In the modern world, not only humanity is developing.Unfortunately, diseases affecting people are also in constant motion and development.
Two decades ago, symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine were rare, often in older people.Today, the age range of patients has expanded significantly and includes women, men and children of different ages.
The rarity of the manifestations of this disease is based on the fact that the thoracic part of the spinal region is inactive, which excludes various injuries and damage.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the bone and cartilage tissue of the spinal column undergoes serious changes that lead to a violation of their integrity.
If you do not consult a specialist in time, irreversible changes will occur, which can only be stopped by surgical intervention.
In the chain of development of the disease, the skeletal system of the spine ranks first, followed by cartilage formations, ligaments and muscles of the spine.
When osteochondrosis is diagnosed at a young age, early aging of the musculoskeletal system begins.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine has 4 stages of development according to symptoms and treatment, on which the patient's well-being depends:
- my education.Symptoms are mild or completely absent.Elevations occur.
- Grade II.The intervertebral discs lose their flexibility and height.The stability of the spine is lost.The first pains appear.
- Grade III.At this stage, hernias are detected with severe pain.
- Grade IV.Due to the complete deprivation of the basic functions of the intervertebral discs, the bone tissue of the spine is destroyed.
Symptoms and signs
Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine depend on the gender, the degree of development of the disease and the mobility of the patient.Most of the symptoms appear with a certain degree of stress and fatigue, as well as when staying in the same position for a long time.
How is thoracic osteochondrosis manifested:
- Chest pain that is particularly severe during prolonged inactivity.
- There is a feeling of pressure in the middle of the back.Deep inhalation and exhalation are also difficult.
- Pain that is triggered when spinal movements are part of physical activity.Hand movements, bending, turning.
- Long-term back pain.
- Neurological disorders of certain parts of the body, manifested by numbness.
- Increased sensitivity of certain areas of the skin (so-called goosebumps).
- Unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs.
- Due to damage to the vascular system of thoracic osteochondrosis, local symptoms appear on the skin in the form of peeling.The changes also affect the nails.
- Reproductive disorders and decreased libido may occur.
Symptoms may also differ by gender.Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis in women are somewhat different from those in men.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in women:
- Local pain syndrome in the area of the affected disc.
- False symptoms of diseases of the internal organs, which appear along the innervation of the trapped nerve.
- Compression symptoms.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in men appear much earlier than in women.The rest of the clinical picture is very similar.
Most of the differences are only in the severity of the symptoms, as men lead a much more active lifestyle.
In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis in women is less pronounced and occurs later due to the protective effect of female sex hormones.
In the case of thoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms and sensations may be similar to those experienced during the development of heart diseases, therefore, when the diagnosis is made, an examination of the functioning of the heart is also carried out.
Treatment
The chronic course of the disease differs in that an exacerbation can occur at any time, the symptoms of which are very pronounced.The patient experiences severe back pain and difficulty breathing.
Before treating thoracic osteochondrosis, it is important to understand the nature of the exacerbation and the extent of the disease.The causes of such conditions are usually specific factors:
- Stressful situations.
- Very hard work.
- Prolonged exposure to low temperature environment.
- Weightlifting or active sports.
Treatment is primarily based on an etiological approach.In other words, the factor causing the acute stage is excluded.In severe cases of the disease, a limited daily dose is recommended.Here are some principles of the approach:
- Low mobility mode.
- A diet high in vitamins, minerals and fiber is prescribed.
- Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.
- Local therapy, including massages (according to indications), the use of external forms of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Exercise therapy.Only if the doctor allows it.
- Physiotherapy.
Medicines
Medical treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is based on the classical principles of treating pinched nerve fibers.The first step is to relieve the symptoms that cause the patient significant suffering.
The selected drugs are prescribed individually, taking into account contraindications and side effects.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy is considered primary and main.Its effect appears from the first day of therapy.
Ways to treat thoracic osteochondrosis:
- NSAIDs.Medicines are administered orally or parenterally.They have many positive qualities.Above all, they improve the patient's quality of life and restore normal mobility.
Unfortunately, this group of drugs also has a number of negative indicators.Contraindications include gastrointestinal diseases.In the presence of ulcers or acute gastritis, an absolute prohibition is prescribed.If kidney and liver function is impaired, the dosage of the drugs must be adjusted.
NSAIDs are often combined with muscle relaxants.
- Muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that significantly relieve the patient's condition.When an inflammatory process occurs at the level of the vertebra, a strong muscle spasm occurs in the fibers around the inflamed area.Prolonged spasm also causes severe pain in the segment area.Muscle relaxants eliminate this spasm, thereby relieving pain.
Taking these medicines is not recommended if the patient is driving a car or other equipment.
- Vitamin complexes.It is used to relieve inflammation of nerve fibers and stabilize nerve membranes.B vitamins and nicotinic acid are used more often than others.
