AboutGerald Anzalone, D.C. Expertise I can answer questions regarding evidence-based chiropractic practice (the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients).
Experience 10 years of chiropractic practice. Currently attending the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine.
Bachelor of Arts, Fordham University, 1991. Doctor of Chiropractic, New York Chiropractic College, 1997.
Question QUESTION: My Dad's suffering from cervical spondylyosis since past 4 and half yrs. Latest CT scan says.Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament extending from C3 Level to C6 Vertibra it appears dark on T1 and T2 but better appreciated on CT Scan. Resultant moderate diffuse canal stenosis with cord compression is seen. Maximum thickness of ossified posterior longitudinal ligament is seen at c4 level is 5mm.
There is loss of normal cervical lordosis. C5 and C6 anterior osteophytes with mild decrease in inter vertbral disk space.
Physically he's suffering from inflammation starting from rear neck till foot..completely distressed..Please suggest something apart from surgery ..and if surgery then what are the risk factors involved..Should he opt for surgery now at the age of 62 or so..
ANSWER: Spinal surgery is almost always considered a last resort and is considered when the patient is experiencing progressive, severe neurological symptoms, especially loss of bowel and bladder control resulting from spinal cord compression or significant loss of function in the arms and legs. When spinal cord compression is significant, a decompressive laminectomy (removal of the back parts of the vertebra) may be performed.
Loss of the normal cerivcal lordosis is a very common finding and may not necessarily be a pathological condition. Degenerative changes (similar to those you mentioned) similarly may or may not produce symptoms. Typically, any structure (disc, bone, bone spur, ligament, or chemical inflammation) that causes compression or pressure against a neural structure (the nerve root or spinal cord) may produce symptoms.
For inflammatory and degenerative spinal conditions, some of the best results are often obtained with the use of anti-inflammatory medications, gentle manipulation or mobilization techniques if joint dysfunction or disc herniation is present, moderate exercise maneuvers performed by the patient to increase normal joint movement, and return to normal activities as soon as possible.
As for surgical risk factors or the appropriateness of of various kinds of spinal surgeries, I am not a surgeon and cannot comment on those.
I hope that this helps to answer your question.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dear Sir, Thanks a lot for the reply. I would request you to suggest best medication available in india and would be grateful if you can suggest a hospital or doctor whom we can consult. My Dad is a resident of Mumbai (India). Also he has done some physical excercises two years back, but some people have suggested that it is not good to do excercise at this stage of the problem. Can you also please suggest some saef excercise and he is of age of 62 Years.
Thanks.
Answer The practice of chiropractic does not involve the prescription of drugs, so I can't recommend a specific medication to you. However, as a general observation, medical physicians typically prescribe corticosteroids to patients with inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions.
As a practitioner in the United States, I am unfamiliar with any practitioners, medical or chiropractic, in India, so I unfortunately cannot provide you with a referral. However, I would suggest locating a chiropractor in your area, or requesting that your father's general medical practitioner or his orthopedic specialist refer him to a physiotherapist for treatment and/or specific rehabilitative exercises, if appropriate, based on their evaluation of his condition.
