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105
Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
About me
Yanshou County People's Hospital, Orthopedics Department, Chief Physician, engaged in clinical work in orthopedics for many years.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in: Orthopedics, general surgery, and minimally invasive treatment.
Voices
Is moxibustion effective for lumbar disc herniation?
As an important treatment method in traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion has very good therapeutic effects for treating lumbar disc herniation. As long as the acupuncture points are correctly selected, the treatment effect is very good. Specifically, if you choose to use moxibustion for treatment, the main point would be the Jiaji points, and this should include the two adjacent vertebrae. For example, for a L4-L5 disc herniation, you should select points L1 to L5. Auxiliary points should be chosen based on different symptoms of the patient, in combination with different acupoints. For example, if the waist pain is significant, combine with the affected side's Yaoyan point. If the buttock muscles are tense, combine with Huanjiao and Yibian points. If the posterior thigh muscles are tense, combine with Chengfu, Yinmen, and Weizhong points. If there is numbness on the lateral thigh, combine with Fengshi. For numbness in the calf, combine with Weiyang, Chengshan, Yanglingquan, Zusanli, and Xuanzhong points. If the dorsum of the foot is numb, combine with Taixi, Jiexi, and Xiexi.
Is a herniated lumbar disc serious?
Lumbar disc herniation is primarily due to degeneration of the lumbar disc or secondary pathological changes caused by this degeneration, which then stimulate blood vessels, nerve roots, and the spinal cord, leading to a series of clinical symptoms. Lumbar disc herniation is categorized into four types. The mildest type is the bulging type, followed by the protruding type, the more severe extrusion type, and finally the most severe, the sequestration type. Generally, lumbar disc bulging is relatively mild and conservative treatment is usually effective. Depending on the site and degree of compression, lumbar disc herniation may be treated conservatively, but some cases require surgical intervention. Most cases of disc extrusion require surgery because the extrusion leads to spinal stenosis, compressing all or part of the blood vessels, and it can also compress the spine and nerve roots, causing irreversible damage, and medications or massages can't reverse the condition. The fourth point concerns lumbar disc prolapse, meaning the nucleus pulposus falls into the spinal canal through the tear. This is one of the few emergencies seen in spinal surgery. If this occurs, immediate surgical treatment is necessary. Therefore, the severity of lumbar disc herniation mainly depends on the type and degree of the herniation, as well as the location and direction of the herniation, and which treatment method needs to be used.
Symptoms of osteosarcoma
The common symptoms of osteosarcoma include, first, pain which is often persistent, typically occurring at the distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal humerus. The characteristic of this pain is that it worsens at night, more severe than during the day. Second, there is local swelling usually near joints, particularly at the three aforementioned common sites. The skin over the swelling often becomes warm and may even show redness, and some patients may have dilated surface veins. The swelling can frequently cause dysfunction of nearby joints, or restricted function. Third, systemic symptoms primarily include a persistent wasting syndrome, known as cachexia. Fourth, osteosarcomas can weaken the bone's load-bearing capacity and strength following cortical bone involvement, eventually leading to pathological fractures. Therefore, the main symptoms of osteosarcoma are localized pain, local swellings, systemic manifestations of cachexia, or pathological fractures.
The difference between tendinitis and tenosynovitis
Actually, tendinitis and tenosynovitis are essentially two aspects of the same condition. The term tendinitis usually refers to the part where the muscle transitions into the tendon, whereas tenosynovitis generally refers to the fibrous sheath over the tendon surface. Thus, tendinitis and tenosynovitis often coexist; tendinitis can lead to tenosynovitis, and conversely, tenosynovitis can also affect tendinitis, causing or exacerbating it. Therefore, in clinical practice, there usually is not a clear distinction between tendinitis and tenosynovitis. It is common during surgeries for stenosing tenosynovitis to observe that the tendon is also congested and swollen, and even adhered to the tendon sheath. Thus, tendinitis and tenosynovitis are generally considered the same disease, merely referred to by two different names. However, if strictly distinguished, there is a certain difference, which lies in the location: tendinitis refers to the tendon itself, while tenosynovitis refers to the sheath outside the tendon.
How to treat patellar ligament injury?
