In the modern world, it is not only humanity that is progressing.Unfortunately, diseases that affect people are also in constant motion and development.
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 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 cartilage tissue of the spinal column undergoes serious changes that lead to a violation of their integrity.
If you do not contact a specialist in a timely manner, 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 cartilage formations, ligaments, and muscles of the spinal column.
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 according to symptoms and treatment, on which the patient’s well-being depends:
- I degree.Symptoms are mild or absent altogether.Protrusions occur.
- II degree.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 gender, the degree of development of the disease, and the patient’s mobility.Most of the 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, which is especially severe during prolonged periods of inactivity.
- There is a feeling of pressure in the middle part of the back.Deep inhalations and exhalations are also difficult.
- Pain that is provoked when any 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, which are manifested by numbness.
- Increased sensitivity of some areas of the skin (so-called goosebumps).
- Unpleasant sensations in the lower extremities.
- Due to vascular damage in thoracic osteochondrosis, local symptoms appear on the skin in the form of peeling.Changes also affect the nails.
- Reproductive disorders and decreased libido may occur.
Symptoms may also differ by 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 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 of the differences appear only in the severity of symptoms, since men lead a much more active lifestyle.
Also, 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 during the development of heart diseases, 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 an exacerbation can develop at any time, the symptoms of which are very pronounced.The patient experiences severe pain in the back and difficulty breathing.
Before curing 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 based primarily on an etiological approach.That is, the factor that caused the acute stage is excluded.In 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.
- Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.
- Local therapy, including massages (according to indications), the use of external forms of medications with an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Exercise 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 treatment of pinched nerve fibers.The first step is to relieve symptoms that cause significant suffering to the patient.
The drugs of choice are prescribed individually, taking into account contraindications and side effects.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy is considered primary and main.Its effects appear 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 his 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, the 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 vertebral level, a strong muscle spasm of the fibers around the inflamed area occurs.Prolonged spasm also provokes severe pain in the segment area.Muscle relaxants eliminate this spasm, thereby relieving 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 joint tissue and has a strong anti-inflammatory effect with glucose.The course of treatment 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 medications 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, medication treatment is based on the principles of relieving the inflammatory process and releasing the pinched nerve.
It is important to note that even long courses of anti-inflammatory treatment in the absence of other corrective courses of treatment will not be able to relieve the patient from suffering for a long time.
If the attending physician recommends massage procedures, then they must 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 spasm and inflammation in the area of the affected segment.Only after achieving certain results at the first stage can one talk about the benefits of massage.
How to cure 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 in the thoracic region due to symptoms of the acute phase cannot be treated with classical massage.Any vibrations or displacements can cause severe pain.Only after complete removal of restrictions on motor activity and the inflammatory process can classical massage be performed.
- Plastic massage.Indicated for 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 therapy.
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 layers of muscles in the area of the affected segment, strengthens ligaments, and eliminates the further development of protrusions.
If the stage of the disease is characterized by severe pain, then first conservative treatment, massages are carried out, and only after that - exercise therapy.
What is exercise 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 back with a deep breath.This is followed by a slow bow with the back arched upward.
- From a sitting position, using the back of a chair as a support, bend backwards with your hands behind your head.
- Standing on 4 limbs, bend and arch the back, fixing the highest and lowest possible positions.
- Position – emphasis lying on your stomach.A diligent bending of the top is carried out with an attempt to lift the torso off the floor.
- Exercise boat.
Their effectiveness depends on how diligently the patient does 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 pathology is detected at the initial stage?
In the early stages of the disease, traction is considered an excellent solution.Through this procedure, muscle spasm is eliminated and displaced vertebrae are returned to their place.Deformation of the spinal column 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, then a horizontal bar is perfect.If strong displacements and prolonged spasms are observed, then 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 also, if done correctly, eliminates sudden movements.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms during treatment with classical regimens may return several times a year.For prevention, traction and exercise 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 according to symptoms after treatment and makes the patient’s life unbearable.This also happens due to visiting a doctor too late.
Unfortunately, if the integrity of the intervertebral disc is compromised and a hernia is diagnosed, surgical intervention 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 at all its stages and with any approaches depends on how osteochondrosis manifests itself, how much tissue is affected, and most importantly, what is the prognosis for certain procedures.Based on these diagnostic aspects, therapeutic measures are initiated.