Osteochondrosis is wear and tear of the intervertebral discs, which leads to degenerative organic changes in the spine. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is considered the rarest because this section is the least mobile due to its ligament with the ribs. But it is this type of disease that occurs most insidiously and seriously, and develops earlier than other types. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by an integrated approach and leads to good results. With a competent therapeutic approach, a person can regain mobility, lightness and pain-free life.
Causes
The main factors provoking the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine include:
- Kyphosis and scoliosis. These diseases often accompany a person from birth, in the form of an anatomical abnormality. If kyphosis is alleviated, a person may not know of its existence for half their life. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that causes poor distribution of muscle load. As a result, on the one hand, the muscles will atrophy and relax, and on the other hand, they will spasm due to constant tension.
- Injuries. They may be evident when a person injures their vertebrae in a fall, accident, or other similar circumstances. Injuries may not be visible. For example, spinal injuries are common due to overuse of the gym and heavy lifting.
- Flat foot. Some doctors claim that this is almost the main reason for the development of degenerative changes in any part of the spine. Flat feet disrupt the balance of the muscular corset, poor redistribution of the load leads to impaired depreciation of the vertebrae.
- Statically incorrect body position for a long time. Due to muscle overwork, blood circulation and nutrition of muscle tissues deteriorate. In other words, they hold the spine. This is the cause not only of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, but also of the cervical and lumbar spine.
- Excess weight and lack of sufficient physical activity.
- Stress. Stress itself is not as dangerous as the reaction associated with it. During stress, the adrenal glands produce excessive amounts of adrenaline, which is transformed into norepinephrine. It promotes the thickening of blood vessel walls and the progression of atherosclerosis. Under stressful conditions, blood vessels narrow, resulting in poor oxygen delivery to muscle tissues.
- Consumption of alcohol, smoking, use of other drugs and poor diet. Alcohol removes calcium from bone tissue. Tobacco and other drugs cause blood vessels to malfunction. Serious nutritional errors lead to obesity, lack of B vitamins and minerals.
- Improper carrying of bags and shoes.
- Gastrointestinal diseases that affect the quality of nutrient absorption.
- Violation of water and electrolyte balance over a long period of time.
- Pregnancy. Thoracic osteochondrosis often occurs in women pregnant with twins or triplets.
- Metabolic syndrome.
- Autoimmune diseases, infections, poisonings.
- Genetic predisposition associated with a genetic mutation. You should not think that a genetic predisposition is necessarily associated with the fact that someone close to you suffers from osteochondrosis. Often, it has nothing to do with genetics. Genetic predisposition is always a mutation of certain genes. But even so, the disease will only develop in combination with other factors.
The disease can occur both in adults and in young people. Every year the disease gets younger. It is therefore important to recognize the problem as early as possible by paying attention to the symptoms.
Symptoms
Degenerative changes in the thoracic spine are of great concern to a person. The thoracic area contains the heart, lungs, internal organs of the abdominal cavity, ribs and, in women, the mammary glands. Symptoms at this location may be similar to an attack of angina, a heart attack, or pain in the stomach, mammary glands, or any other nearby organs. Therefore, when osteochondrosis makes itself felt, it is often confused with other dangerous pathologies.
Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are interrelated due to two types of clinical picture.
Root signs
Root symptoms:
- stabbing pain or pain in the shoulder, armpit, or collarbone;
- impaired reflexes;
- muscular weakness;
- pain in the upper thoracic region, similar to a heart attack, in the solar plexus, in the hypochondrium, pain in the mammary glands, in the upper abdomen or in the groin area.
Reflex signs
Symptoms:
- respiratory problems such as a feeling of lack of air, pain when inhaling and exhaling, difficulty breathing;
- feeling of chills, "goosebumps";
- feeling of disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, loss of appetite, heartburn, diarrhea or constipation, bloating;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- pain in the chest of a girdling nature, between the shoulder blades, when bending and straightening;
- insomnia, feeling tired after getting enough sleep, fatigue;
- stiffness of movements in the morning;
- deterioration of gait;
- irritability;
- decreased libido/potency.