First, it is necessary to qualitatively assess the injury of the patellar ligament, determining whether it is a partial or complete rupture, whether it is a simple rupture, or a compound rupture, the latter involving other injuries such as fractures or joint dislocations. The treatment of patellar ligament injuries, like other tendon injuries, follows the principle of "three earlies": early diagnosis, early treatment, and early rehabilitation. Early diagnosis has been mentioned before. Early treatment means that if surgery is needed, it should be conducted as soon as possible, as earlier surgeries often result in better postoperative recoveries. If surgery is not required, an immediate fixation with a cast or brace should be applied to keep the knee joint in an extended position, and this fixation should be maintained for three to four weeks. The third step is early rehabilitation. As the knee joint is immobilized during the fixation period, and pain and swelling starts to decrease, early functional exercises should be initiated, focusing on distal joint movement and muscular isotonic exercises, but avoiding flexion and extension movements of the knee joint. Early rehabilitation primarily aims to prevent muscle atrophy, prevent joint adhesion, and promote recovery from the condition.
Can osteosarcoma be detected by X-ray?
Osteosarcoma can be detected with an X-ray, which is a very important method for diagnosing osteosarcoma. Since osteosarcoma typically comes in three types—osteoblastic, osteolytic, and mixed—the appearances on the X-rays are generally different. Osteolytic osteosarcoma mainly involves bone destruction, osteoblastic is characterized by bone regeneration, and the mixed type has both bone destruction and regeneration. Secondly, osteosarcoma primarily erodes the bone quality, and the periosteal reaction is very apparent. Typical osteosarcomas often show signs like Codman's triangle or the sunburst appearance. Therefore, if symptoms such as redness and increased temperature of the skin, along with a bony lump, occur around the distal femur, proximal tibia, or proximal humerus, it is best to first go to the hospital for an X-ray. X-rays are currently the most economical and necessary diagnostic tool for osteosarcoma.
How to treat shoulder tendinitis?
Shoulder tendinitis is commonly seen in supraspinatus tendinitis, infraspinatus tendinitis, and long head of the biceps tendinitis. The treatment is mainly conservative. During the acute phase of tendinitis, resting, immobilization, and wearing protective gear are recommended. Secondly, oral intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be considered. Thirdly, traditional Chinese medicines can be taken orally or applied topically. Fourthly, injection therapy can be considered, which usually has good effects. Fifthly, physical therapy is an option, including heat therapy and microwave therapy, with a special recommendation for shockwave therapy, which is very effective for tendinitis throughout the body. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical treatment may be necessary, tailored to the specific tendon involved.
What are the symptoms of osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma is a very common malignant tumor, primarily occurring at the distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal humerus. Its manifestations mainly include persistent pain at these three locations, which gradually worsens and is accompanied by nighttime pain. Secondly, there is local swelling; the surface of the tumor may feel warmer to the touch and may even exhibit prominent veins, leading to restricted joint movement near the tumor. Thirdly, some patients may exhibit signs of systemic deterioration, such as weight loss, anemia, and fatigue. Fourthly, osteolytic osteosarcomas often erode the bone cortex, eventually weakening the bone and leading to pathological fractures. Thus, the symptoms of osteosarcoma include persistent pain in specific areas accompanied by nighttime pain, local swelling, systemic deterioration, and pathological fractures in many patients.
Precautions for Lumbar Disc Herniation
For patients with lumbar disc herniation, self-prevention and self-treatment are very effective methods. What should be paid attention to in daily life? The first point is to maintain a correct sitting posture, sit upright, do not lean back, and avoid sitting for long periods. It is also necessary to keep the waist warm and prevent it from getting cold. The second point is to engage in some exercises, mainly those that strengthen the muscles of the lower back, such as large swallow flight, small swallow flight, single bridge, and double bridge. The third point is that in daily life, it is important to pay attention to maintaining the correct posture when working, avoiding putting too much pressure on the lumbar spine, and not using brute force. The fourth point is that in terms of rest, it is best to sleep on a hard bed and add a small pad at the waist or a soft pillow under the knee joints. This can keep the knee and hip joints at a certain degree of flexion, allowing the muscles of the lower back to fully relax. The fifth point is to wear a waist brace under the guidance of a doctor. This waist brace is a very common orthopedic support, which functions to immobilize and protect the waist. Moreover, for patients with lumbar disc herniation, it can greatly increase the stability of the lumbar spine and consolidate the effects of previous treatments. Therefore, patients with lumbar disc herniation must pay attention to these details in daily life.
What is lumbar muscle strain?
What is lumbar muscle strain? Lumbar muscle strain refers to the cumulative injury of muscles and fascia in the lumbar region caused by long-term unbalanced postures or incorrect positions during labor. It is one of the common causes of lumbar pain. How to understand this definition? Lumbar muscle strain is first and foremost a cumulative injury. What causes it? First, incorrect postures—sitting straight is necessary. Slouching or hunching over, especially when idle, or sitting askew, is detrimental. Second, certain types of labor, like that of miners or farmers transplanting rice, consistently place the lower back in an imbalanced state, perpetually bending forward. This day-to-day accumulation leads to lumbar muscle strain.