The onset of a dangerous disease such as osteochondrosis contributes to the development of inflammatory processes in the cartilage and bone tissues of the spine.
Such pathology can be caused by a 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 thoracic region is caused by lesions of cartilage and bone tissue that lead to degenerative changes in the spine. Lack of proper and timely treatment often leads to complete or partial destruction of intervertebral discs.
This type of disease is associated with many other types of disease. A peculiarity of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is that the affected area is hidden by the bone tissues of the breast, which makes it difficult to correctly diagnose the disease and the risk of damage to nearby organs.
Note!The structure of the human chest region is slightly different from the lumbar region because it contains a larger number of intervertebral discs. However, they are much thinner than the others. Therefore, spinal destruction and damage in the chest area is much more difficult to cure and the disease progresses much faster.
Causes of the disease
The development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is a phenomenon that occurs much less frequently than defeat of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae.
The following causes may contribute to the appearance of the inflammatory process in the chest region:
- Disorders of any origin in the intervertebral discs.
- Herniated intervertebral.
- Inflammatory foci in cartilage tissue.
- Violation of the level of blood circulation in the tissues in the region of the spine.
- Excessive physical stress on the spine.
- Insufficient intake of useful minerals into the body.
- Passive lifestyle.
- Rachiocampsis.
- Injuries and bruises.
- Strong sports exercises.
- Common hypothermia.
- Frequent stressful situations and difficult working conditions.
The disease can develop due to an inherited predisposition to the onset of symptoms.
Symptoms and signs
The development of osteochondrosis in the chest region is associated with the following symptoms:
- Appearance of pain in the ribs.
- Discomfort during breathing.
- Sharp pain in bending and raising the arms.
- The appearance of tensile pain between the shoulder blades even in a supine position.
- Appearance of numbness swelling 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 initial level of development, the following signs of the disease appear:
- Common headache.
- Nausea.
- Increased body temperature.
- Painful feelings in the chest when waking up in the morning.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
- Painful sensations with sharp breathing and exhalation.
Note!Very often, the disease can be confused with inflammatory processes in the internal organs, as the symptoms of development often coincide. A special test must be performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Necessary measures in case of aggravation
If the course of the disease is not properly monitored, exacerbations may occur during which a person may experience sharp pain symptoms and a lack of normal functioning of the body.
During exacerbations, the following actions are recommended:
- Watch the bed rest.
- Adhere to a proper diet that should include a large number of foods that saturate the body with all vitamins and minerals.
- Contact a health care provider and take all medications.
- Use of funds for external management.
- Perform physiotherapy exercises if necessary.
- Transfer of methods of exposure to physiotherapy by appointment of a doctor
When the disease worsens, various physical activities and stressful situations should be completely ruled out.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
For treatment, the patient must undergo a special examination, which means the passing of the necessary examinations and the passing of an X-ray and tomography procedure.
Only after receiving all the necessary test answers does the doctor prescribe treatment that consists of medications, massages, and physiotherapy exercises.
Drug treatment
Medication for the disease consists of the following directions - the elimination of pain, the cessation of osteochondrosis, the removal of the inflammatory process.
Painkillers and antispasmodics are prescribed to reduce pain.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are prescribed to repair damaged tissues. In addition, the patient should increase the intake of necessary vitamins into the body, if food products are not sufficient, special vitamin complexes are recommended.
Good to know!A special agent should be used in the intervertebral discs to retain the required fluid. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is recommended to alleviate the inflammatory process and is prescribed by your doctor on a case-by-case basis.
Physiotherapy
The use of physiotherapy practices is prescribed only after the symptoms of pain have disappeared, the inflammatory process is reduced. Therapeutic practices are performed under the strict supervision of professionals to prevent the occurrence of complications.
The goal of exercise is to eliminate muscle cramps and increase blood flow instead of damage, which reduces the inflammatory process and allows damaged cells to regenerate on their own.
Massage
The use of massage in osteochondrosis is prescribed depending on the degree of development of the disease. For acute symptoms, light stroking and rubbing are allowed without the use of vigorous methods.
After the symptoms of pain are eliminated, a drainage massage is applied, which improves blood circulation and initiates the natural process of cell recovery.
Note! It is recommended to use special gels or essential oils for the massage, which reduce inflammation and improve a person's well-being. It is not recommended to perform the massage on your own, consult a specialist.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy for osteochondrosis has the following characteristics of the effect on the focus of the lesion:
- The specialist warms the tense muscle tissue.
- Slow stretching of muscle tissue is performed, which relieves cramps.
- The patient receives acupressure massages that eliminate inflammation and improve blood circulation.
- They perform special movements 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 following the following prevention rules:
- To prevent hypothermia in the body, it is recommended to take a hot bath in such a situation.
- Perform standard physical exercises that increase the flexibility and plasticity of the spine.
- Avoid being uncomfortable for a long time, pursue an active lifestyle.
- Regularly replenish your body with vitamins and minerals.
- Avoid prolonged physical strain on the spine.
- Avoid weight lifting.
- Avoid laziness, watch your posture.
By following simple rules, one can avoid unpleasant symptoms and long-term treatment.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region has a rather complex inflammatory process that requires complex therapy.
Good to know!This type of disease is not curable on its own, so you should see a doctor for diagnosis when the first symptoms appear. Based on the answers, the doctor individually chooses the method needed to eliminate the problem.