Osteochondrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine is a common phenomenon. But thoracic osteochondrosis is much less common. There are many intervertebral discs in the chest region, and they are quite thin. Sudden movements and excessive loads can lead to unpleasant consequences. But there are ways to treat the pathology.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - what it is and how it is treated
Doctors consider degenerative thoracic disc disease a "chameleon disease" because of the difficulty of diagnosis. We are actually talking about intervertebral disc damage. The pathology is based on high physical activity and metabolic processes. Here is a list of conditions that provoke the disease:
- Scoliosis.
- Bad habits.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Genetic factors.
- Spinal cord injury.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Mental stress.
Note that low mobility and excessive exercise are just as harmful. In everyday life, observe the measure. Exercise under the supervision of an experienced trainer. This includes spinal cord injuries - most often, patients get them in the gym or in hazardous industries.
Manifestations of osteochondrosis of the chest
Many are interested in the question of how is osteochondrosis of the chest manifested and treated. First you need to deal with the first point. Here is what is happeninginside your body:
- intervertebral discs lose their shock-absorbing properties;
- fibrous ring cracking;
- spinal nerves are damaged;
- inflammation begins;
- pain syndrome appears;
- ligaments and joints are destroyed.
The main features of the disease
The pathology is explained by the very structure of the human body. A large number of thin disks are located in the thoracic region - they are most often subject to destruction. Due to the rib protection, the vertebrae are inactive, so doctors recommend exercises. Here are some more interesting facts:
- Bending of the spine can be the cornerstone of osteochondrosis.
- The greatest stress in bending (kyphosis) lies in the front of the spine.
- The discs may fall late in the development of the disease.
- Osteophyte growth often occurs.
- The spinal cord is not always negatively affected.
Signs of pathology
Chest osteochondrosis is accompanied by a certain set of symptoms. The severity of these signs varies greatly. The symptoms are:
- pain in the area of the shoulder blades (felt when bending and raising the arms);
- chest pain (worse with exertion, sharp turns, bending and cooling, as well as at night);
- discomfort while walking (manifested in the ribs);
- increased pain-exhalation pain syndrome;
- a feeling of tightness in the chest.
With exacerbations, additional symptoms may appear. These include burning and itching of the feet, numbness in certain areas of the body, brittle nails and peeling skin. Gastrointestinal disorders also occur. Some patients complain of pain in the esophagus and pharynx. All of these signs indicate that you need to see your doctor urgently.
Among the complications is dorsago - "lumbago of the chest", a sharp pain that has arisen in the chest. Most often, dorsago is the result of monotonous work. One type of dorsago is dorsalgia, a mildly painful syndrome that lasts about two to three weeks. The patient feels short of breath. Unpleasant sensations worsen at night, when you walk, bend over and take deep breaths.
We approach treatment competently
Which approach to the treatment of pathology can be called competent? You will not be able to completely get rid of the destructive processes, so you should focus on preventing further deformations of the vertebral structures. Therapists set themselves several tasks:
- Prevention of the development of pathology.
- Restoration of affected bone structures.
- Neutralization of negative processes affecting the nervous system.
- Improving the biomechanics of the spine.
Conservative therapy
In the initial stages, the disease can be cured with medication. The progression of the pathology slows down, the pain stops. We list the most effective groups of drugs:
- NSAIDs;
- diuretics;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- chondroprotectors;
- metabolic stimulants.
Drug-free treatment
Doctors recommend a comprehensive approach to problem solving. Acute pain can be relieved with non-drug therapy. Usually 2-3 sessions are enough for the patient to feel relief. The following techniques are used:
- Acupressure massage (relaxes muscles, relieves tension).
- Acupuncture (muscle strength and mobility is restored, numbness is treated).
- Manual therapy (normalizes blood circulation, reduces disc load, reduces intervertebral gaps).
- Moxtotherapy (normalizes metabolism, activates recovery processes).
- Hirudotherapy (helps to get rid of blood clots, prevents inflammation, strengthens the nutrition of ligaments and muscles).
Many patients seek help from Tibetan medical centers. Practice shows that competent non-drug treatment saves the spine in 97-99 percent of cases. Conservative remedies quickly put patients on their feet, but this approach is associated with unpleasant side effects. Such therapy should be treated only as a last resort.