In the modern world, it is not only humanity that is progressing.Unfortunately, diseases that attack humans also continue to move and develop.
Two decades ago, symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine were rare, often occurring in elderly people.Now the age categories of patients have expanded significantly and include women, men and children of various ages.
The rare manifestation of this disease is based on the fact that the thoracic region of the spine is inactive, thereby excluding various injuries and damage.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the bones and cartilage tissue of the spine undergo serious changes that lead to a violation of their integrity.
If you do not contact a specialist in time, irreversible changes occur, which can only be stopped by surgical intervention.
In the chain of development of this disease, the spinal-skeletal system is in first place, followed by cartilage formations, ligaments and spinal muscles.
When osteochondrosis is diagnosed in adolescence, premature aging of the musculoskeletal system begins.
According to 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 have a degree.Symptoms are mild or absent at all.A bulge occurs.
- II degree.The intervertebral discs lose their elasticity and height.There is a loss of stability in the spine.The first pain appears.
- III degree.At this stage, the hernia is detected with severe pain.
- IV degree.The bone tissue of the spine is destroyed due to loss of basic function of the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms and signs
Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine depend on gender, the degree of disease progression and the patient's mobility.Most symptoms appear with certain levels of stress and fatigue, as well as with the same position for a long time.
How thoracic osteochondrosis manifests:
- Chest pain, which is very severe if there is no activity for a long time.
- There is a feeling of pressure in the middle of the back.Inhaling and exhaling deeply is also difficult.
- Pain triggered by physical activity includes any movement related to the spine.Hand movements, bending, twisting.
- Long-term back pain.
- Neurological disorders of certain parts of the body, manifested by numbness.
- Increased sensitivity in some areas of the skin (called goosebumps).
- Unpleasant sensations in the lower extremities.
- As a result of damage to blood vessels in thoracic osteochondrosis, local symptoms in the form of peeling appear on the skin.Changes also affect the nails.
- Reproductive disorders and decreased libido may occur.
Symptoms may also differ based 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 affected disc area.
- False symptoms of internal organ disease that arise along the innervation of a pinched nerve.
- Compression symptoms.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in men appear much earlier than in women.The rest of the clinical picture is very similar.
Most differences were only seen in symptom severity, as men led more active lifestyles.
In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis in women is less pronounced and occurs later due to the protective effect of female sex hormones.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms and sensations may be similar to the development of heart disease, therefore, when making a diagnosis, a study of heart function is also carried out.
Treatment
The course of chronic diseases is different in that exacerbations can occur at any time, the symptoms are very pronounced.The patient experienced 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 cause of the condition is specific factors:
- Stressful situation.
- Very hard work.
- Prolonged exposure to low temperature environments.
- Weightlifting or active sports.
Treatment is mainly based on an etiological approach.That is, the factors causing the acute stage are excluded.In severe cases of the disease, a limited daily regimen is recommended.Here are some principles of this approach:
- Low mobility mode.
- A diet containing plenty of vitamins, minerals and fiber is prescribed.
- Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.
- Local therapy, including massage (according to indications), external use of drugs with anti-inflammatory effect.
- Sports therapy.Only if the doctor allows it.
- Physiotherapy.
Drug
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is based on the classical principles of treatment of pinched nerve fibers.The first step is to relieve the symptoms that cause severe suffering for the patient.
The selected drug is prescribed individually, taking into account contraindications and side effects.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy is considered primary and primary.The effect is visible 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 applies if there is gastritis or acute gastritis.If kidney and liver function is impaired, the drug requires dose adjustment.
NSAIDs are often combined with muscle relaxants.
- Muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that significantly alleviate the patient's condition.When the inflammatory process occurs at the spinal level, strong muscle spasms occur in the fibers around the inflamed area.Prolonged spasms also trigger severe pain in the segment area.Muscle relaxants eliminate these spasms, thereby eliminating pain.
Taking this drug is not recommended if the patient drives a car or other equipment.
- Vitamin complex.Used to relieve inflammation in nerve fibers and stabilize nerve membranes.More often than others, B vitamins and nicotinic acid are used.
- Chondroprotective drugs.Combination of chondroitin with glucosamine in various doses.
