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 variety of factors. If not properly treated, this type of inflammation can become disabling.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - what is it?
Osteochondrosis of the chest region is a lesion of cartilage and bone tissue that leads to degenerative changes in the spine. The lack of correct and timely treatment very often leads to total or partial destruction of the intervertebral discs.
This type of disease is very often accompanied by a large number of other types of diseases. The peculiarity of osteochondrosis of the chest region is that the affected area is covered by the breast bone tissue, which makes it difficult to correctly diagnose the disease and the risk of damage to nearby organs.
Note!The structure of the human thoracic region is slightly different from that of the lumbar spine because it contains a larger number of intervertebral discs. However, they are much thinner than the others. Therefore, the destruction and damage to 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 often than the defeat of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae.
The following reasons can contribute to the appearance of an inflammatory process in the chest area:
- Disorders of any origin in the intervertebral discs.
- Disc prolapse.
- Foci of inflammation in the cartilage tissue.
- Violation of blood circulation in the tissues in the area of the spine.
- Excessive physical stress on the spine.
- Insufficient absorption of useful minerals in the body.
- Passive lifestyle.
- Rachiocampsis.
- Injuries and bruises.
- Weight training exercises.
- Frequent hypothermia.
- Frequent stressful situations and difficult working conditions.
The disease can develop due to a hereditary predisposition to the appearance of symptoms.
Symptoms and signs
The development of osteochondrosis in the chest area has the following symptoms:
- The appearance of pain in the ribs.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Sharp pain when bending and raising arms.
- The appearance of a pulling pain between the shoulder blades, even in a lying position.
- The appearance of numbness in the area of the shoulder blades.
- Increased body temperature and chills.
- Burning in the lower extremities.
- Violation of the normal functioning of the vascular system of the thoracic region.
In the initial stages of development, the following signs of the onset of the disease can be observed:
- Regular headache.
- Nausea.
- Increased body temperature.
- Painful sensations in the chest when waking up in the morning.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
- Painful sensations with sharp breath and exhalation.
Note!Very often the disease can be confused with the inflammatory processes of the internal organs, since very often the symptoms of development coincide. To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a special examination.
Actions to be taken during an exacerbation
If the course of the disease is left without proper attention, exacerbations may occur, in which a person may experience sharp symptoms of pain and the lack of normal body function.
In the event of exacerbations, the following measures are recommended:
- Observe bed rest.
- Adhere to a proper diet, which should include a large number of foods that will saturate the body with all vitamins and minerals.
- Contacting a medical facility and taking all medication.
- Use of funds for external treatment.
- If necessary, do physical therapy exercises.
- With the appointment of a doctor the adoption of methods of exposure to physical therapy
At the time of the exacerbation of the disease, it is necessary to completely exclude various types of physical activity and stressful situations.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest region
For treatment, the patient must undergo a special examination, which includes the implementation of the necessary tests and the passage of the X-ray and tomographic procedure.
Only after receiving all the necessary test answers will the doctor prescribe treatment consisting of medication, massages and physiotherapy exercises.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment of the disease consists of the following directions: pain relief, cessation of the development of osteochondrosis, elimination of the inflammatory process.
To relieve pain, pain relievers and anticonvulsant drugs are prescribed.
To restore damaged tissues, the use of glucosamine and chondroitin is prescribed. In addition, the patient needs to increase the body's absorption of the necessary vitamins. If food is not enough, special vitamin complexes are recommended.
Good to know!In order to keep the necessary fluid in the intervertebral discs, it is necessary to use a special means. To relieve the inflammatory process, it is recommended to use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which the attending physician selects for each case individually.
physical therapy
The use of physical therapy exercises is prescribed only after the symptoms of pain are eliminated and the inflammatory process decreases. The conduct of therapeutic exercises is carried out exclusively under the supervision of specialists in order to avoid the occurrence of complications.
Exercise aims to get rid of muscle spasms and increase blood flow rather than causing damage, thereby reducing the inflammatory process and causing damaged cells to start regenerating on their own.
massage
The use of massage for osteochondrosis is prescribed depending on the stage of development of the disease. In the case of acute symptoms, light stroking and rubbing is allowed without the use of violent methods.
After the pain symptoms are eliminated, a drainage massage is applied, which improves blood circulation and initiates 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. Contact a specialist.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy for osteochondrosis has the following features that affect the lesion focus:
- The specialist warms up the tense muscle tissue.
- A slow stretch of muscle tissue is performed, which relieves the spasm.
- The patient is given acupressure massages that remove inflammation and improve blood circulation.
- Special movements are performed that restore the work of the damaged area of the spine.
Note!After such sessions, the patient will notice a decrease in pain and an improved state of the entire body.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the chest region
To avoid the development of the disease, experts recommend observing the following rules of prevention:
- To prevent hypothermia, it is recommended to take a hot bath in such a situation.
- Perform normal physical exercises that increase the flexibility and plasticity of the spine.
- Avoid long uncomfortable positions and lead an active lifestyle.
- Regularly replenish the body's supply of vitamins and minerals.
- Avoid prolonged physical exertion on the spine.
- Avoid lifting weights.
- Avoid lying down, pay attention to your posture.
By following simple rules, a person can avoid unpleasant symptoms and long-term treatment.
The disease of osteochondrosis of the chest region is a rather complex type of inflammatory process that requires complex therapy.
Good to know!This type of disease cannot be cured on its own. When the first symptoms appear, you need to contact a medical institution for diagnosis. Based on the answers, the doctor individually selects the necessary method to get rid of the problem.