Reflex symptoms are vaguer than radicular symptoms and are often misunderstood by doctors. Therefore, it is very important to find a competent doctor who will take the patient's complaints seriously and prescribe the appropriate treatment for thoracic osteochondrosis, especially during exacerbation.
Diagnostic
The gold standard for diagnosing thoracic osteochondrosis is an MRI of the thoracic spine and examination by a neurologist.
The MRI shows exactly the anatomical structure, changes, compression, blood flow and a visual image of the effect on the spinal cord. Furthermore, the study demonstrates possible complications of the disease such as protrusions, osteophytes, hernias and their effect on blood flow.
As before, an examination by a competent doctor plays an important role in establishing the diagnosis.
Treatment
Many have heard that it is impossible to completely get rid of osteochondrosis, but you can only slow down its development. It's a half-truth. You can get rid of hernias, osteophytes and other complications of the disease. You can return to life without pain and ease of movement and restore your intervertebral discs. There is a great chance to stop the process of destruction, returning the spine as much as possible to its previous state. Some people managed to completely get rid of the pathology, others did not. Everything is individual and depends on the state of health, the desire to overcome difficulties and patience.
You should be prepared for the fact that treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine will take a long time. On average, active participation will take 1-3 months. But even then, life will not be the same due to the need for regular and proper physical activity for at least a year.
In this case, finances and time are not an excuse to refuse treatment, since you can fight the disease both in the hospital or sanatorium and at home. The most convenient option is in a sanatorium. There the patient is supported by a group of people with the same problems, but the conditions are positive and family-friendly. The medical staff is always attentive and caring. There you can relax and receive treatment without a hospital atmosphere, but with all the necessary medical services.
Therapy includes several stages:
- get rid of pain (wear a special corset, take painkillers, undergo interventions);
- restoration of damaged intervertebral discs and preventive measures against the progression of the disease (physiotherapy, gymnastics, proper nutrition, help of a psychologist).
Drug treatment is also used, but it is considered a last resort when other methods are not enough. In the most serious cases and in cases of dangerous hernias, surgical intervention is prescribed.
The most important rule is not to self-medicate or self-diagnose. Mistakes can be very costly.
Home treatment
If you do not have time or not enough financial resources to seek treatment in a clinic or sanatorium, you can achieve impressive results by getting rid of osteochondrosis at home. The recommendations below will help you cope with the disease.
Nutrition
It is necessary to introduce foods into the diet that contribute to accelerating the metabolism in case of excess weight and the regeneration of cartilage tissue. It is important that the foods you consume are rich in nutrients, microelements, antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and are easily digestible.
You should eat 4-5 times a day every 2. 5-3 hours, preferably at the same time. Portions should not exceed 300 g, so as not to overload the stomach and liver. Three meals should contain 26 to 30 g of protein. Protein is essential for building muscle tissue. Thus, the metabolism will accelerate, the body will stop accumulating fats, and the cells will receive constant nutrition.
The first breakfast and dinner should consist mainly of protein. For example, egg white and cucumber. The basic principle of the first and last meal is the absence of insulin peaks, achieved through the elimination of carbohydrates. Cucumber, although carbohydrate, has a low glycemic index. Protein without a small amount of fat and carbohydrates is not digestible.
Recommended products:
- legumes as a protein substitute for meat (beans, including green beans, lentils, peas);
- vegetables in large quantities (except starchy foods, which should be consumed with caution);
- jelly and jelly (contain natural collagen, necessary for joints);
- chicken wings (the bones must be gnawed, it is their contents which are most valuable);
- poultry, red meats in limited quantities;
- salmon, caviar and milt fish;
- squid, seaweed (no more than 100 g at a time);
- olive oil, camelina oil, flaxseed oil (if there are no liver problems), sesame oil; adults should avoid sunflower oil;
- fruits in limited quantities with low sugar content
It is advisable to boil, steam, simmer or eat all dishes fresh.
