In the modern world, humanity is not the only one to progress.Unfortunately, diseases that affect humans are also constantly changing and developing.
Twenty years ago, symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine were rare, often in older people.Today, the age categories of patients have expanded significantly and include women, men and children of different 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 damage.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the bone and cartilaginous tissues 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 the disease, the skeletal system of the spine comes first, followed by the cartilaginous formations, ligaments and muscles of the spine.
When osteochondrosis is diagnosed in juvenile age, premature aging of the musculoskeletal system begins.
There are 4 degrees of development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine depending on the symptoms and treatment, on which the patient's well-being depends:
- I graduated.Symptoms are mild or completely absent.Protrusions occur.
- IInd degree.The intervertebral discs lose their elasticity and height.There is a loss of spinal stability.The first pains appear.
- III degree.At this stage, hernias are detected with severe pain.
- IVth degree.The bone tissue of the spine is destroyed due to the complete deprivation of the intervertebral discs of their basic functions.
Symptoms and signs
Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine depend on gender, the degree of development of the disease and the mobility of the patient.Most symptoms appear with certain degrees of stress and fatigue, as well as with prolonged stay in the same position.
How does thoracic osteochondrosis manifest:
- Chest pain, particularly intense during prolonged periods of inactivity.
- There is a feeling of pressure in the middle of the back.Deep inhalations and exhalations are also difficult.
- Pain caused when movements associated with the spine are included in physical activity.Hand movements, flexion, rotation.
- Long-term back pain.
- Neurological disorders of certain parts of the body, which manifest as numbness.
- Increased sensitivity of certain areas of the skin (so-called goosebumps).
- Unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs.
- Due to vascular lesions associated with thoracic osteochondrosis, local symptoms appear on the skin in the form of peeling.The changes also affect the nails.
- Reproductive disorders and decreased libido may occur.
Symptoms may also differ depending on gender.The signs of thoracic osteochondrosis in women are somewhat 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.
- 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 only appear in the severity of symptoms, since men lead much 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 those observed during the development of heart disease.Therefore, during diagnosis, studies of the functioning of the heart are also carried out.
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.As a rule, the causes of such conditions are specific factors:
- Stressful situations.
- Very hard work.
- Prolonged exposure to low temperature environments.
- Weightlifting or active sports.
Treatment is primarily based on an etiological approach.That is, the factor that caused the acute phase is excluded.In severe cases of the disease, a limited daily diet is recommended.Here are some principles of the approach:
- Low mobility mode.
- A diet containing large amounts of vitamins, minerals and fiber is prescribed.
- Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.
- Local therapy, including massage (according to indications), the use of external forms of drugs with anti-inflammatory effect.
- Exercise therapy.Only in cases where the doctor allows it.
- Physiotherapy.
Drugs
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is based on the classic principles of treatment of pinched nerve fibers.The first step is to relieve the symptoms that are causing significant suffering to the patient.
The drugs of choice are prescribed individually, taking into account contraindications and side effects.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory treatment is considered primary and main.Its effects appear from the first day of therapy.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis:
- NSAIDs.Medications are taken orally or administered parenterally.They have a number of positive properties.First of all, they improve the patient’s quality of life by restoring their ability to move normally.
Unfortunately, this group of drugs also has a number of negative indicators.Contraindications include gastrointestinal diseases.An absolute ban is imposed in the presence of an ulcer or acute gastritis.If kidney and liver function are impaired, medications require dosage adjustment.
NSAIDs are often combined with muscle relaxants.
- Muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that significantly alleviate the patient's condition.When an inflammatory process occurs at the vertebral level, a strong muscle spasm of the fibers around the inflamed area occurs.A prolonged spasm also causes severe pain in the segment area.Muscle relaxers eliminate this spasm, thereby relieving pain.
Taking these medications is not recommended if the patient drives a car or other equipment.
- Vitamin complexes.Used to relieve inflammation of nerve fibers and stabilize nerve membranes.More often than others, B vitamins and nicotinic acid are used.
