The emergence of a disease as dangerous 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?
The osteochondrosis disease of the thoracic region is an injury to the cartilaginous and bone tissues, which leads to degenerative changes in the spine. The lack of correct 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 disease. The peculiarity of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is that the affected area is covered by the tissues of the breast bone, which hinders the correct diagnosis of the disease and the risk of injury to nearby organs.
Observation!The structure of the human thoracic region is slightly different from the lumbar region, as it contains a greater number of intervertebral discs. However, they are much thinner than the rest. Therefore, destruction and damage to the spine in the chest region is much more difficult to cure and the disease progresses much more quickly.
Causes of the disease
The appearance of osteochondrosis disease in the thoracic region is a phenomenon that occurs much less frequently than the defeat of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae.
The following reasons can contribute to the appearance of an inflammatory process in the thoracic region:
- Disorders of any origin in the intervertebral discs.
- Intervertebral hernia.
- Inflammatory foci in cartilage tissues.
- Violation of the level of blood circulation in the tissues of the spinal region.
- Excessive physical stress on the spine.
- Insufficient intake of useful minerals 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 a hereditary predisposition to the onset of symptoms.
Symptoms and signs
The development of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region has the following symptoms:
- The appearance of pain in the ribs.
- Discomfort when breathing.
- Acute pain when bending and raising your arms.
- The appearance of a traction pain between the shoulder blades, even in the lying position.
- The appearance of swelling in numbness in the area of the shoulder blades.
- Increased body temperature and chills.
- Burning sensation in the lower extremities.
- Violation of the normal functioning of the vascular system of the thoracic region.
At the early levels of development, the following signs of disease onset can be seen:
- Frequent headaches.
- Nausea.
- Increased body temperature.
- Painful sensations in the chest when waking up in the morning.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
- Painful sensations with a sharp breath and exhalation.
Observation!Often, the disease can be confused with inflammatory processes of Organs internal organs, since the symptoms of development are often coincident. To confirm the diagnosis, a special examination is required.
Actions required during an exacerbation
If the course of the disease is left without adequate attention, exacerbations may occur, during which the person may experience symptoms of acute pain and a lack of normal functioning of the body.
During exacerbations, the following actions are recommended:
- Observe the bed rest.
- Follow 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 medical consultation, the transition from methods of exposure to physical therapy
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 needs to undergo a special exam, which implies the delivery of the necessary exams and the passing of the X-ray and tomography procedure.
Only after receiving all the answers of the necessary exams, the doctor prescribes the treatment, which consists of medications, massages and physiotherapy exercises.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment 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 pain, analgesics and antispasmodic drugs are prescribed.
To restore damaged tissue, the use of glucosamine and chondroitin is prescribed. In addition, the patient needs to increase the intake of necessary vitamins in the body, if food products are not enough, special vitamin complexes are recommended.
Good to know!To retain the necessary fluid in the intervertebral discs, a special agent must be used. To alleviate the inflammatory process, it is recommended to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which the attending physician selects individually for each case.
Physiotherapy
The use of physical therapy exercises is only prescribed after the elimination of pain symptoms, the inflammatory process decreases. Therapeutic exercises are carried out strictly under the supervision of specialists to prevent the occurrence of complications.
The exercise aims to eliminate muscle spasms and increase blood flow instead of damage, due to which the inflammatory process slows down and 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, it is allowed to caress and rub lightly, without using forced methods.
After the pain symptoms are eliminated, a drainage massage is applied, which improves blood circulation and starts the natural cell repair process.
Observation!For massage, it is recommended to use gels or special essential oils that reduce inflammation and improve the person's well-being. It is not recommended to perform the massage alone, you should contact a specialist.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy for osteochondrosis has the following characteristics of the effect on the focus of the lesion:
- The specialist warms up tense muscle tissue.
- A slow stretching of the muscle tissue is performed, to which the spasm is relieved.
- The patient receives acupressure massages that eliminate inflammation and improve blood circulation.
- Special movements are performed to restore the work to the damaged area of the spine.
Observation!After these sessions, the patient notices a decrease in pain and an improvement in the condition of the whole body.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
To prevent the development of the disease, experts recommend observing the following prevention rules:
- In order to prevent body hypothermia, in this case, a hot bath is recommended.
- Do standard physical exercises that increase spine flexibility and plasticity.
- Avoid being in uncomfortable positions for a long time, lead an active lifestyle.
- Regularly replenish the body's supply of vitamins and minerals.
- Avoid prolonged physical efforts on the spine.
- Avoid lifting weights.
- Avoid bending over, observe your posture.
By following simple rules, a person can avoid unpleasant symptoms and long-term treatment.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is a very complex type of inflammatory process that requires complex therapy.
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 diagnosis. Based on the answers, the doctor will individually select the method necessary to eliminate the problem.