In the modern world, not only humanity is progressing.Unfortunately, the diseases that affect humans are also in constant motion and development.
Two decades ago, symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest were rare, often in the elderly.Now the age categories of patients have expanded significantly and include women, men and children of various 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 damages.
In osteochondrosis of the chest, the bone and cartilage tissue of the spine undergoes serious changes that lead to a violation of their integrity.
If you do not contact a specialist in time, irreversible changes occur that can only be stopped by surgical intervention.
In the chain of development of the disease, the first place is the skeletal system of the spine, followed by the cartilaginous formations, ligaments and muscles of the spine.
When osteochondrosis is diagnosed in adolescence, premature aging of the musculoskeletal system begins.
There are 4 degrees of development of osteochondrosis of the chest according to the symptoms and treatment, on which the patient's well-being depends:
- I degree.Symptoms are mild or completely absent.Protrusions appear.
- II degree.Intervertebral discs lose elasticity and height.There is a loss of spinal stability.The first pains appear.
- III degree.At this stage, the hernia is detected with severe pain.
- IV degree.The bone tissue of the spine is destroyed due to the complete deprivation of the intervertebral discs of their main functions.
Symptoms and signs
Signs of osteochondrosis of the chest depend on the gender, the degree of development of the disease and the mobility of the patient.Most of the symptoms appear with certain degrees of stress and fatigue, as well as with prolonged stay in the same position.
How does thoracic osteochondrosis manifest itself:
- Chest pain that is particularly severe during prolonged periods of inactivity.
- Pressure is felt in the middle of the back.Deep inhalations and exhalations are also difficult.
- Pain that is provoked when all movements related to the spine are included in physical activity.Arm movements, bending, turning.
- Chronic back pain.
- Neurological disorders of certain parts of the body that are manifested by numbness.
- Increased sensitivity of some areas of the skin (so-called goose feet).
- Unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs.
- Due to vascular damage in thoracic osteochondrosis, local symptoms appear on the skin in the form of peeling.The changes also affect the nails.
- Reproductive disorders and decreased libido are possible.
Symptoms may also differ by gender.Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis in women are slightly 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 internal organs that occur along the innervation of the pinched nerve.
- Symptoms of compression.
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 appear only in the severity of symptoms, as men lead a much more active lifestyle.
Also, breast osteochondrosis in women is less pronounced and appears later due to the protective effect of female sex hormones.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms and sensations can be similar to those during the development of heart diseases, which is why heart function tests are also performed during diagnosis.
Treatment
The chronic course of the disease is different in that an exacerbation can develop at any time, the symptoms of which are very pronounced.The patient experiences severe back pain and difficulty breathing.
Before curing thoracic osteochondrosis, it is important to understand the nature of the exacerbation and the extent of the disease.Usually, the causes of such conditions are specific factors:
- Stressful situations.
- Very hard work.
- Prolonged exposure to a low temperature environment.
- Weight lifting or active sports.
Treatment is primarily based on an etiological approach.That is, the factor that caused the acute stage is excluded.In severe cases of the disease, a limited daily regime is recommended.Here are some principles of the approach:
- Low mobility mode.
- A diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber is prescribed.
- Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.
- Local therapy, including massages (according to indications), use of external forms of drugs with an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Exercise therapy.Only in cases where the doctor allows it.
- Physiotherapy.
Medicines
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest is based on the classical principles of treatment of pinched nerve fibers.The first step is to relieve the symptoms that are causing the patient significant distress.
Selected drugs are prescribed individually, taking into account contraindications and side effects.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy is considered basic and fundamental.Its effect is manifested from the first day of therapy.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis:
- NSAIDs.Medicines are taken orally or administered parenterally.They have a number of positive properties.First of all, they improve the patient's quality of life, restoring his ability to move normally.
Unfortunately, this group of drugs also has a number of negative indicators.Contraindications include gastrointestinal diseases.An absolute prohibition is imposed in the presence of an ulcer or acute gastritis.If the function of the kidneys and liver is impaired, the drugs require dose adjustment.
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 spinal level, a strong muscle spasm occurs in the fibers around the inflamed area.Prolonged spasm also provokes severe pain in the region of the segment.Muscle relaxants eliminate this spasm, thereby relieving pain.
