The appearance of such a dangerous disease as osteochondrosis contributes to the development of inflammatory processes in the cartilage and bone tissues of the spine.
The causes of such a pathology can be a large number of factors. If not treated properly, this type of inflammation can lead to disability.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - what is it?
Osteochondrosis of the disease of the thoracic region is a damage to the cartilage and bones, which leads to degenerative changes in the spine. Lack of proper and timely treatment often leads to complete or partial destruction of the intervertebral discs.
This type of disease is often accompanied by a large number of other types of diseases. The peculiarity of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is that the affected area is hidden by the bone tissues of the breast, which complicates the correct diagnosis of the disease and the risk of damage to nearby organs.
Note!The structure of the human thoracic region is slightly different from the lumbar region, as it contains a larger number of intervertebral discs. However, they are much thinner than the rest. Therefore, the destruction and damage of the spine in the chest area is much more difficult to cure and the disease progresses much faster.
Causes of the disease
The onset of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is a phenomenon that occurs much less frequently than the defeat of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae.
The following reasons may contribute to the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the chest area:
- Disorders of any origin in the intervertebral discs.
- Herniated intervertebral disc.
- Inflammatory foci in the cartilage tissues.
- Violation of the level of blood circulation in the tissues in the area of the spine.
- Excessive physical stress on the spine.
- Insufficient intake of useful metals in the body.
- Passive lifestyle.
- Rachiocampsis.
- Injuries and bruises.
- Strength sports exercises.
- Frequent hypothermia.
- Frequent stressful situations and difficult working conditions.
The disease can develop due to an inherited predisposition to symptoms.
Symptoms and signs
The development of osteochondrosis in the chest area has the following symptoms:
- The appearance of pain in the ribs.
- Breathing discomfort.
- Acute pain in bending and raising the arms.
- The appearance of traction pain between the shoulders, even when lying down.
- The appearance of swelling in numbness in the area of the shoulders.
- Fever and chills.
- Burning sensation in the lower extremities.
- Violation of the normal functioning of the vascular system of the thoracic region.
At the early stages of development, the following signs of disease onset may be seen:
- Frequent headaches.
- Motion sickness.
- Increased body temperature.
- Painful sensations in the chest when waking up in the morning.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
- Painful sensations with shortness of breath and exhalation.
Note!Very often, the disease can be confused with inflammatory processes of internal organs, as the symptoms of development coincide very often. To confirm the diagnosis, you must undergo a special examination.
Necessary actions during the deterioration
If the course of the disease is left without proper attention, aggravation may occur, during which a person may feel sharp pain symptoms and a lack of normal body function.
During exacerbations, the following actions are recommended:
- Observe bed rest.
- Adhere to a proper diet, which should contain a large number of foods that saturate the body with all the vitamins and minerals.
- Contact a medical institution and take all medications.
- The use of funds for external treatment.
- If necessary, do physical therapy exercises.
- With the appointment of a doctor, the transition of exposure methods to physiotherapy
At the time of exacerbation of the disease, it is necessary to completely exclude various types of physical activity and stressful situations.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
For treatment, the patient must undergo a special examination, which involves the delivery of the necessary examinations and the completion of the X-ray and tomography procedure.
Only after receiving all the necessary answers to the examinations, the doctor prescribes treatment, which consists of medicines, massage and physiotherapy exercises.
Drug treatment
The medication of the disease consists of the following directions - it is the elimination of pain, the cessation of the development of osteochondrosis, the removal of the inflammatory process.
To reduce the pain, palliative and anticonvulsant drugs are prescribed.
The use of glucosamine and chondroitin is recommended for the repair of damaged tissues. In addition, the patient must increase the intake of essential vitamins in the body, if food is not enough, special vitamin complexes are recommended.
Good to know!In order to retain the necessary fluid in the intervertebral discs, a special agent must be used. To alleviate the inflammatory process, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is recommended, which the treating physician selects individually for each case.
Physiotherapy
The use of physical therapy exercises is prescribed only after the symptoms of pain are eliminated, the inflammatory process is reduced. Therapeutic exercises are carried out strictly under the supervision of specialists to prevent complications.
Exercise aims to eliminate muscle spasms and increase blood flow instead of damage, due to which the inflammatory process is reduced and the damaged cells begin to regenerate on their own.
Massage
The use of massage for osteochondrosis is prescribed depending on the degree of development of the disease. For acute symptoms, light stroking and rubbing is allowed, without the use of strong methods.
After the elimination of the symptoms of pain, a drainage massage is applied, which improves the blood circulation and starts the natural process of cell repair.
Note! For massage, it is recommended to use special gels or essential oils that reduce inflammation and improve a person's well-being. It is not recommended to do the massage yourself, you should contact a specialist.
Manual therapy
Manual treatment for osteochondrosis has the following characteristics of the effect on the lesion:
- The specialist heats the tense muscle tissue.
- There is a slow stretching of the muscle tissue, due to which the spasm is relieved.
- The patient is given a pressure massage that eliminates inflammation and improves blood circulation.
- Special movements are performed that restore the work of the damaged area of the spine.
Note!After such sessions, the patient notices a reduction in pain and an improved condition of the whole body.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
To prevent the development of the disease, experts recommend adhering to the following prevention rules:
- To avoid hypothermia of the body, in such a situation, it is recommended to take a hot bath.
- Perform standard physical exercises that increase the flexibility and plasticity of the spine.
- Avoid living in uncomfortable places for a long time, follow an active lifestyle.
- Regularly renew the supply of vitamins and minerals in the body.
- Avoid prolonged physical exercise on the spine.
- Avoid lifting weights.
- Avoid wiping, watch your posture.
By following simple rules, a person can avoid unpleasant symptoms and long-term treatment.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is a rather complex type of inflammatory process that requires complex treatment.
Good to know!This type of disease cannot be cured on its own, so when the first symptoms appear, you should contact a medical institution for a diagnosis. Based on the answers, the doctor will individually choose the necessary method to eliminate the problem.