Spine

Papers on Health
by John Kirk

(Page 18 of 21)

Spinal Congestion - In some cases of this trouble the symptoms are very alarming, consisting in violent convulsive movements, which seem altogether beyond the possibility of relief. It is something to know that these terrible kicking and struggling arise from simply an accumulation of blood in the vessels of the spinal cord, irritating it violently, as an electric current might do. Sedatives and narcotics will be useless. Leeches applied to the spine will sometimes cure by withdrawing the blood from it, though such treatment leaves no bracing and strengthening effect, but the very opposite. Use the cold towel, wrung out and placed along the spine, together with a hot blanket fomentation to the feet and legs, up over the knees.

The patient must be gently held still, as far as possible, so that the treatment may be applied. The applications will not be at once successful, but after an hour's work something like permanent relief should come. Above all, the nurse must keep cool and calm in mind and manner. There is no need for hysterics, and any excitable person should be kept out of the sick-room. If the skin of the back has been broken by blistering or any such treatment, a fine lather (See Lather; Soap) should be spread over all the back, and on this a soft cloth. Above this the cold towels may be safely and comfortably applied. It will do no harm if the treatment be continued for even two or three hours.

Spine, Misshapen - Often in the case of delicate infants or children, the bones of the spine fail to have the necessary hardness to bear the strain which comes upon them, and the spine gets more or less out of its proper shape. If this softness of bone continues, no amount of mechanical support, or lying down, will cure the misshapen spine. Therefore means should be taken by proper diet and nourishment to help the production of good bone substance in the child's body. The best bone-making food we know is good oatmeal, as well-boiled porridge (boiled for two or three hours), or as oatmeal jelly and gruel. Good air and water are also essential, and such treatment as is described in article on Children's Healthy Growth. Especially should attention be paid to constant supply of fresh air to the child's lungs. Windows should be wide open in all weathers, and if the child cannot walk far, it should be wheeled out for as long as possible every day the weather permits. Such supply of fresh air is of vital importance, and the want of it is frequently the sole cause of disease.

In other cases it is not the bones which are soft, but the muscles and ligaments which hold the spine in a proper position are defective. Where the bone is felt to be good-sized and hard, and the surrounding substance too soft, it is a case of this kind. To proper nourishment, in this case, must be added proper exercise of the muscles concerned. Immovable plaster jackets are bad, because they forbid this. This exercise may best be given by rubbing (see Exercise and Massage). Gentle rubbing and pressure over the back, with hot olive oil, will work wonders in such a case. During the rubbing the patient should lie down at full length. It must also be done so as to be pleasant, or it is of no use.

See that the patient has plenty of rest, and only as much walking exercise as is evidently enjoyed. There may be complications with other troubles - for example, a quick pulse and some fever heat, if the temperature is tested. That will require to be itself treated with repeated rubbings of finely wrought lather over the stomach and bowels. Until you have in some measure subdued this fever, you will not do much in the way of improving the muscles of the back. In many cases you will be able to bring the fever down completely, and then you will be free to exercise the muscles, and so to strengthen them that they will bring the spine to something like its proper shape. (see Assimilation; Diet; Digestion; Nerves; Nourishment; Paralysis; Massage.)

Spine, Weakness of the - See Children's Healthy Growth.

Sprains or Racks - A sprain is usually the result of some involuntary stress coming upon the part. If the injury be to the muscular substance only, it is easily healed; hot fomentations should be given to the sprained parts, with perfect rest and every possible ease and comfort by position, etc., and nature will soon effect a cure. If the injury be really to the nerves which control the muscles, as is generally the case, the matter is more difficult. The muscle swells, but this is primarily due to the overstrain of the nerves in the sudden effort they make to bear a crushing load on the muscle. The pain is from pressure in the swelling, and also from inflammatory action.

The cure, then, must be applied to the motor nerves controlling the muscles, and is best applied at their roots in the spinal cord. If the arm, hand, or wrist be sprained, rub gently the upper spinal region with warm olive oil, continuing the rubbing gently down the arm to the injured part (see Rubbing) until the whole shoulder and arm glow with comfortable warmth. But all rubbing such as causes pain must be avoided. If such rubbing cannot be managed, then a hot bran poultice must be placed between the shoulders, and a warm fomentation given to the shoulder and arm. The treatment should be given once a day, and ere many days the sprain should be cured. For ankle and knee sprains, the lower back and leg must be treated on similar principles.

Where the chest muscles that cover the ribs are sprained, rubbing and moist heat should be applied over the back and round the side where the sprain is, paying especial attention to the spine opposite the sprain, and using hot olive oil before fomentation and after, as well as to rub with.

If the belly be sprained, similar treatment should be given lower down the back.

If the back muscles are sprained, then the same treatment should be applied, taking special care to stimulate with moist heat and rubbing the part of the spine on a level with the injury, where the roots of the nerves lie which supply the sprained muscles. Care must ever be taken to avoid giving pain - to give pain is to increase the injury. To produce a glow of heat all through the parts is to cure it. (see Muscular Pains.)

For a sprained heel, when there is some degree of inflammation about it, we should pack the whole foot in fine soap lather. Let it be in this all night, and also during the day when resting. Wash the foot with a little weak acetic acid, after being packed in the lather, to keep it quite clean. Now rub the whole limb from the ankle upwards in such a way as to press the blood onwards in the veins. Use a little oil, so that the skin may not suffer till a fine heat is raised in the whole limb. This may be done for a quarter-of-an-hour twice or thrice a day. It relieves the heel of all congestion, and lets good arterial blood flow to it, as it would not otherwise. An elastic bandage, not very tight, put on above the knee will help the cure. Sprained joints and muscles should have perfect rest for a fortnight, and be used very cautiously for some time longer.

Printed by Hurst Bros., Shaw Heath, Stockport. 1904.