Flekosteel Official site
Share this

Thoracic osteochondrosis - manifestation and methods of treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine is a common occurrence. 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 have unpleasant consequences. But there are ways to treat the pathology.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - what is it and how is it treated

the doctor demonstrates thoracic osteochondrosis on the model

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

  1. Scoliosis.
  2. Bad habits.
  3. Sedentary lifestyle.
  4. Genetic factors.
  5. Injury to the spine.
  6. Excessive physical activity.
  7. Mental stress.

Note that poor mobility and excessive exercise are also harmful. In everyday life, watch the measure. Exercise under the supervision of an experienced coach. This also includes injuries to the spine - most often patients receive them in the gym or in hazardous industries.

Manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis

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

  • intervertebral discs lose their shock absorbing properties;
  • the fibrous ring cracks;
  • the spinal nerves are damaged;
  • inflammation begins;
  • pain syndrome appears;
  • ligaments and joints are destroyed.

The main features of the disease

upright posture and scoliosis with thoracic osteochondrosis

The pathology is explained by the very structure of the human body. A large number of thin discs are localized in the thoracic region - most often they are subject to destruction. Due to the costal protection, the vertebrae are inactive, so doctors recommend exercise. Here are some more interesting facts:

  1. The curvature of the spine can be the cornerstone of osteochondrosis.
  2. The greatest curvature stress (kyphosis) is on the anterior spine.
  3. The discs can fall off late in the development of the disease.
  4. Growth of osteophytes often occurs.
  5. The spinal cord is not always negatively affected.

Signs of pathology

Osteochondrosis of the breast is accompanied by a certain set of symptoms. The severity of these signs varies widely. The symptoms are:

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

With exacerbations, additional symptoms may appear. These include burning and itching of the legs, numbness in certain areas of the body, brittle nails, and peeling 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 urgently need to see your doctor.

Among the complications stands out dorsago - "thoracic lumbago", a sharp pain that appeared in the chest. Most often, dorsago is the result of monotonous work. One type of back pain is back pain, a mild pain syndrome that lasts about two to three weeks. The patient feels short of breath. Unpleasant sensations are worse at night, when walking, bending over and breathing deeply.

We approach treatment competently

What approach to the treatment of pathology can be called competent? You will not be able to get rid of destructive processes completely, so you need to focus on preventing further deformation of spinal structures. Therapists set themselves several tasks:

  1. Prevention of the development of pathology.
  2. Restoration of affected bone structures.
  3. Neutralization of negative processes affecting the nervous system.
  4. Improve the biomechanics of the spine.

Conservative therapy

In the early stages, the disease can be cured with medication. The progression of the pathology slows down, the pain is stopped. We list the most effective groups of drugs:

  • NSAIDs;
  • diuretics;
  • glucocorticoids;
  • 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 to 3 sessions are enough for the patient to feel relieved. The following techniques are used:

  1. Acupressure massage (relaxes muscles, relieves tension).
  2. Acupuncture (muscle strength and mobility are restored, numbness is treated).
  3. Manual therapy (normalizes blood circulation, reduces the load on the disc, reduces intervertebral spaces).
  4. Moxtotherapy (normalizes metabolism, activates recovery processes).
  5. Hirudotherapy (helps get rid of blood congestion, prevents inflammation, strengthens the nutrition of ligaments and muscles).

Many patients seek help from Tibetan medicine centers. Practice shows that competent non-drug treatment saves the spine in 97-99% of cases. Conservative remedies quickly get patients back on their feet, but this approach comes with unpleasant side effects. Such therapy should only be considered as a last resort.