In the modern world, it is not just humanity that is progressing.Unfortunately, diseases that affect people are also in constant flux and evolution.
Two decades ago, symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine were rare, common in the elderly.Now the age category of patients has expanded significantly and includes women, men and children of different ages.
The rarity of the manifestations of this disease is due to the fact that the thoracic part of the spinal region is inactive, which excludes various injuries and damage.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, serious changes in the bone and cartilage tissue of the spine occur, which lead to a violation of its integrity.
If you do not contact a specialist in a timely manner, irreversible changes will occur that can only be stopped by surgical intervention.
In the chain of development of the disease, the skeletal system of the spine comes first, followed by cartilage formations, ligaments and muscles of the spine.
If osteochondrosis is diagnosed in adolescence, premature aging of the musculoskeletal system begins.
Depending on the symptoms and treatment, there are 4 degrees of development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, on which the patient's well-being depends:
- I'm getting a degree.Symptoms are mild or absent.Protrusions appear.
- II degree.Intervertebral discs lose elasticity and height.There is a loss of stability in the spine.The first pains appear.
- III.Degree.At this stage, hernias are detected with severe pain.
- IV degree.Due to the complete loss 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 gender, the degree of disease development and the patient's mobility.Most symptoms occur with some degree of stress and fatigue, as well as with staying in the same position for a long time.
How does thoracic osteochondrosis manifest itself:
- Chest pain that is particularly severe with prolonged inactivity.
- There is a feeling of pressure in the middle part of the back.It is also difficult to breathe in and out deeply.
- Pain caused when movements related to the spine are included in physical activity.Hand movements, bending, turning.
- Long-term back pain.
- Neurological disorders of certain parts of the body, which manifest themselves as numbness.
- Increased sensitivity in some areas of the skin (so-called goosebumps).
- Unpleasant sensations in the lower extremities.
- Due to vascular damage in thoracic osteochondrosis, local symptoms appear on the skin in the form of peeling.Changes also affect the nails.
- Reproductive disorders and reduced libido may occur.
Symptoms can also vary depending on 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 intervertebral disc.
- False symptoms of diseases of internal organs arising along the innervation of the pinched nerve.
- Compression symptoms.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis appear much earlier in men 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 significantly more active lifestyle.
In addition, due to the protective effect of female sex hormones, thoracic osteochondrosis in women is less pronounced and occurs later.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms and sensations may be similar to those in the development of heart disease.Therefore, examinations of heart function are also carried out when making the diagnosis.
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 feels severe pain in the back and difficulty breathing.
Before curing thoracic osteochondrosis, it is important to understand the nature of the exacerbation and the extent of the disease.Typically, the causes of such diseases are specific factors:
- stressful situations.
- Very hard work.
- Prolonged exposure to low temperature environments.
- Weightlifting or active sports.
Treatment is based primarily on an etiological approach.That is, the factor that caused the acute stage is excluded.In severe cases of the disease, a limited daily intake is recommended.Here are some principles of the approach:
- Low mobility mode.
- A diet containing large amounts of vitamins, minerals and fiber is prescribed.
- Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.
- Local therapy, including massage (according to indications), use of external forms of drugs with anti-inflammatory effects.
- Movement therapy.Only in cases where the doctor allows it.
- Physiotherapy.
Medication
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is based on the classical principles of treating pinched nerve fibers.The first step is to relieve symptoms that are causing the patient significant distress.
The drugs of choice are prescribed individually, taking into account contraindications and side effects.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy is considered primary and fundamental.The effect occurs from the first day of therapy.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis:
- NSAIDs.The drugs are taken orally or administered parenterally.They have a number of positive qualities.First, they improve the patient's quality of life and restore his ability to move normally.
Unfortunately, this group of drugs also has a number of negative indicators.Contraindications include gastrointestinal diseases.In the presence of an ulcer or acute gastritis, an absolute ban applies.In case of impaired kidney and liver function, dosage adjustment of the medication is necessary.
NSAIDs are often combined with muscle relaxants.
- Muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that significantly alleviate the patient's condition.When an inflammatory process occurs at the vertebral level, there is a strong muscle spasm of the fibers around the inflamed area.Prolonged spasm also leads to severe pain in the segmental area.Muscle relaxants eliminate these cramps and thereby relieve the pain.
Taking these medications is not recommended if the patient is driving a car or other equipment.
- Vitamin complexes.Used to relieve inflammation in nerve fibers and stabilize nerve membranes.B vitamins and nicotinic acid are used more often than others.
