Thoracic osteochondrosis: manifestation and methods of treatment.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine is a common phenomenon. But thoracic osteochondrosis is much less common. There are many intervertebral discs in the thoracic region and they are quite thin. Sudden movements and excessive loads can have unpleasant consequences. But there are ways to treat the pathology.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine: what it is and how it is treated

Doctors consider thoracic degenerative disc disease a "chameleon disease" due to the difficulty of diagnosis. In fact, we are talking about damage to the intervertebral discs. The pathology is based on high physical activity and metabolic processes. Here is a list of conditions that cause the disease:

1. Scoliosis.
2. Bad habits.
3. Sedentary lifestyle.
4. Genetic factors.
5. Spinal injury.
6. Excessive physical activity
7. Mental stress

Be aware that low mobility and excessive exercise are equally harmful. In everyday life, observe the measure. Exercise under the supervision of an experienced trainer. This also includes spinal cord injuries; Most of the time, patients receive them in the gym or in dangerous industries.

Manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis.

Many are interested in the question of how it manifests itself and how to treat thoracic osteochondrosis. You must first deal with the first point. This is what is happeninginside your body:

• intervertebral discs lose their shock absorbing properties;
• the fibrous ring cracks;
• the spinal nerves are damaged;
• inflammation begins;
• pain syndrome arises;
• ligaments and joints are destroyed.

The main characteristics of the disease

The pathology is explained by the structure of the human body. A large number of thin discs are located in the thoracic region; most of the time they are subject to destruction. Due to the rib protection, the vertebrae are inactive, which is why doctors recommend exercising. Here are some more interesting facts:

1. The curvature of the spine can be the cornerstone of osteochondrosis.
2. The greatest stress on curvature (kyphosis) is in the anterior column.
3. The discs can fall out late in the development of the disease.
4. Osteophyte growth often occurs.
5. The spinal cord is not always adversely affected.

Signs of pathology

Osteochondrosis of the chest is accompanied by a certain set of symptoms. The severity of these signs varies greatly. The symptoms are:

• pain in the area of the shoulder blades (felt when bending and lifting the arms);
• chest pain (worse with exertion, sharp bends, bends and chilling, as well as at night);
• discomfort when walking (manifested in the ribs);
• increased pain syndrome during inhalation-exhalation;
• a feeling of tightness in the chest.

With exacerbations, additional symptoms may appear. These include burning and itching in the legs, numbness in certain areas of the body, brittle nails, and peeling of the skin. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract also occur. Some patients complain of pain in the esophagus and pharynx. All these signs indicate that you should urgently visit your doctor.

Among the complications stands out dorsago - "lumbago in the chest", a sharp pain that has arisen in the chest. Most often, dorsago is the result of monotonous work. One type of dorsagus is back pain, a mild pain syndrome that lasts two to three weeks. The patient feels short of breath. Unpleasant sensations are worse at night, when walking, bending over, and breathing deeply.

We approach treatment competently

What approach to the treatment of pathology can be called competent? You will not be able to completely get rid of destructive processes, so you need to focus on preventing further deformation of the vertebral structures. Therapists set themselves several tasks:

1. Prevention of the development of pathology.
2. Restoration of affected bone structures.
3. Neutralization of negative processes that affect the nervous system.
4. Improvement of the biomechanics of the spine.

Conservative therapy

In the initial stages, the disease can be cured with medications. The progress of the pathology slows down, the pain stops. We list the most effective groups of drugs:

• NSAIDs;
• diuretics;
• glucocorticosteroids;
• chondroprotectors;
• metabolic stimulants.

Drug free treatment

Doctors recommend a comprehensive approach to solving the problem. Acute pain can be relieved with non-drug therapy. Usually 2-3 sessions are enough for the patient to feel relief. The following techniques are used:

1. Acupressure massage (relaxes muscles, relieves tension).
2. Acupuncture (muscle strength and mobility are restored, numbness is treated).
3. Manual therapy (normalizes blood circulation, reduces disc load, reduces intervertebral spaces).
4. Moxtotherapy (normalizes metabolism, activates recovery processes).
5. Hirudotherapy (helps eliminate blood congestion, prevents inflammation, strengthens the nutrition of ligaments and muscles).

Many patients seek help from Tibetan medicine centers. Practice shows that competent treatment without drugs saves the spine in 97-99 percent of cases. Conservative remedies quickly put patients on their feet, but this approach is accompanied by unpleasant side effects. Such therapy should be approached only as a last resort.