- Chondroprotective drugs.Combinations of chondroitin and glucosamine in different dosages.
This group of drugs normalizes metabolic processes in joint tissues and has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect with glucose.Treatment with chondroprotectors is long-term and repeated at regular intervals.
Side effects are mainly observed in the gastrointestinal tract.It's bloating and belching.
To treat thoracic osteochondrosis, special drugs are used in the form of injections.The principles of administration vary.The main method is the introduction of electrophoresis in the physiotherapy room.It also comes in cream and ointment form.
For thoracic osteochondrosis, drug treatment is based on the principles of relieving the inflammatory process and freeing the pinched nerve.
It is important to note that even long-term anti-inflammatory treatments, in the absence of other corrective treatments, will not be able to relieve the patient of suffering for a long time.
If the attending physician recommends massage procedures, these should be carried out.
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 taking anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants.
This set of measures is aimed at relieving spasms and inflammation in the area of the affected segment.Only after initially achieving certain results can we talk about the benefits of massage.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the thoracic region with massage?
Massage procedures can additionally relieve muscle spasticity and improve blood supply to the damaged area.
- Acupressure.A procedure where the hands of a specialist act on specific points, improving their blood supply, thereby relieving 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.Gives excellent effects by improving 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 of the thoracic region due to symptoms of the acute phase cannot be treated with classic massage.Any vibration or movement can cause severe pain.Only after complete removal of restrictions on motor activity and the inflammatory process can classic massage be performed.
- Plastic massage.Indicated at all stages of the disease, gives excellent results.After 5 sessions, it is recommended to move on to the next type of massage.
Since getting rid 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 stages I - II of the disease is treated by physical therapy, 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, first conservative treatment, massage is carried out, and only after that - exercise therapy.
What is exercise therapy?This is a set of therapeutic and preventive procedures that improve blood supply and stability of the affected segment.
There are a number of exercises that have worked well:
- Raise your arms as you exhale, lean back as you inhale deeply.This is followed by a slow bow with the back arched upward.
- While seated, using the back of a chair for support, lean back with your hands behind your head.
- Standing on all fours, bend and arch your back, fixing the highest and lowest positions possible.
- Position – emphasis lying on your stomach.A diligent top bend is performed while trying to lift the torso off the ground.
- Exercise boat.
Their effectiveness depends on how diligently the patient performs each exercise.
All exercises are repeated 5-7 times.Before starting classes, do a warm-up to avoid sprains and injuries.
Traction
What to do if a pathology is detected at the initial stage?
In the early stages of the disease, traction is considered an excellent solution.Thanks to this procedure, muscle spasms are eliminated and the displaced vertebrae return to their place.Spinal deformity is overcome.
What types of traction are there:
- Dry traction.This procedure is easier to perform than others.If the disease is detected at the first stage, a horizontal bar is perfect.If strong displacements and prolonged spasms are observed, special beds and exercise equipment are used.These tools correctly dose the load and its duration.
- Wet traction.It is carried out in warm water, which improves blood circulation in the affected segment and, if done correctly, eliminates sudden movements.
In case of thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms during treatment with classic regimens may reappear several times a year.For prevention, traction and exercise therapy are used, which eliminate the risk of protrusions and strong displacements.
Reviews of physiotherapeutic procedures in the remission phase and after long-term treatment are mostly positive.The recommendations and implementation of these procedures are completely justified!
Surgery
What to do if the chosen methods do not produce results?
Due to improper treatment approach, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine progresses symptomatically after treatment and makes the patient's life unbearable.This also happens if you visit the doctor too late.
Unfortunately, if the integrity of the intervertebral disc is compromised and a herniation is diagnosed, surgical intervention is recommended to avoid potentially life-threatening consequences.
After the operation, special elastic products are prescribed and the patient's mobility is limited until complete recovery.
Conclusion
Treatment of osteochondrosis at all its stages and regardless of the approach depends on how osteochondrosis manifests itself, how much tissue is affected and, most importantly, the prognosis of certain procedures.Based on these diagnostic aspects, therapeutic measures are initiated.