The Haven
Healing Centre
The Orchard
Draycott Rd, Cheddar
Somerset
The Haven |
|
| Natural Complementary Therapies - your key to improved health and well-being | |
|
Home About Contact Gift Solutions Articles Treatments Products Page: 1 2 3 4 5 Appointments |
Burst Fractures -treat your pain with Spinal TouchLooking to find an alternative treatment for your burst fracture?Spinal Touch Therapy is an ideal, reliable, safe treatment for burst fractures
What is a Burst Fracture?A burst fracture is a type of traumatic spinal compression injury in which a vertebra breaks from a high-energy or high-speed load. For example, during car accidents, falls from a great height or impact at high speed. When a large force is directed vertically through the spine, a vertebra may be crushed. In the worst cases shards of vertebrae can penetrate the surrounding tissue and sometimes the spinal canal, causing bruising, paralysis or partial neurologic injury. The burst fracture is categorized by; the severity of the deformity; the severity of spinal canal compromise; the reduction in vertebral body height, and the degree of nerve damage. If the vertebral body is crushed in all directions it is called a burst fracture, but if only one side of the vertebrae is crushed, it becomes wedge shaped and is called a compression fracture. Burst fractures are considered more severe than compression fractures because long-term neurological damage can follow a burst fracture. The neurological deficits can reach their full extent immediately, or can progress over a prolonged time. The degree of injury can range from no injury at all to complete paralysis. For that reason alone, immediate hospitalization is required to determine the degree of possible spinal cord injury. X-rays, CAT scans and/or MRIs are taken to determine whether the burst fracture can be managed with or without surgery. Depending on the force of the injury, bony fragments can possibly enter the spinal canal, causing a partial loss of spinal cord function, loss of strength, nerve reflex and/or general sensation. There may also be a degree of paralysis in the bowel and bladder, loss of available movement in the legs, ankles and feet, or there may be no neurological injury at all, in which case none of these symptoms will be present. Different surgical treatments are available; the most common involves fusing the remaining vertebra in the traumatized area, and/or removal of any larger loose vertebral pieces. A "spinal fusion" surgery entails two or more vertebra being permanently immobilized through surgery using titanium implants. Other less common techniques involve replacing the burst vertebra with an artificial bone or a cadaver bone (yikes!). Nonsurgical management is possible when the burst fracture vertebrae is intact neurologically, and this can involve the use of a full-body, exterior brace, normally a Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis (TLSO), which is worn for 2–3 months 24/7. Several months of physical therapy follow to strengthen atrophied muscles, and when the patient can support themselves again without the likelihood of dislocation, then external stabilization may be ceased.  Burst fractures of the spine account for 14% of all spinal injuries, with around 70% of all spinal fractures involve the thoracic or lumbar spines. In the long-term, varying degrees of pain and function may affect the back during the subject's lifetime. This may involve regular occurrences of pain and discomfort at the burst fracture site and the limbs, brought on by specific activity. This you will come to know over time, but in addition, a burst fracture can result in a permanent decrease in height, varying degrees of kyphosis, and possible changes in neurological signal intensity. What treatment is available for burst fractures? The good news is a stable burst fracture will possibly not need surgery. The body brace may be used quite successfully when there is no neurological damage. An unstable burst fracture, on the other hand, may requre surgery that involves placing rods, screws and hooks to hold the spine in place while it heals. Bone grafts may be used to fuse the spine so that the damaged area may heal as one. Any bone fragments that may be present are removed carefully so as not to disturb the spinal cord. A hospital stay is vital for all surgery procedures, so that medical staff can determine the best course of pain management, give specific exercises and establish a recovery to walking. Why do you think Spinal Touch would be beneficial for burst fractures? The common theme with burst fractures is PAIN. There may be no other symptoms and so this is where we must apply our attention, in conjunction with all the other methods you already have at your disposal. Burst fractures, besides the obvious nerve pain, will, during the recovery phase, cause a degree of atrophy in the muscles which will need exercises to bring about any degree of recovery. The back, afterall, is held up by muscles and ligaments, not by the stack of vertebrae, which have no interlocking surface like you'll find in something so humble as the common lego block. Therefore, weak muscles will not give you a backbone strong enough to withstand your weight and gravity, until you have brought it back to a degree of fitness that is was capable of performing pre-accident. An atrophied muscle is not a healthy muscle and therefore the circulation through that muscle will also be slow in delivery of required nutrients and slow in removal of the waste products which can build up over time. Lack of oxygen causes them to register pain through the nerves, and joint laxity will be another source of instability and therefore pain.  Pain causes muscles to tense up, feel like they are burning inside and lose their ability to self regulate. Modern spinal treatments are way ahead of what they were and so modern operations boast a high degree of success with preserving mobility and function of the back and limbs. We are not so good at controlling pain and even with every hospital running a busy pain clinic, their main priority is ensuring you are taking your tablets and following their regime. What I'd like to do here with Spinal Touch is help you address the CAUSE of your pain, so that, along with your medication and any other treatment plan you are following, you stand the best chance of reducing your pain to a manageable level, or conquering it altogether. Prolonged muscle tension sets you up for exhaustion, in the muscles themselves and in the body as a whole. Prolonged pain very often causes depression and a loss of hope. Prolonged stress due to muscle tension also often causes depression and deep feelings of hopelessness. Spinal Touch is a very gentle, physical, light touch therapy. Gentle, yet powerful, in that it gets the job done. We don't want to cause a flare up of your symptoms, and so we regulate your treatment together so that you get the best effect possible. Once your neurological examinations show you are well enough, meaning, your tests for muscle strength, sensation and reflexes of the lower extremities, are ok, then we can get to work persuading your muscles and back to work together with your spine and nerves. If you are still struggling to walk, we may be able to help here too. It's not unusual to have ambulatory dysfunction when there is nerve damage, and it may take a while to retrain your body to do what you want, and need, it too. Spinal Touch has a really great knack of bring the body back into balance and proper function. Click the link to learn more about Spinal Touch. If I may, I'd like to recommend you give Spinal Touch a try. Please don't ever think there is nothing more you can do. There is always hope that taking action can make the difference. Have you tried Spinal Touch before? No? Even if everyone around you is advising you to throw tablets at it, remember they only MASK the pain, they don't do anything to change your state, nor do they do anything to address the depression and anxiety. Allow your instinct to lead you toward a gentle physical approach. The relaxation induced postural re-alignment afforded by Spinal Touch Therapy, will help with the stress and tightness surrounding the neck, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and your pelvis, which will help to reduce the pain. If this idea resonates with you, and you fancy giving this a try, I invite you to visit The Haven Healing Centre in Cheddar for a private consultation and course of treatment. Click the link for appointments and a treatment price list. I look forward to welcoming you soon. Phil. Please share this page with your friends. Thank you.
Note: DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read. It's a small investment in yourself, but could be a life-changing experience you will cherish forever. |
| Copyright © Philip Chave 2010- TheHavenHealingCentre.co.uk All rights reserved. Email: privacy |