back arched, but not on a mattress that is too soft.
Avoid lying on your back with your feet straight. This not only increases pain, but may paralyze the feet.
Cold compresses can ease the pain. So use a damp towel to apply a cold compress to your lower back.
Minor flashes of back pain can be cured by resting for 1-2 days. However, if the pain persists or gets worse, you should seek medical attention (orthopedic surgery) as soon as possible.
In addition, not only muscle pain, herniated discs can also cause back pain, so back pain should be checked in the hospital.
When going to the hospital, do not let the injured person walk around as much as possible. It is best to keep the injured person in the most comfortable position and take him to the hospital in a car