Taking these drugs is not recommended if the patient drives a car or other equipment.
- Vitamin complexes.It is 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 doses.
This group of drugs normalizes metabolic processes in joint tissue and has a strong anti-inflammatory effect with glucose.The course of treatment with chondroprotectors is prolonged and repeated at intervals.
Side effects are mainly seen in the gastrointestinal tract.This is bloating 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.Also available in cream and ointment form.
In thoracic osteochondrosis, medical treatment is based on the principles of relieving the inflammatory process and releasing the pinched nerve.
It is important to note that even long courses of anti-inflammatory treatment in the absence of other corrective courses of treatment will not be able to free the patient from suffering for a long time.
If the attending physician recommends massage procedures, they should be performed.
massage
Before treating osteochondrosis of the chest with massage, a functional diagnosis is performed and the first stage of treatment is prescribed, which includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants.
This set of measures is aimed at relieving spasm and inflammation in the area of the affected segment.Only after achieving certain results in the first stage can we talk about the benefits of massage.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the chest with massage?
Massage treatments can further relieve muscle spasticity and improve blood supply to the injured area.
- Acupressure.A procedure in which the hands of a specialist act on certain points, improving their blood supply, thus relieving the inflammatory process.It is important to know that pain is not allowed with acupressure.Acute pain syndrome is an absolute contraindication for such a massage.
- Massage the affected segment.It gives an excellent effect by improving blood supply to the entire area.At the same time, the soft tissues begin to actively renew, which has a beneficial effect on the therapy.
- Classic massage.Osteochondrosis in the chest area due to symptoms of the acute phase cannot be treated with classical massage.Any vibrations or displacements can cause severe pain.Only after the complete removal of restrictions on motor activity and the inflammatory process can a classic massage be performed.
- Plastic massage.Shown for all stages of the disease, gives excellent results.After 5 sessions, it is recommended to move on to the next type of massage.
Since the removal of 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 the I-II stage of the disease is treated with physiotherapy, which has a beneficial effect on the muscle layers in the area 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, massages, and only then - exercise therapy are carried out first.
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 a number of exercises that have worked well:
- Raise your arms while exhaling, bend back with a deep breath.This is followed by a slow bow with the back arched upwards.
- From a seated position, using the back of a chair for support, lean back with your hands behind your head.
- Standing on all fours, bend and arch the back, fixing the highest and lowest possible position.
- Position - emphasis lying on the stomach.Diligent bending at the top is performed with an attempt to lift the torso off the floor.
- Exercise boat.
Their effectiveness depends on how thoroughly the patient performs each exercise.
All exercises are repeated 5 to 7 times.Before starting classes, warm up to avoid sprains and injuries.
Traction
What to do if the pathology is detected in the initial stage?
In the early stages of the disease, traction is considered an excellent solution.Through this procedure, the muscle spasm is removed and the displaced vertebrae are returned to their place.Deformation of the spine is overcome.
What types of traction are there:
- Dry thrust.This procedure is easier to perform than others.If the disease is detected at the first stage, the horizontal strip is ideal.If strong displacements and prolonged spasms are observed, then special beds and exercise equipment are used.These tools correctly dose the load and its duration.
- Wet traction.It is performed in warm water, which improves blood circulation in the affected segment, and also, if done correctly, eliminates sudden movements.
In case of thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms during treatment with classical regimens may appear several times a year.For prevention, traction and training therapy are used, which eliminate the risk of protrusions and strong displacements.
Reviews of physiotherapy procedures in the stages of remission and after long-term treatment are mostly positive.The recommendations and implementation of these procedures are fully justified!
surgery
What to do if the chosen methods do not give results?
Due to a wrong approach to therapy, osteochondrosis of the chest progresses according to the symptoms after treatment and makes the patient's life unbearable.This also happens due to the late visit to the doctor.
Unfortunately, if the integrity of the intervertebral disc is broken 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 restricted until full recovery.
Conclusion
Therapy for osteochondrosis at all its stages and with any approaches depends on how osteochondrosis manifests itself, how much tissue is affected and most importantly - what is the prognosis for certain procedures.Based on these diagnostic aspects, therapeutic measures are initiated.