- Chondroprotective drugs.Combinations of chondroitin with glucosamine in different dosages.
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 at regular intervals.
Side effects are mainly observed in the gastrointestinal tract.This is flatulence and belching.
To treat thoracic osteochondrosis, special drugs are used in the form of injections.The principles of management vary.The main method is the introduction of electrophoresis in the physiotherapy room.It also comes in cream and ointment form.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, drug treatment is based on the principles of relieving the inflammatory process and freeing the pinched nerve.
It is important to note that even long anti-inflammatory treatments without other corrective treatments cannot relieve the patient of their suffering for a long time.
If the attending physician recommends massage procedures, they must be carried out.
massage
Before treating osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine with massage, a functional diagnosis is carried out and the first stage of treatment is prescribed, which includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants.
This package of measures is aimed at relieving spasms and inflammation in the area of the affected segment.Only when certain results are achieved in the first phase can one talk about the benefits of massage.
How to cure osteochondrosis of the thoracic region with massage?
Massage procedures can also relieve muscle spasticity and improve blood circulation in the damaged area.
- Acupressure.A procedure in which the hands of a specialist act on certain points, improving their blood supply and thereby relieving the inflammatory process.It is important to know that pain is not allowed during acupressure.Acute pain syndrome is an absolute contraindication to such a massage.
- Massage the affected segment.Achieves excellent effects by improving blood supply to the entire area.At the same time, the soft tissue begins to actively renew itself, which has a positive effect on therapy.
- Classic massage.Osteochondrosis in the chest area due to symptoms of the acute phase cannot be treated with classic massage.Any vibration or displacement can cause severe pain.Only after the restrictions in motor activity and the inflammatory process have been completely eliminated can a classic massage be performed.
- Plastic massage.Indicated for all stages of the disease, provides excellent results.After 5 sessions, it is recommended to move on to the next type of massage.
Since eliminating thoracic osteochondrosis is a complex task, the combination of massage with conservative treatment is considered one of the most effective non-surgical therapies.
Physical training
Thoracic osteochondrosis with signs of stages I – II of the disease is treated with physiotherapy, which has a positive effect on the muscle layers in the area of the affected segment, strengthens the ligaments and prevents further development of protrusions.
If the stage of the disease is characterized by severe pain, conservative treatment, massages are carried out first, and only after that exercise therapy.
What is exercise therapy?This is a complex of therapeutic and preventive procedures that improve the blood supply and stability of the affected segment.
There are a number of exercises that have worked well:
- As you exhale, raise your arms, bend back with a deep breath.This is followed by a slow bow with your back arched upwards.
- While sitting, lean back using the back of the chair for support and place your hands behind your head.
- Standing on four limbs, bend and arch your back, fixing the highest and lowest possible position.
- Position – focus is on the stomach.Carefully bend the upper body in an attempt to lift the upper body off the ground.
- Practice boat.
Their effectiveness depends on how carefully the patient performs each exercise.
All exercises are repeated 5 to 7 times.Do a warm-up before class begins to avoid sprains and injuries.
Traction
What to do if pathology is detected in the initial stages?
In the early stages of the disease, traction is considered an excellent solution.This procedure eliminates muscle spasms and returns displaced vertebrae to their place.Deformities of the spine are overcome.
What types of traction are there:
- Dry traction.This procedure is easier to perform than others.If the disease is detected in the first stage, a horizontal bar is perfect.If severe shifts and persistent cramps are observed, special beds and training equipment are used.These tools correctly dose the load and its duration.
- Wet traction.It is performed in warm water, which improves blood circulation to the affected segment and, if done correctly, also prevents sudden movements.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms can recur several times a year during treatment with classic therapies.For prevention, traction and exercise therapy are used, which eliminate the risk of protrusions and sharp displacements.
Reviews of physiotherapeutic procedures in the remission stages and after long-term treatment are mostly positive.The recommendations and implementation of these procedures are fully justified!
operation
What to do if the chosen methods do not produce results?
Due to an incorrect therapeutic approach, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine progresses symptomatically after treatment, making the patient's life unbearable.This also happens if you visit the doctor too late.
Unfortunately, if the integrity of the disc is compromised and a hernia is diagnosed, surgical intervention is recommended to avoid life-threatening consequences.
After the operation, special elastic products are prescribed and the patient's mobility is limited until complete recovery.
Diploma
Therapy for osteochondrosis in all stages and with all approaches depends on how the osteochondrosis manifests itself, how much tissue is affected and, above all, what the prognosis for certain interventions is.Based on these diagnostic aspects, therapeutic measures are initiated.