- Chondroprotective drugs.Combinations of chondroitin and glucosamine in different doses.
This group of drugs normalizes metabolic processes in joint tissues and has a strong anti-inflammatory effect with glucose.Treatment with chondroprotectors is long-term and is repeated periodically.
Side effects are mainly observed in the gastrointestinal tract.It's flatulence and belching.
For the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, special drugs are used in the form of injections.The principles of administration are different.The main method is the introduction of electrophoresis in the physiotherapy room.It is also available as a cream and ointment.
In the case of thoracic osteochondrosis, drug treatment is based on the principles of relieving the inflammatory process and releasing the trapped nerve.
It is important to note that even long anti-inflammatory treatments cannot relieve the patient of suffering for a long time in the absence of other corrective treatments.
If the treating doctor recommends massage treatments, they must be performed.
Massage
Before treating osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine with massage, a functional diagnosis is made and the first stage of treatment is prescribed, which includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants.
The purpose of this package of measures is to relieve spasm and inflammation in the area of the affected segment.Only after achieving certain results in the first stage can one talk about the benefits of massage.
How can osteochondrosis of the chest region be cured with massage?
Massage procedures can also relieve muscle spasm and improve blood supply to the injured area.
- Acupressure.A procedure in which the specialist's hand acts on specific points, improves their blood supply, thereby easing the inflammatory process.It is important to know that pain is not allowed during acupressure.Acute pain syndrome is an absolute contraindication to this type of massage.
- Massage the affected segment.It has an excellent effect by improving blood supply to the entire area.At the same time, the soft tissues are actively renewed, which has a beneficial effect on the therapy.
- Classic massage.Due to the symptoms of the acute phase, osteochondrosis in the chest region cannot be treated with classical massage.Any vibration or movement can cause severe pain.Classic massage can only be performed after the restrictions on motor activity and the inflammatory process have been completely eliminated.
- Plastic massage.It is indicated in all stages of the disease and gives excellent results.After 5 sessions, it is recommended to switch to the next type of massage.
Since getting rid of thoracic osteochondrosis is a complex task, the combination of massage and conservative treatment is one of the most effective non-surgical therapies.
Physical exercise
The disease I-II.thoracic osteochondrosis with signs of stage 2 is treated with physical therapy, which has a beneficial effect on the muscle layers of the affected segment, strengthens the ligaments and eliminates the further development of protrusions.
If the stage of the disease is characterized by severe pain, then conservative treatment, massage, and only after that - gymnastics therapy are performed.
What is exercise therapy?It is a complex of therapeutic and preventive procedures that improve the blood supply and stability of the affected segment.
There are several exercises that have worked well:
- When exhaling, raise your arms, take a deep breath and lean back.This is followed by a slow bow with the back arched up.
- From a sitting position, using the back of the chair as support, lean back, holding your hands behind your head.
- Standing on all 4 limbs, bend and arch your back, fixing the highest and lowest possible position.
- Position - focus on lying on the stomach.Diligent bending of the upper part is performed by trying to lift the trunk off the floor.
- Training boat.
Their effectiveness depends on how diligently the patient performs each exercise.
Each exercise should be repeated 5-7 times.Warm up before starting classes to avoid sprains and injuries.
Traction
What to do if the pathology is detected at the initial stage?
In the early stages of the disease, traction is considered an excellent solution.With this procedure, the muscle spasm is eliminated and the displaced vertebrae are moved back into place.Deformation of the spinal column was overcome.
What types of towing are there:
- Dry adhesion.This procedure is easier to perform than others.If the disease is detected in the first stage, then the horizontal bar is perfect.If strong displacements and long-lasting convulsions are observed, then special beds and exercise equipment are used.These devices properly dose the load and its duration.
- Wet adhesion.It is performed in warm water, which improves blood circulation in the affected segment and, if done correctly, eliminates sudden movements.
In the case of thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms may return several times a year during treatment with classical treatment regimens.For prevention, traction and gymnastics therapy are used, which eliminate the risk of protrusions and strong displacements.
Reviews of physiotherapy procedures during the remission phase and after long-term treatment are mostly positive.The recommendations and implementation of these procedures are completely justified!
Surgery
What to do if the chosen methods do not bring results?
Due to an incorrect approach to therapy, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine progresses symptomatically after treatment and makes the patient's life unbearable.This also happens if you see a doctor too late.
Unfortunately, if the integrity of the disc is damaged and a hernia is diagnosed, surgical intervention is recommended to avoid life-threatening consequences.
After the operation, special flexible products are prescribed, and the patient's mobility is limited until complete recovery.
Conclusion
The therapy of osteochondrosis in all its stages and with any approach depends on how osteochondrosis manifests itself, how many tissues are affected, and most importantly, what is the prognosis for certain procedures.Based on these diagnostic aspects, therapeutic measures are initiated.