Osteochondrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine is a common phenomenon. 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 lead to unpleasant consequences. But there are ways to treat the pathology.
Osteochondrosis of the Thoracic Spine - What It Is and How It Is Treated
Doctors consider degenerative thoracic disc disease a "chameleon disease" because of the difficulty of diagnosis. We're actually talking about damage to the intervertebral discs. The pathology is based on high physical activity and metabolic processes. Here is a list of conditions that cause the disease:
- Scoliosis.
- Bad habits.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Genetic factors.
- Spinal injury.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Mental stress.
Note that poor mobility and excessive exercise are equally harmful. In everyday life, look at the measure. Practice exercises under the supervision of an experienced technician. This also includes spinal injuries - most of the time, patients get them at the gym or in hazardous industries.
Manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis
Many are interested in knowing how it manifests and how to treat thoracic osteochondrosis. First you need to deal with the first point. here is what is happeninginside your body:
- intervertebral discs lose their shock-absorbing properties;
- the fibrous ring cracks;
- spinal nerves are damaged;
- inflammation starts;
- pain syndrome arises;
- ligaments and joints are destroyed.
The main features of the disease
The pathology is explained by the structure of the human body. A large number of thin discs are located in the thoracic region - they are most often subject to destruction. Because of the costal protection, the vertebrae are inactive, so doctors recommend exercise. Here are some more interesting facts:
- Spine curvature can be the cornerstone of osteochondrosis.
- The greatest stress on curvature (kyphosis) is on the anterior column.
- Discs may fall off late in the development of the disease.
- Osteophyte growth occurs frequently.
- The spinal cord is not always negatively affected.
pathology signs
Osteochondrosis of the chest is accompanied by a certain set of symptoms. The severity of these signs varies widely. The symptoms are:
- pain in the shoulder blade region (felt when bending and raising the arms);
- chest pain (worsening with exertion, sharp curves, curves 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.
With exacerbations, additional symptoms may appear. These include burning and itchy legs, numbness in certain areas of the body, brittle nails and peeling skin. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract also occur. Some patients complain of pain in the esophagus and pharynx. All these signs indicate that you need to see your doctor urgently.
Among the complications, dorsago stands out - "lumbago no chest", an acute pain that appears in the chest. Most of the time, the dorsago is the result of monotonous work. One type of back is back pain, a mild pain syndrome that lasts about two to three weeks. The patient feels short of breath. The unpleasant sensations are worse at night, when walking, bending over, and breathing deeply.
We approach the treatment with competence
What approach to treating the pathology can be called competent? You won't be able to completely get rid of the destructive processes, so you need to focus on preventing further deformation of the vertebral structures. Therapists set several tasks for themselves:
- Prevention of pathology development.
- Restoration of affected bone structures.
- Neutralization of negative processes that affect the nervous system.
- Improve spinal biomechanics.
conservative therapy
In the early stages, the disease can be cured with medication. The progress of the pathology slows down, the pain stops. We list the most effective drug groups:
- Ines;
- 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 therapy. Usually 2-3 sessions are enough for the patient to feel relief. The following techniques are used:
- Acupressure massage (relaxes muscles, relieves tension).
- Acupuncture (muscle strength and mobility are restored, numbness is treated).
- Manual therapy (normalizes blood circulation, reduces disc load, reduces intervertebral gaps).
- Moxtotherapy (normalizes metabolism, activates recovery processes).
- Hirudotherapy (helps eliminate blood congestion, prevent inflammation, strengthen ligament and muscle nutrition).
Many patients seek help from Tibetan medicine centers. Practice shows that competent non-drug treatment saves the spine in 97-99 percent of cases. Conservative drugs quickly bring patients to their feet, but this approach is accompanied by unpleasant side effects. This therapy should only be considered as a last resort.