Osteochondrosis is commonly called dystrophic changes in the bone and connective tissue of the spine. The spine is not able to cope with normal loads, and this is mainly expressed in the appearance of pain, at first it is not clearly expressed, but over time it increases more and more.
The main symptoms of the disease
Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease that usually appears in adulthood and does not fully manifest itself for a long time. This is due to the fact that the ribs are naturally supported and fixed by the thoracic spine; therefore, the intervertebral discs are well protected.
The nucleus of the spinal disc in this disease becomes thinner and dries up, the surrounding fibrous tissue begins to collapse, the cartilage tissue undergoes negative changes. The spine is not able to cope with normal loads, and this is mainly expressed in the appearance of pain, at first it is not clearly expressed, but over time it increases more and more. However, with significant loads (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 the appearance of pain, which include:
- interscapular and intercostal neuralgic stitches;
- pain in the left side of the chest;
- pain in the arms, aggravated when raising them and reaching the tips of the fingers;
- pain when bending over;
Also, thoracic osteochondrosis can be expressed in numbness, not only in the chest, but also in various parts of the body. Sometimes osteochondrosis leads to speech disorders, and sometimes even causes flaky skin, brittle nails, itchy skin, and digestive disorders.
Pain in osteochondrosis of the chest can manifest itself in different ways. Sometimes these are throbbing or dull aches that come on in the late afternoon and go away after physical activity, such as 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 often manifest themselves in the form of lumbago. The pain is pronounced, sharp, interferes with normal breathing, and unnecessary movements only exacerbate the situation. Back pain often begins after a long period of inactivity, for example, several hours of working at a computer in a static position.
The special "cunning" of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is that the disease can cleverly disguise itself as a dozen other ailments. Osteochondrosis of the chest is very easy to confuse with symptoms of pneumonia, angina, ischemia, heart attack. Sometimes the disease looks more like renal or hepatic colic, and slurred speech and a feeling of numbness in different parts of the body are even mistaken for signs of a stroke.
Moreover, the mistake is made not only by the patients themselves, but also by experienced doctors, which greatly complicates the diagnosis of the disease. It is especially difficult to recognize thoracic osteochondrosis in the early stages, so it is often diagnosed when the disease has already become pronounced and has passed into the chronic stage.
Meanwhile, timely diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis is of fundamental importance. This allows you to immediately start treatment and delay the development of the disease, significantly stopping the pain symptoms that accompany the disease.
How dangerous is osteochondrosis of the thoracic region?
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine does not directly pose a danger to the patient's life. However, in a state of neglect, it can lead to significant complications:
- the appearance of chronic intercostal neuralgia;
- hernia of the thoracic region;
- compression of the spinal cord in the damaged area of the spine.
Launched osteochondrosis of the spine is expressed in scoliosis, sometimes the disease passes to the cervical vertebrae, causing loss of voice.
Also, a strong weakening of the spine in the thoracic region can lead to deformation of the internal organs of the peritoneum. In turn, this is likely to involve all kinds of disorders of the digestive tract: stomach, pancreas, liver, kidneys, biliary tract.
Thoracic osteochondrosis needs careful treatment, which will help to delay 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 full diagnosis is carried out, which includes an examination of the patient by a specialist and examinations using modern equipment. This allows you to accurately diagnose and make sure that we are talking about osteochondrosis, and not about another disease.
After making a diagnosis, the doctor may use the following methods for therapy:
- drugs intended to relieve pain symptoms;
- physiotherapy, laser therapy, acupuncture and reflexology;
- manual therapy and therapeutic massage;
- a special course in medical gymnastics.
Almost all of these methods are not aimed at eliminating osteochondrosis as such, but at relieving inflammation and reducing pain intensity. Elimination of pain is the main goal of treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest. 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 perform therapeutic exercises regularly; otherwise it will not give any results.
In some, especially 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 about 50% of patients.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, regular trips to health centers are recommended. In sanatorium conditions, the patient receives a complete complex therapy combining medication, physiotherapy and gymnastic methods, and for a long time feels a significant improvement in her condition.
Home remedies
In the acute course of the disease, it is recommended to treat thoracic osteochondrosis in stationary conditions. But if the symptoms are mild, it is not necessary to go to the hospital. In this case, home care is 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 has the same goal - the rapid elimination of pain and inflammation, relieving the symptoms of the disease. Therefore, in the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies, decoctions, ointments, compresses and infusions of herbs and plants are used that have a sedative, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
What medicinal preparations are recommended to brew instead of tea and drink with osteochondrosis? These are chamomile, calendula, sage, birch leaves, strawberry leaves, and ripe viburnum. Also, these fees can be mixed with each other - a fragrant hot drink from two or three different herbs brings a noticeable effect.
Decoctions are prepared in the same way as tea: a tablespoon of a medicinal plant is poured into a glass of hot water, infused and consumed inside two or three times a day. Simultaneously with taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory herbs, it is recommended to drink soothing infusions of motherwort, lavender, valerian: stress, unavoidable during the course of the disease, can further aggravate the symptoms.
In addition to medicinal decoctions, baths with medicinal additives are used; for example, extracts of celandine, plantain and pine needles have a calming and warming effect. Such a bath relieves muscle spasms, improves blood flow between the inflamed discs of the spine, eliminates inflammation.
The use of compresses, ointments and rubbing during acute pain is not recommended. However, they can be used during a break in the disease. For example, rubbing with mustard and camphor ointment is popular: 50 grams of mustard and camphor are diluted with 100 milliliters of alcohol and 100 grams of raw egg white, stirred until smooth. The ointment is applied to the back for two weeks at night; the treated area should be covered with a woolen cloth on top.
What to do with an exacerbation?
What is considered an exacerbation of the disease? This term refers to sensations of intense pain. If the patient felt noticeable discomfort, familiar backaches and dull aches in the chest area, radiating to the peritoneum, lower back and arms, then it's time to pay maximum attention to his disease.
During an exacerbation, it is recommended:
- avoid hypothermia and stress;
- as little as possible to be in motionless poses, in which the load on the spine is maintained;
- apply moderate compresses and ointments to the affected area that do not have too harsh an effect;
- gently massage the affected areas on your own, but avoid strong pressure;
- as best you can to continue physical therapy exercises, but only if this does not lead to increased pain.
In acute complications, bed rest is also recommended. In case of unbearable pain, even hospitalization can be carried out. But in most cases, exacerbations of thoracic osteochondrosis can be stopped at home, especially if you combine a moderate regimen with taking medications prescribed by a specialist.
The main condition for the exacerbation of osteochondrosis is the lack of physical activity. Inflamed intervertebral discs need maximum rest; then it will be possible to cope with the exacerbation quickly.