Thoracic vertebral osteochondrosis is a condition in which bone tissue changes or disorders that destroy the intervertebral discs and ligaments in the thoracic region. A sedentary job, a sedentary lifestyle, a congested spine, stooping, poor posture - all these factors are highly likely to contribute to the development of the disease.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occurs less frequently than similar diseases of the cervical or lumbar spine. This is due to the lower mobility of the bones and joints in this area.
Because of the convex shape of the chest, the load on the bones and joints is unevenly distributed. Diffusion of the process in the bone usually starts in the more stressed part - on the front wall of the department.
However, it is impossible to start, and even less impossible to ignore the disease, as the negative consequences of further development of osteochondrosis can significantly affect a person's lifestyle. Treatment for this disorder can only be prescribed by a doctor.
Disease diagnosis
Only a specialist can diagnose osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, determine how far it has progressed and prescribe how to treat the patient. But there are many symptoms that can lead a person to assume they have the disease. possible:
- Pain between the shoulder blades and on the left side of the chest;
- stomach and heart pain;
- Pain increases when you take a deep breath;
- Numbness in the chest.
Because these symptoms can be caused by some other disease, a doctor must conduct a comprehensive diagnosis to confirm assumptions about the diagnosis. The complexities of hospital research often include:
- chest X-ray;
- Magnetic resonance imaging;
- Ultrasound of internal organs;
- ECG, etc.
Only by ruling out all possible concomitant diseases, doctors can make the final diagnosis - osteochondrosis. If any other medical condition is identified during the examination, this must be taken into account when deciding how to treat thoracic osteochondrosis so as not to aggravate the condition.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
The treatment of thoracic spine disease should first aim to relieve chest pain. Therefore, in most cases, the process of eliminating the problem involves taking medication, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercises to reduce pressure on the disc. Self-treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis is not recommended only after consulting a specialist.
If osteochondrosis worsens with severe back pain, the patient should only be treated after the pain subsides. In this case, bed rest is required until the patient's condition is relieved. In addition, doctors may prescribe more procedures that can enhance the effect of the drug and provide effective treatment:
- Stretch the intervertebral disc;
- vacuum therapy;
- acupuncture;
- electrophoresis;
- magnetic puncture;
- Inductance method, etc.
None of these procedures can completely cure the patient, but of course, they can have a positive impact on the treatment of the disease.
Spinal stretches are used during disease progression and to help relieve pain by reducing the load on the discs. This procedure should only be performed under the supervision of a doctor and on his advice.
Acupuncture, a method that has recently become increasingly popular in the treatment of osteochondrosis, helps relieve pain in the thoracic spine and normalize the immune system.
In extremely rare cases of advanced disease, surgery may be required. If gymnastics and manual therapy do not relieve the condition of the thoracic spine, it is up to the patient and doctor to decide whether to proceed with surgery.
physiotherapy
Therapeutic gymnastics involves a set of exercises whose main purpose is to strengthen the muscles of the chest area corset. The types of exercises are developed by the complex and are available to everyone who has undergone physical therapy exercises to address thoracic osteochondrosis.
It's a mistake to think that gymnastics are harmless, so you can prescribe it yourself. Exercise should only be started once the cause has been identified and treatment of osteochondrosis has begun. But proper and specially designed gymnastics can significantly affect the healing process.
medical treatement
Medications for the disease include taking anti-inflammatory and pain relievers. In addition, doctors should prescribe drugs to restore cartilage tissue and vitamin complexes designed to strengthen bones and ligaments. However, their application can only be used in conjunction with other problem-solving methods.
An innovative treatment for osteochondrosis is the anti-inflammatory patch, which helps address many problems in the spine. It is applied to the chest area to reduce pain, relieve inflammation and improve blood circulation in specific areas of the spine.
manual therapy
The most effective treatment for conditions such as osteochondrosis is the use of manual therapy. The action of the specialist will help activate and enhance the oxygen supply to the disc tissue, as well as help the blood vessels to work and improve lymph flow. This allows you to restore normal function in the chest area, stop the progression of osteochondrosis and heal the patient.
Thoracic osteochondrosis can be effectively treated by using a series of measures and measures.
Prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis
No matter how timely and effective the treatment of the disease, in any case, it is relatively easy to engage in prevention work. After all, preventing osteochondrosis is better than spending time, effort, and money on curing the disease.
Doctor-recommended precautions include:
- Strengthen spinal muscles and prevent overload;
- avoid hypothermia;
- If you get wet in the rain or sweat at the gym, you should immediately change into wet clothes and only dry clothes;
- Strengthening gymnastics during sedentary work;
- Regular back massage sessions (at least once a year).
A sturdy thoracic corset will ensure healthy and comfortable mobility for many years to come. Preventing any disease of the musculoskeletal system is much easier and takes much less time than treating subsequent violations. Don't ignore your doctor's advice, it's better to live an active lifestyle. Then health will always be strong.