Thoracic osteochondrosis is a difficult disease to diagnose. It is less common than cervical and lumbosacral injuries because the thoracic vertebrae are inactive. Due to the proximity of important internal organs to the spinal column, it is not always possible to immediately make an accurate diagnosis: based on the symptoms, severe diseases of the heart, large vessels, lungs are close to osteochondrosis - and vice versa: osteochondrosis can manifest itself same similar to pulmonary or cardiac symptoms.
The pain can be girdle, radiate (give) to the shoulders, under the shoulder blades in the form of low back pain, intensify with a deep breath. Possible aching pain in the thoracic region, manifested by an awkward posture, tilt of the body. Pain in the left chest resembles a heart attack, and in the right hypochondrium - cholecystitis. The paravertebral muscles are usually tense, there are frequent complaints of numbness, creeping chills in the chest, abdomen and arms.
The spinal canal in the thoracic region is quite narrow, so even small hernias or bumps formed in osteochondrosis can compress the spinal cord. All this upsets the quality of life, affects performance, the emotional sphere.
Treatment of breast osteochondrosis must be timely and competent to prevent the progression of the disease and the development of complications. You should know that it is impossible to completely cure thoracic osteochondrosis. But it is quite possible to make sure that the disease gives a person a minimum of problems. It is important to change your lifestyle, introduce new habits, practicable physical activity, follow the treatment advice. And then osteochondrosis will not make itself felt.
Risk factors for the development of breast osteochondrosis
- Sedentary lifestyle. Osteochondrosis affects people with sedentary work, forced posture of the body in the workplace, for example, at the computer table, a sewing machine, people who do not recognize physical activity. The muscles that support the spine are hypotrophied and the static load on it increases.
- Overweight. The greater the weight, the greater the load on each vertebra.
- To smoke. This bad habit leads to disruption of the blood supply to tissues, including vertebrates.
- Excessive and poorly dosed physical activity. This includes frequent lifting and carrying of weights, jumping and running.
- Posture disorders, scoliosis. These spinal diseases lead to degenerative changes in the discs, muscle tension.
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis
- Pharmacological therapy:
- anti-inflammatory drugs: relieve pain and swelling of soft tissues. Local forms in the form of gels, ointments, creams can be useful for intercostal neuralgia;
- anesthetics - injected paravertebrally to block pain and relieve muscle spasm;
- glucocorticosteroids - these hormonal drugs are used in the form of paravertebral blocks when other drugs are ineffective;
- muscle relaxants - relieve painful muscle spasms;
- antidepressants: they help relieve the psycho-emotional stress inherent in osteochondrosis;
- B vitamins - nourish nerve formations, thereby fighting neurological disorders. In the treatment of osteochondrosis, preparations containing vitamins B1, B6 and B12 are used;
- chondroprotector - they are able to somehow suspend the process of destruction of the intervertebral discs, improve bone metabolism. It is best to inject them directly into the paravertebral tissues, because oral drugs need to be drunk for a long time and in high dosages.
- Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy methods act locally on the focus of the disease: they relieve pain, spasms, improve blood circulation, tissue nutrition. In case of thoracic osteochondrosis, the doctor may prescribe magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, UHF, laser therapy.
- Massage. Massage of the collar area, thoracic region, hands is performed. In case of exacerbation, it is recommended to start the massage not from the first day, and to do it sparingly at first. It is necessary to achieve relaxation of the spasmodic muscles. During the period when there is no pain, the massage technique becomes different - the techniques are more intense. In addition to the usual, you can perform stitch effects. In case of thoracic osteochondrosis, manual and vacuum massage and vibratory massage are useful. These types can be combined or alternated.
- Physiotherapy. Performing special therapeutic exercises daily will help prevent or reduce the frequency of exacerbations of breast osteochondrosis. For example, you can do the following exercises:
- while sitting on a chair, put your hands behind your head and inhale, then bring your shoulder blades together, touching the back of the chair (exhale). Repeat 10-15 times;
- get on all fours and slowly arch your back, like a cat, linger in this position for a few seconds. Then bend your back and stay in this position as well. Repeat 15-20 times;
- in the supine position, raise your head and arms stretched out along the body at the top, hold them like this for a few seconds, return to the starting position. Repeat 7-10 times;
- lying on your back, raise your straight legs to a height of 20-30 cm, hold the position for 15-20 seconds. Repeat 10 times;
- Relieve the spine. It is performed on a special table, massage table with rollers. Underwater traction is also possible. The soft tissues are stretched, at the same time the intervertebral discs are unloaded.
- Post-isometric relaxation. It is performed by a massage therapist or rehabilitation therapist who is familiar with this technique. The method allows you to relax the spasmodic muscles of the back.
- Acupuncture. Helps relieve muscle spasm and reduce pain.
- Hirudotherapy. With the help of biologically active substances secreted by the leech, the blood flow improves, the pain syndrome decreases and the inflammation of the soft tissues is stopped.
What you can do yourself for the prevention and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis
- Try to avoid static poses. If you're sitting at your computer or work machine, take a break with a warm-up every hour and a half. Stretch, do breathing exercises, bend your head forward, backward, to the side, swing your arms, bend your torso. The work chair should have a comfortable back that follows the curves of the spine. You can put a special orthopedic pillow on it. The seat must be solid and the height of the chair must be equal to the length of the lower leg. There are requirements for the table: the table top is normally at the level of the elbow of the bent arm.
- It is advisable to sleep on an orthopedic mattress in order to respect the natural curves of the spine.
- It is not recommended to carry excessive weights, but if necessary, crouch or kneel to lift the weight off the ground. Carry the garment with your back straight, distributing it evenly on both hands.
- With osteochondrosis, it is necessary to maintain body weight, eat less fried and fatty foods, exclude carbonated drinks and alcohol.
- Sports like swimming and skiing are very useful. Exercise regularly.
The optimal treatment course for thoracic osteochondrosis should include several methods that complement each other. The treatment program is individually formed. It is important to relieve pain, improve tissue nutrition, relieve intervertebral discs, relax spasmodic muscles and strengthen the muscle corset. For these purposes, therapy must be performed repeatedly, and at least twice a year, supplemented by daily therapeutic exercises, systematic swimming and spa treatments.
Which doctor to contact
If symptoms of breast osteochondrosis appear, you should consult a neurologist. Usually, if necessary, an examination by a neurosurgeon is also prescribed: a therapist, a cardiologist, a rheumatologist, a pulmonologist to exclude concomitant diseases. Physical methods are important in the treatment of the disease, so it will be useful to consult a nutritionist, a specialist in physiotherapy, physiotherapy and massage.