Osteochondrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine is a common phenomenon. However, thoracic osteochondrosis is much less common. There are many intervertebral discs in the thoracic region and they are quite thin. Sudden movements and excessive strain can lead to unpleasant consequences. But there are ways to treat pathology.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - what is it and how is it treated
Doctors consider thoracic degenerative disc disease to be a "chameleon disease" because of the difficulty of diagnosing it. In fact, we are talking about damage to the intervertebral discs. 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.
- Spine injury.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Mental stress.
Note that low mobility and excessive exercise are just as harmful. In everyday life, you must observe the measurement. Train under the supervision of an experienced trainer. This also includes spinal cord injuries - most often patients receive them in the gym or in dangerous industries.
Manifestations of osteochondrosis of the breast
Many are interested in the question of how it manifests itself and how to treat osteochondrosis of the breast. First, deal with the first point. Here's what's going oninside your body:
- intervertebral discs lose their shock-absorbing properties;
- the fibrous ring cracks;
- the spinal nerves are weakened;
- inflammation begins;
- pain syndrome occurs;
- ligaments and joints are destroyed.
The main characteristics of the disease
Pathology is explained by the very structure of the human body. A large number of thin slices are located in the thoracic region - they are most often prone to destruction. Due to the coastal protection, the vertebrae are inactive, so doctors recommend exercising. Here are some more interesting facts:
- The curvature of the spine can be the cornerstone of osteochondrosis.
- The greatest load in curvature (kyphosis) lies on the anterior spine.
- Disks can fall out late in the development of the disease.
- Growth of osteophytes occurs frequently.
- The spinal cord is not always adversely affected.
Signs of pathology
Osteochondrosis of the breast is accompanied by a specific set of symptoms. The severity of these signs varies greatly. The symptoms are:
- pain in the area of the shoulder blades (felt by bending and lifting the arms);
- chest pain (worse by exertion, sharp bends, bends and cooling, as well as at night);
- discomfort during walking (manifested in the ribs);
- increased pain syndrome during inhalation-exhalation;
- a feeling of tightness in the chest.
In case of exacerbations, additional symptoms may occur. These include burning and itching in the legs, numbness in certain areas of the body, brittle nails and peeling of the skin. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract also occur. Some patients complain of pain in the esophagus and pharynx. All of these signs indicate that you need an urgent need to visit your doctor.
Among the complications stands out dorsago - "breast lumbago", a sharp pain that has arisen in the chest. Most often, dorsago is the result of monotonous work. One type of dorsago is dorsalgia, a mildly painful syndrome that lasts about two to three weeks. The patient feels shortness of breath. The unpleasant sensations are worse at night when walking, bending and breathing deeply.
We go to the treatment competently
What approach to treating pathology can be called competent? You will not be able to completely get rid of the destructive processes, so you need to focus on preventing further deformation of vertebral structures. Therapists set themselves several tasks:
- Prevention of the development of pathology.
- Restoration of the affected bone structures.
- Neutralization of negative processes affecting the nervous system.
- Improving the biomechanics of the spine.
Conservative therapy
In the initial stages, the disease can be cured with medication. The progress of the pathology is slowed down, the pain is stopped. We list the most effective groups of drugs:
- NSAIDs;
- diuretics;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- chondroprotectors;
- metabolic stimulants.
Drug-free treatment
Doctors recommend a comprehensive approach to solving the problem. Acute pain can be relieved with non-medical treatment. 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 restored, numbness treated).
- Manual therapy (normalizes blood circulation, reduces disc load, reduces intervertebral spaces).
- Moxtotherapy (normalizes metabolism, activates recovery processes).
- Hirudotherapy (helps get rid of blood clots, prevents inflammation, strengthens the nutrition of ligaments and muscles).
Many patients seek help from Tibetan medical centers. Practice shows that competent non-medical treatment saves the spine in 97-99 percent of cases. Conservatives quickly put patients on their feet, but this approach is accompanied by unpleasant side effects. Such therapy should only be treated as a last resort.