Osteochondrosis is usually called dystrophic changes in the bones and connective tissue of the spine.It turns out that the spine is not able to cope with normal loads - and this is primarily reflected in the appearance of pain, which is vaguely expressed at first, but becomes increasingly intense over time.
Main symptoms of the disease
Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease that usually occurs in adulthood and is not fully manifested for a long time.This is due to the fact that the thoracic spine is naturally supported and fixed by the ribs - therefore the intervertebral discs are well protected.
In this disease, the core of the spinal disc becomes thinner and dries up, the fibrous tissue around it begins to deteriorate, and the cartilage tissue undergoes negative changes.It turns out that the spine is not able to cope with normal loads - and this is primarily reflected in the appearance of pain, which is vaguely expressed at first, but becomes increasingly intense over time.However, with significant stress - a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, constant stress, poor posture and back injuries - sooner or later osteochondrosis affects the thoracic region.The disease is considered very common - every third adult suffers from it.
What are the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis?First of all, in case of pain that includes:
- interscapular and intercostal neuralgic lumbago;
- pain in the left side of the chest;
- pain in the hands, which increases when they are raised and reaches all the way to the tips of the fingers;
- pain when bending;
In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis can be expressed by numbness - not only in the chest, but also in different parts of the body.Sometimes osteochondrosis leads to speech disorders, and sometimes even causes peeling of the skin, brittle nails, itchy skin and indigestion.
Pain in breast osteochondrosis can manifest in different ways.Sometimes these are mild stabbing or dull pains that appear in the late afternoon and disappear after physical activity - for example, a short walk.This is usually how the initial stage of thoracic osteochondrosis proceeds, when the intervertebral discs are not yet deeply affected.
In the later stages of the development of the disease, pain symptoms are often manifested in the form of lumbago.The pain is pronounced, acute, interferes with normal breathing, and unnecessary movements only worsen the situation.Often, lumbago begins after a long period of inactivity - for example, several hours of working at a computer in a static position.
The special "insidiousness" of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is that the disease can be skillfully disguised as a dozen other diseases.Osteochondrosis of the chest is very easy to confuse with symptoms of pneumonia, angina, ischemia and heart attack.Sometimes the disease is more similar to kidney or liver disease, and speech impairment and a feeling of numbness in different parts of the body are even confused with signs of a stroke.
Moreover, mistakes are made not only by patients themselves, but also by experienced doctors - which greatly complicates the diagnosis of the disease.Osteochondrosis of the breast is especially difficult to recognize in the early stages - which is why it is often diagnosed when the disease has already become pronounced and passed into a chronic phase.
Meanwhile, timely diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis is fundamentally important.This allows you to immediately start treatment and delay the development of the disease, significantly reducing the pain symptoms that accompany the disease.
Why is thoracic osteochondrosis dangerous?
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine does not pose a direct threat to the patient's life.However, if neglected, it can lead to significant complications:
- appearance of chronic intercostal neuralgia;
- thoracic hernia;
- compression of the spinal cord in the damaged area of the spine.
Advanced osteochondrosis of the spine is expressed in scoliosis;sometimes the disease spreads to the cervical vertebrae and causes loss of voice.
In addition, severe weakening of the spine in the thoracic region can lead to deformation of the internal organs of the peritoneum.In turn, this will most likely lead to all kinds of disorders of the digestive tract - stomach, pancreas, liver, kidneys, bile ducts.
Osteochondrosis of the chest requires careful treatment, which will help slow down the development of the disease for a long time, prevent complications - and completely neutralize the symptoms of the disease in the early stages.
How is the disease treated?
What methods are used in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis?First of all, a thorough diagnosis is carried out, including an examination of the patient by a specialist and examinations on modern equipment.This allows you to make an accurate diagnosis and make sure that it is osteochondrosis and not some other disease.
After establishing the diagnosis, the doctor can use the following methods of therapy:
- medicines to relieve pain symptoms;
- physiotherapy, laser therapy, acupuncture and reflexology;
- manual therapy and therapeutic massage;
- a special course of therapeutic exercises.
Almost all of the listed methods are not aimed at removing osteochondrosis as such, but at alleviating inflammation and reducing the intensity of pain.Pain relief is the main goal of breast osteochondrosis treatment.At the same time, manual therapy and exercise therapy can "straighten" the spine, increasing the distance between the vertebrae and preventing compression.However, the patient is required to regularly perform therapeutic exercises - otherwise it will not give any result.
In some, particularly severe cases, surgical treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis can be used.In such a situation, the affected vertebrae are replaced with a prosthesis - practice shows that the operation is effective for approximately 50% of patients.
Regular trips to health resorts are recommended for thoracic osteochondrosis.In the sanatorium, the patient receives full-fledged complex therapy, combining drugs, physiotherapeutic and gymnastic methods - and for a long time he feels a significant improvement in his condition.
Folk remedies
In acute cases of the disease, it is recommended to treat thoracic osteochondrosis in a stationary environment.But if the symptoms are not expressed, it is not necessary to go to the hospital.In this case, home care becomes of fundamental importance.It is not only possible, but also necessary to treat osteochondrosis with folk remedies - sometimes they show no less effectiveness than official medical procedures.
Home treatment aims at the same goal - rapid relief of pain and inflammation, relief of symptoms of the disease.Therefore, in the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies, decoctions, ointments, poultices and infusions of herbs and plants are used, which have a sedative, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
What medicinal mixtures are recommended to be cooked instead of tea and drunk for osteochondrosis?These are chamomile, calendula, sage, birch leaves, strawberries and ripe viburnum.In addition, these mixtures can be mixed with each other - an aromatic hot drink made from two or three different herbs gives a noticeable effect.
Decoctions are prepared in the same way as tea - a spoonful of medicinal plant is poured over a glass of hot water, soaked and consumed internally two to three times a day.In addition to taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory herbs, it is recommended to drink calming infusions of lemon balm, lavender, valerian - stress, inevitable during the course of the disease, can further worsen the symptoms.
In addition to medicinal decoctions, baths with medicinal additives are used - for example, extracts of celandine, plantain and pine needles have a soothing and warming effect.This bath relieves muscle spasms, improves blood flow between inflamed spinal discs and removes inflammation.
Compresses, ointments and rubbing are not recommended for use during periods of acute pain.However, they can be used during the lull of the disease.For example, mustard-camphor rubbing is popular - 50 grams of mustard and camphor are diluted with 100 milliliters of alcohol and 100 grams of raw egg white, mixed until smooth.The ointment is applied to the back for two weeks at night - the upper part of the treated area must be covered with a woolen cloth.
What to do in case of deterioration?
What is considered an exacerbation?This term refers to severe pain.If the patient feels noticeable discomfort, familiar lumbago and dull pain in the chest area, which spreads to the peritoneum, lower back and arms, then it is time to pay maximum attention to your disease.
During an exacerbation, it is recommended to:
- avoid hypothermia and stress;
- stay as little as possible in stationary positions, in which the load remains on the spine;
- apply gentle compresses and ointments to the affected area that are not too harsh;
- gently massage the affected areas yourself - but avoid strong pressure;
- continue physical therapy as much as possible - but only if it doesn't lead to more pain.
In case of acute complications, bed rest is also recommended.If unbearable pain occurs, hospitalization may even be required.But in most cases, exacerbations of thoracic osteochondrosis can be stopped at home, especially if you combine a gentle regimen with taking medications prescribed by a specialist.
The main condition for worsening osteochondrosis is lack of physical activity.Inflamed intervertebral discs need maximum rest - then the exacerbation can be quickly resolved.