In the modern world, it is not just humanity that is progressing.Unfortunately, diseases that affect people are also constantly moving and developing.
Two decades ago, symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine were rare, often in older people.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 damage.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the bone and cartilaginous tissue of the spine undergoes serious changes leading to a violation of their integrity.
If you do not contact a specialist in a timely manner, irreversible changes occur that can only be stopped with surgery.
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 at a young age, premature aging of the musculoskeletal system begins.
There are 4 degrees of development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine based on symptoms and treatment, on which the patient's well-being depends:
- I graduate.Symptoms are mild or completely absent.Protrusions occur.
- II degree.The intervertebral discs lose elasticity and height.There is a loss of stability in the spine.The first pains appear.
- III degree.At this stage, hernias are 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 basic functions.
Symptoms and signs
Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine depend on the sex, degree of development of the disease and mobility of the patient.Most symptoms manifest themselves with a certain degree of stress and fatigue, as well as prolonged stay in the same position.
How does thoracic osteochondrosis manifest itself:
- Chest pain, especially severe 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 that is caused when movements associated with the spine are included in physical activity.Hand movements, bending, turning.
- Long-term back pain.
- Neurological disorders of certain parts of the body, manifested by numbness.
- Increased sensitivity of certain areas of the skin (so-called goosebumps).
- Unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs.
- Due to vascular damage in thoracic osteochondrosis, local symptoms appear on the skin in the form of scaling.The changes also affect the nails.
- Reproductive disorders and decreased libido may occur.
Symptoms may also differ based on gender.The signs of thoracic osteochondrosis in women are slightly different from those in men.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in women:
- Local pain syndrome in the affected disc area.
- False symptoms of diseases of internal organs that arise 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 are found only in the severity of symptoms, as men lead a much more active lifestyle.
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 can be similar to those of the development of heart disease, therefore, when making a diagnosis, studies of the functioning of the heart are also carried out.
Treatment
The chronic course of the disease is different in that at any time an exacerbation can develop, the symptoms of which are very pronounced.The patient experiences severe back pain and difficulty breathing.
Before treating thoracic osteochondrosis, it is important to understand the nature of the exacerbation and the extent of the disease.Typically, 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 mainly based on an etiological approach.That is, the factor that caused the acute phase is excluded.In more severe cases of the disease, a limited daily regimen is recommended.Here are some principles of the approach:
- Low mobility mode.
- A diet containing large amounts of vitamins, minerals and fiber is prescribed.
- Pharmacological treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.
- Local therapy, including massages (according to indications), the use of external forms of drugs with anti-inflammatory effect.
- Physical therapy.Only in cases where the doctor allows it.
- Physiotherapy.
Medicines
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is based on the classical principles of the treatment of pinched nerve fibers.The first step is to relieve the symptoms that cause significant suffering to the patient.
Drugs of choice are prescribed individually, taking into account contraindications and side effects.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy is considered primary and main.Its effects are evident from the first day of therapy.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis:
- NSAIDs.The drugs 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 the ability to move normally.
Unfortunately, this group of drugs also has a number of negative indicators.Contraindications include gastrointestinal diseases.In the presence of ulcer or acute gastritis, an absolute ban is imposed.If kidney and liver function is impaired, drugs 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 spinal level, a strong muscle spasm of the fibers occurs around the inflamed area.Prolonged spasm also causes severe pain in the segment area.Muscle relaxants eliminate this spasm, thus relieving the pain.
Taking these drugs is not recommended if the patient drives a car or other equipment.
- Vitamin complexes.Used to relieve inflammation in nerve fibers and stabilize nerve membranes.More often than others, B vitamins and nicotinic acid are used.
- Chondroprotective drugs.Combinations of chondroitin with glucosamine in various dosages.
This group of drugs normalizes metabolic processes in the joint tissue and has a strong anti-inflammatory effect with glucose.The treatment cycle with chondroprotectors is long-term and repeated at intervals.
Side effects are mainly observed in the gastrointestinal tract.This is bloating and belching.
To treat thoracic osteochondrosis, special drugs in the form of injections are used.Stewardship principles vary.The main method is the introduction of electrophoresis in the physiotherapy room.It is also available in the form of cream and ointment.
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 courses of anti-inflammatory treatment in the absence of other courses of corrective treatment will not be able to relieve the patient's suffering for a long time.
If the attending physician recommends massage procedures, they should be performed.
Massage
Before treating osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine with massage, a functional diagnosis is made and the first stage of treatment is prescribed, which includes taking anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant drugs.
This series of measures is aimed at relieving spasm and inflammation in the area of the affected segment.Only after achieving certain results in the first phase can we talk about the benefits of massage.
How to cure osteochondrosis of the thoracic region with massage?
Massage procedures can also relieve muscle spasticity and improve blood flow to the damaged area.
- Acupressure.A procedure in which the hands of a specialist act on specific points, improving their blood supply, thus 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.It gives excellent effects by improving blood supply to the entire area.At the same time, soft tissues begin to actively renew, which has a beneficial effect on therapy.
- Classic massage.Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region due to the symptoms of the acute phase cannot be treated with classical massage.Any vibrations or movements can cause severe pain.Only after the complete elimination of restrictions on motor activity and the inflammatory process can classic massage be performed.
- Plastic massage.Indicated for all phases of the disease, it 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 stages I – II of the disease is treated with 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, conservative treatment, massage are performed first, and only then physical therapy.
What is physical therapy?This is a complex 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, bend backwards 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 backwards with your hands behind your head.
- Standing on 4 limbs, bend and arch your back, fixing the highest and lowest position possible.
- Position: emphasis on the belly.A careful bending of the upper part is performed with an attempt to lift the torso from the floor.
- Exercise boat.
Their effectiveness depends on the diligence with which the patient performs each exercise.
All exercises are repeated 5 to 7 times.Before starting classes, do a warm-up to avoid sprains and injuries.
Traction
What to do if the pathology is detected in the initial stage?
In the initial stages of the disease, traction is considered an excellent solution.Through this procedure, muscle spasm is eliminated and the displaced vertebrae are returned to their places.The deformation of the spine is overcome.
What types of traction exist:
- Dry traction.This procedure is easier to perform than others.If the disease is detected at the first stage, the horizontal bar is perfect.If strong shifts and prolonged spasms are observed, special beds and sports 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.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms during treatment with classical regimens can recur several times a year.For prevention, traction and physical therapy are used, which eliminate the risk of protrusions and strong displacements.
Reviews about physiotherapeutic procedures in the stages of remission 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 the wrong approach to therapy, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine progresses symptomatically after treatment and makes the patient's life unbearable.This also happens because the visit to the doctor is too late.
Unfortunately, if the integrity of the intervertebral disc is compromised and a hernia is diagnosed, surgery is recommended to avoid life-threatening consequences.
After the operation, special elastic products are prescribed and the patient's mobility is limited until complete recovery.
Conclusion
Therapy for osteochondrosis in all its stages and with any approach depends on how osteochondrosis manifests itself, the amount of affected tissue and, most importantly, the prognosis for certain procedures.On the basis of these diagnostic aspects, therapeutic measures are initiated.