Thoracic osteochondrosis - manifestation and methods of treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine is common. But thoracic osteochondrosis is much less common. There are many intervertebral discs in the thoracic region and they are quite thin. Sudden movements and excessive loads can lead to unpleasant consequences. But there are ways to treat the pathology.

Chest osteochondrosis - what it is and how it is treated

Doctors consider thoracic degenerative disc disease a "chameleon disease" due to the difficulty of diagnosis. In fact, we are talking about damage to the intervertebral discs. The pathology is based on high physical activity and metabolic processes. Here is a list of conditions that provoke the disease:

1. scoliosis.
2. Bad habits.
3. Sedentary way of life.
4. Genetic factors.
5. Damage to the spine.
6. Excessive physical activity.
7. Mental stress.

Keep in mind that low mobility and excessive exercise are equally harmful. Follow the measure in everyday life. Exercise under the supervision of an experienced coach. This includes injuries to the spine - most often patients receive them in the gym or in hazardous industries.

Manifestations of osteochondrosis of the chest

Many are interested in the question of how it manifests itself and how to treat osteochondrosis of the breast. You have to deal with the first point first. Here's what's happeninginside your body:

• intervertebral discs lose their cushioning properties;
• the fibrous ring cracks;
• spinal nerves are damaged;
• inflammation begins;
• pain syndrome occurs;
• 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 discs are located in the chest area - they are most often subject to destruction. Due to the rib protection, the vertebrae are inactive, so doctors recommend exercise. Here are some more interesting facts:

1. The curvature of the spine may be the cornerstone of osteochondrosis.
2. The greatest tension in distortion (kyphosis) is on the front of the spine.
3. The discs may fall out late in the development of the disease.
4. Osteophyte growth is often observed.
5. The spinal cord is not always negatively affected.

Signs of pathology

Chest osteochondrosis is accompanied by a set of symptoms. The severity of these symptoms varies widely. The symptoms are:

• pain in the shoulder blades (felt when bending and lifting the arms);
• chest pain (worsens with exertion, sharp turns, turns and cooling, as well as at night);
• discomfort when walking (manifested in the ribs);
• syndrome of increased pain during inhalation-exhalation;
• feeling of tightness in the chest.

Additional symptoms may occur with exacerbations. These include burning and itching of the feet, tingling in certain areas of the body, brittle nails and flaking of the skin. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract also occur. Some patients complain of pain in the esophagus and pharynx. All these signs indicate that you need to see your doctor urgently.

Among the complications is dorsago - "lumbago of the chest", a sharp pain in the chest. Most often, dorsago is the result of monotonous work. Dorsago is a type of dorsalgia, a mild pain syndrome that lasts for about two to three weeks. The patient is short of breath. Unpleasant sensations intensify at night, when walking, bending down and breathing deeply.

We approach the treatment competently

What 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 need to focus on preventing further deformation of the spinal structures. Therapists set themselves several tasks:

1. Prevent the development of pathology.
2. Restoration of affected bone structures.
3. Neutralization of negative processes affecting the nervous system.
4. 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 holistic approach to solving the problem. Acute pain can be relieved with non-drug therapy. Usually 2-3 sessions are enough to make the patient feel relieved. The following techniques are used:

1. Acupressure massage (relaxes muscles, relieves tension).
2. Acupuncture (restores muscle strength and mobility, treats tingling).
3. Manual therapy (normalizes blood circulation, reduces the load on the disc, reduces intervertebral spaces).
4. Moxotherapy (normalizes metabolism, activates recovery processes).
5. 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 means quickly put patients on their feet, but this approach is accompanied by unpleasant side effects. Such therapy should be used only as a last resort.