15/11/2024
BACK FACTS -
A hairy patch at the bottom of your back usually indicates the presence of Spina Bifida Occulta - a minor congenital defect, where the bone at the back of the vertebra - the neural arch, is partially absent. More often than not patients are totally unaware of having this, until an MRI or X-Rays are taken for some other reason.....or, an Osteopath points it out! These minor abnormalities are asymptomatic, & nothing to worry about.
However, Spina Bifida Occulta, & other congenital defects are often found together, for example - part of the 5th Lumbar vertebra can be fused to the Sacrum (partial Sacralisation) OR, part, or all of the 1st Sacral segment is not fused to the Sacrum, so effectively becomes a 6th Lumbar vertebra! (Lumbarisation)
Whilst Spina Bifida Occulta gives no symptoms, partial lumbarisation, or sacralisation, can give issues - low back pain & tenderness, sciatica, sacro-iliac irritation, an aggravation of symptoms on coughing, or straining on the loo, & stiffness of the Lumbars in the flexion range, due to what is known as "neural tethering."
Whilst Osteopathy cannot change the bony abnormalities, it CAN address the muscular, ligamentous, fascial, membranous, & neurological changes that play a part in the symptom expression.
We are SO much more than, "rub it & click it!"