This group of drugs normalizes metabolic processes in joint tissues and has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect with glucose.The course of treatment with chondroprotectors is long-term and is repeated periodically.
Side effects are mainly observed in the digestive tract.It's bloating and burping.
To treat thoracic osteochondrosis, special drugs are used in the form of injections.Administrative principles vary.The main method is the introduction of electrophoresis in the physiotherapy room.It is also available in cream and ointment form.
For thoracic osteochondrosis, drug treatment is based on the principle of eliminating the inflammatory process and releasing the pinched nerve.
It is important to note that even long-term anti-inflammatory treatment in the absence of other corrective treatment will not be able to alleviate the patient's suffering for a long time.
If the attending physician recommends massage procedures, then they should be performed.
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 the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants.
This set of measures is aimed at eliminating spasms 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 cure osteochondrosis of the thoracic region with massage?
Massage procedures can also relieve muscle spasms and increase blood supply to the damaged area.
- acupressure.A procedure in which the hands of a specialist act on certain points, improving their blood supply, thereby reducing the inflammatory process.It is important to know that pain is not allowed during acupressure.Acute pain syndrome is an absolute contraindication to such massage.
- Massage the affected segment.Provides extraordinary effects by increasing blood supply to the entire area.At the same time, soft tissues begin to actively renew themselves, which has a beneficial effect on therapy.
- Classic massage.Osteochondrosis in the thoracic region due to acute phase symptoms cannot be treated with classical massage.Any vibration or displacement can cause severe pain.Only after the restriction of motor activity and the inflammatory process are completely eliminated can classical massage be performed.
- Plastic massage.Indicated 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 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 stage I – II disease is treated with physical therapy, which has a beneficial effect on the muscle layer 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 first conservative treatment, massage is performed, and only after that - exercise therapy.
What is exercise therapy?This is a complex therapeutic and preventive procedure that improves blood supply and stability of the affected segment.
There are a number of exercises that work well:
- Raise your arms as you exhale, bending your back with a deep breath.Followed by a slow bend with your back arched upwards.
- From a sitting position, using the back of a chair for support, bend backwards with your hands behind your head.
- Standing on 4 limbs, bend and arch your back, fixing the highest and lowest positions.
- Position – emphasis lying on your stomach.Diligent upper bends are performed with an effort to lift the torso from the floor.
- Training boat.
Its effectiveness depends on how diligently the patient performs each exercise.
All exercises are repeated 5 to 7 times.Before starting class, warm up to avoid sprains and injuries.
Attractiveness
What to do if pathology is detected at an early stage?
In the early stages of the disease, traction is considered the best solution.Through this procedure, muscle spasm is eliminated and the displaced vertebra is returned to its place.Spinal deformity resolved.
What types of traction are there:
- Dry traction.This procedure is easier to carry out than others.If the disease is detected in the first stages, then the horizontal bar is perfect.If there are strong displacements and prolonged spasms, then special bedding and exercise equipment are used.These tools dose the load and its duration correctly.
- Wet traction.It is performed with warm water, which improves blood circulation in the affected segment, and also, if done correctly, eliminates sudden movements.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms during treatment with the classical regimen may reappear several times a year.For prevention, traction and exercise therapy are used, which eliminate the risk of strong protrusions and displacements.
Reviews of physiotherapeutic procedures in the remission stage and after long-term treatment are mostly positive.The recommendation and implementation of this procedure is completely justified!
Operation
What to do if the chosen method does not bring results?
Due to the wrong therapeutic approach, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine develops symptomatically after treatment and makes the patient's life unbearable.This also occurs due to being late in visiting a doctor.
Unfortunately, if the integrity of the intervertebral disc is compromised and a hernia is diagnosed, surgical intervention is recommended to avoid life-threatening consequences.
After surgery, special elastic products are prescribed and the patient's mobility is limited until complete recovery.
Conclusion
Therapy for osteochondrosis at all its stages and with any approach depends on how osteochondrosis manifests itself, how much tissue is affected, and most importantly, what the prognosis is for a particular procedure.Based on these diagnostic aspects, therapeutic measures are initiated.