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 area that are quite thin. Sudden movements and excessive strain can have unpleasant consequences. But there are ways to treat the pathology.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - what is it and how is it treated
Doctors consider degenerative disc disease of the chest to be "chameleon disease" because of the difficulty in diagnosing it. In fact, we are talking about damage to the intervertebral discs. The pathology is based on high levels of physical activity and metabolic processes. Here is a list of conditions that provoke the disease:
- Scoliosis.
- Bad habits.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Genetic factors.
- Spinal injury.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Mental stress.
Note that low mobility and excessive exercise are equally harmful. Pay attention to the measure in everyday life. Exercise under the supervision of an experienced trainer. This includes spinal injuries - most often patients get them in the gym or dangerous industries.
Manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis
Many are interested in the question of how it manifests itself and how to treat breast osteochondrosis. First you need to deal with the first point. Something is going on herein your body:
- Intervertebral discs lose their shock-absorbing properties;
- the fiber ring breaks;
- Spinal nerves are impaired;
- Inflammation begins;
- pain syndrome arises;
- Ligaments and joints are destroyed.
The main features of the disease
The pathology is explained by the structure of the human body. A large number of thin intervertebral discs are localized in the chest area - they are most often destroyed. Because of the rib protection, the vertebrae are inactive, so doctors recommend exercising. Here are some more interesting facts:
- The curvature of the spine can be the cornerstone of osteochondrosis.
- The greatest curvature stress (kyphosis) is on the anterior spine.
- Discs can fall out late in the development of the disease.
- Osteophytes often grow.
- The spinal cord is not always negatively affected.
Signs of pathology
Breast osteochondrosis is accompanied by a specific set of symptoms. The severity of these signs varies widely. The symptoms are:
- Pain in the shoulder blades area (felt when bending and raising arms);
- Chest pain (worse on exertion, sharp bends, bends and cooling, and at night);
- Discomfort when walking (manifested in the ribs);
- increased pain syndrome on inhalation-exhalation;
- a tightness in the chest.
Additional symptoms may occur during exacerbations. These include burning and itching of the legs, numbness in certain parts of the body, brittle nails and peeling of the skin. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract also occur. Some patients complain of pain in the esophagus and throat. All of these signs indicate that there is an urgent need to see your doctor.
Among the complications, Dorsago stands out - "chest lumbago, " a sharp pain that has occurred in the chest. Dorsago is mostly the result of monotonous work. One type of dorsago is dorsalgia, a mild painful syndrome that lasts for about two to three weeks. The patient feels short of breath. The uncomfortable sensations are worse at night when you walk, bend over and breathe deeply.
We approach the treatment competently
What approach to the treatment of pathology can be called competent? You will not be able to completely eliminate the destructive processes, so you need to focus on preventing further deformation of the vertebral structures. Therapists face several tasks:
- Prevention of the development of pathologies.
- Restoration of the affected bone structures.
- Neutralization of negative processes that affect the nervous system.
- Improving the biomechanics of the spine.
Conservative therapy
In the initial stages, the disease can be cured with medication. The progress 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 solving the problem. 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 the muscles, relieves tension).
- Acupuncture (muscle strength and mobility are restored, numbness is treated).
- Manual therapy (normalizes blood circulation, reduces disc loading, reduces the intervertebral gap).
- Moxtotherapy (normalizes metabolism, activates recovery processes).
- Hirudotherapy (helps to remove blood congestion, prevents inflammation, strengthens the nutrition of the 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 means quickly get patients on their feet, but this practice is fraught with unpleasant side effects. Such therapy should only be attempted as a last resort.