"Ponytail" syndrome: a description, causes, symptoms and treatment

How does the "ponytail" syndrome manifest itself? Symptoms of this pathological condition will be discussed below. Also we will tell you about how this disease is diagnosed and treated.

Basic information

It is no secret to anyone that the transmission of certain signals to the muscle tissues, and also from them, in the human body is due to the nerves that leave the spinal cord. In medicine, they are usually called nerve roots. They are able to transmit impulses, as a result of which the brain determines what a person hurts, how his body is located in space and so on. Moreover, such roots allow the brain to fully control the entire body.

Below the waist, a person has a special bundle of nerves. It is called the "ponytail".With inflammation of the roots there is a syndrome of defeat of the "horse tail".More details about this phenomenon you will learn from the materials of the article in question.

Features of the

disease of the "Ponytail" syndrome - this is a pretty serious disease. As stated above, the cause of the development of such a pathological condition is the inflammatory process in the nerve roots.

It should also be noted that the disease in question can be caused by the compression of nerve endings.

It is impossible to underestimate this pathology, because in the absence of timely and proper treatment, a person can have such negative consequences as paresis of the lower limbs and persistent disruption of the urinary bladder.

Ponytail syndrome: symptoms of

It is difficult to notice the development of the disease in question. This is due to the fact that the "horse tail" syndrome manifests itself is quite pronounced. Specialists distinguish the following signs of this disease:

• severe lumbar pain;
• is a radicular pain that manifests itself in one or both legs( usually starts in the gluteal region and then slowly descends the berd toward the shin);
• numbness in the groin, or rather, in the coccyx region;
• malfunction in the bladder of the urinary and intestines;
• muscle weakness in the legs, decreased sensitivity;
• complete elimination or reduction of leg reflexes.

The "ponytail" syndrome in a person is always accompanied by pain in the lower back. Experts say that such sensations can be of two types: radicular and local. Radicular pain is acute. The cause of its appearance is a strong compression of the nerve roots. As for the local pain, it is quite deep, and also a chronic sensation that appears as a result of irritation of soft tissues and the vertebral body.

Other signs of

How else is the "ponytail" syndrome manifested? We have already mentioned above that such a disease is characterized by malfunctions in the functioning of the bladder. However, all variants of manifestations of such disorders should be highlighted here:

• A person suffering from this disease may experience urinary retention.
• Sometimes patients have difficulties that manifest themselves at the very beginning of the process of urination.
• Some people noticeably decrease the sensitivity of the sphincter of the urethra.

As for bowel disturbances, they manifest themselves as follows:

• development of constipation;
• stool incontinence;
• decreased the tone of the anus, as well as its excessive sensitivity.

Having discovered such unpleasant symptoms, you should immediately contact a doctor to begin treatment. The doctor's consultation is necessary not only for selecting the right therapy regimen, but also for setting the right diagnosis. After all, the "horse tail" syndrome is quite easy to confuse with, for example, a herniated intervertebral disc.

Positive therapy for the disease under consideration depends on how long the patient has signs of the disease. So doctors often carry out decompression if the first symptoms began to disturb the patient two days ago. This procedure is a surgical removal of tissues that cause squeezing of the roots.

How to diagnose a disease correctly?

The "horse tail" syndrome in dogs and humans is diagnosed identically. During the examination of the patient, doctors pay special attention to the symptoms that disturb the patient. The following procedures can also be performed:

• Radiography. Due to this method of research, the patient can easily detect degenerative changes.
• MRI, including contrast. By means of a tomography it is possible to make high-grade diagnostics, to reveal a hernia, a tumor, and also to see itself "ponytail".

Only a comprehensive examination of the patient will allow the specialist to determine the most optimal treatment.

Ponytail syndrome: treatment of

The treatment regimen for the disease in question is selected depending on the cause of the development of the syndrome. People who have inflammation due to squeezing roots, very often prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, in particular "Ibuprofen."Along with these drugs, corticosteroids are widely used.

If a patient has a metastasis, then they resort to radiation therapy( especially in cases when surgery is contraindicated to the patient).

If the cause of this syndrome is infection, the patient is prescribed a course of antibiotic therapy.

Features of

treatment The general tactics of treating "ponytail" syndrome should be cautious. If the first symptoms of the disease are found, the doctor must resort to conservative therapy within one day. If after this time the result was not achieved, then the syndrome is eliminated through surgical intervention.

Special attention is paid by doctors to those patients who suffer from a hernia of the spine. By the way, this disease can provoke the development of the syndrome under consideration. Usually such people spend a diskectomy or a laminectomy.

Forecast

If a person has bilateral ischialgia, then the prognosis, compared to a patient who experiences unilateral pain, is unfavorable.

If a patient has full perineal anesthesia, there is a high probability that he develops a stable bladder paresis.

The most accurate criterion by which you can make a prediction about the recovery of a person is the degree of sensitivity in the area of ​​his perineum.

Prevention of

To prevent the development of such a disease, due attention should be given to its prevention. It is necessary to take special responsibility for any possible signs( for example, pain in the legs, lower back, limb weakness, etc.).

It should also be taken into account that even after surgical intervention the patient's neurological deficit will not be completely eliminated. Therefore, it is better to be prepared for the fact that he will accompany the patient for some time. In this regard, a person may need the help of specialists such as a physiotherapist, a sexologist, a social worker, etc.

It is also important to observe the following rules:

• use more liquid;
• do enemas with constipation;
• use a catheter to remove urine from the bladder.

Considering these recommendations responsibly, it is possible to avoid the development of the syndrome under consideration.