Cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis is a common phenomenon. However, thoracic osteochondrosis is 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 pathological treatments.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - what is it and how it is treated
Doctors consider degenerative disc disease of the chest "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. List of conditions that cause the disease:
- Scoliosis.
- Bad habits.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Genetic factors.
- Spinal cord injury.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Mental stress.
Keep in mind that low mobility and excessive exercise are equally harmful. Follow the measure in your daily life. Train under the supervision of an experienced coach. This includes spinal injuries - most often taken by patients in the gym or in hazardous industries.
Manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis
Many are wondering how it manifests itself and how to treat thoracic osteochondrosis. You have to deal with the first point first. Here's what happensinside your body:
- intervertebral discs lose shock absorption properties;
- the fibrous ring cracks;
- spinal nerves are damaged;
- inflammation begins;
- pain syndrome occurs;
- bonds and joints are destroyed.
The main features of the disease
The pathology is explained by the structure of the human body. Numerous thin discs are localized in the thoracic region - they are the most destroyed. Due to costal protection, the vertebrae are immobile, so doctors recommend exercise. Here are some more interesting facts:
- Curvature of the spine can be the cornerstone of osteochondrosis.
- The greatest stress in curvature (kyphosis) is in the front of the spine.
- Discs may fall late in the development of the disease.
- The growth of osteophytes is common.
- The spinal cord does not always have a negative effect.
Symptoms of pathology
Chest osteochondrosis is accompanied by a certain set of symptoms. The severity of these symptoms varies greatly. The symptoms are:
- pain in the area of the shoulder blades (felt when bending and lifting the arms);
- chest pain (worse with force, sharp bends, twists and cooling, as well as at night);
- discomfort during walking (manifests itself in the ribs);
- increased pain syndrome during inhalation-exhalation;
- feeling of tightness in the chest.
With exacerbation, additional symptoms may appear. These include burning and itching of the feet, numbness in certain areas of the body, brittle nails and peeling of the skin. Gastrointestinal disorders also occur. Some patients complain of pain in the esophagus and pharynx. All of these symptoms indicate that you need to see a doctor immediately.
Among the complications is dorsago - "chest lumbago", a sharp pain in the chest. Often dorsago is the result of monotonous work. One type of dorsalgia is dorsalgia, a mild painful syndrome that lasts about two to three weeks. The patient feels shortness of breath. Unpleasant feelings get worse at night, when walking, bending over and taking deep breaths.
We approach treatment skillfully
What approach to the treatment of pathology can be called authoritative? You will not be able to completely get rid of the destructive processes, so you need to be careful to prevent further deformation of the vertebral structures. Therapists set themselves several tasks:
- Prevention 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 early stages, the disease can be treated with drugs. The development of pathology slows down, the pain stops. Here are the most effective drug groups:
- 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 treatment. Usually 2-3 sessions are enough for the patient to feel comfortable. The following techniques are used:
- Acupressure massage (relaxes muscles, relieves tension).
- Acupuncture (restores muscle strength and mobility, treats numbness).
- Manual therapy (normalizes blood circulation, reduces disc load, reduces intervertebral spaces).
- 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. Experience shows that authorized non-drug treatment saves the spine in 97-99% of cases. Conservative remedies put patients on their feet quickly, but this approach is accompanied by unpleasant side effects. Such therapy should be taken only as a last resort.