The drinking regime is obligatory, because the required amount of water relieves dehydration, cellular nutrition and promotes weight loss. Daily water consumption is calculated using a simple formula: 30 x weight. Tea, coffee, herbal teas, fruit juices and fruit drinks are not considered water.
Physical exercise
Physical exercise is an integral part of the treatment of osteochondrosis of any part of the spine. The following techniques may be included:
- Gymnastics developed by scientist Yuri Gushcho. It includes elements of dynamic and static yoga. He also advises carrying out hardening procedures. If you are interested, you can read his book "12 Keys to Longevity", in which he explains what to do to live as long as possible while being active. It makes sense to trust him, because Yuri got up from a wheelchair on his own and recovered from coxarthrosis. He has many awards and thanks from the President of the Russian Federation.
- Gymnastics using Dr. Bubnovsky's technologies. His technique is quite effective and can be done at home. A set of exercises can be found on the Internet in video format, and books with complete instructions are also available.
- Pool. Swimming not only helps you lose weight but also strengthens your heart, lungs and builds your back muscles.
- Isometric gymnastics. This type of exercise was first developed for astronauts returning home. The exercises allow, without damaging the joints, to restore weakened muscles and regain flexibility and ease of movement. Gymnastics is indicated for many pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, including osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
- Outdoor walks. It is advisable to dedicate an hour every day to intense walks, preferably in parks or along the coast. The goal is to improve cerebral circulation, muscle nutrition and mood.
- Exercises to correct posture.
Complete rest
It is imperative to develop the habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time. Ideally, go to bed at 9 p. m. and wake up at 5-6 a. m. During this time, the brain manages to restore the functioning of the internal systems of the body, the psyche and process all the information that it received the day before. This is especially important for spinal health.
To sleep, you have to choose the right mattress and the right pillow. It is better to forget about too soft or too hard options.
Treatment in a hospital or sanatorium
Manual therapy
This is an effect on the patient's body using the hands in order to restore metabolism and give the spine the correct shape. The procedure consists of manipulations to restore joint function, relaxing massage to relieve pain and muscle tension, mobilization to improve blood circulation and relaxation.
The duration of treatment is approximately 3 months.
Massage
In the treatment of degenerative changes in the thoracic spine, classic types of therapeutic massage and acupressure are used. The massage therapist works with the muscle fibers of the upper back and shoulders to influence the thoracic region.
Mineral baths
During the procedure, the hemodynamics of the body change. This means that the blood is directed from the center to the periphery and from there to the heart, which conducts it through all organs and tissues. Thus, the following effects are obtained:
- blood circulation improves;
- the nervous system is strengthened;
- The respiratory system and kidneys work better;
- the adaptive properties of the body increase;
- reduction of inflammation;
- pain relief;
- elimination of toxins;
- skin sensitivity increases.
The chemical composition of water affects the effect of a mineral bath on the body of a patient suffering from osteochondrosis. Water temperature affects muscle relaxation and metabolic processes.
Acupuncture
Also, this procedure is called acupuncture or acupuncture. Its essence lies in the influence of biological points of the human body using needles. Sterile long and short needles are inserted to a depth of 15 mm and left for half an hour.
This seemingly simple procedure has proven itself around the world. Patient reviews indicate the following effects after completing a course of acupuncture procedures:
- relaxation;
- cessation of tinnitus and dizziness;
- increase energy potential;
- improvement of blood flow;
- improvement of thought processes;
- get rid of headaches;
- relieve muscle spasms.
Laser therapy
The advantage of laser therapy is to improve the penetration of drugs and normalize the adaptive properties of the body. During the procedure, laser beams of a certain range are exposed to areas of the spine requiring treatment. The result of exposure is an anti-inflammatory effect, normalization of metabolism in the affected area, improvement in general well-being, the process of tissue regeneration starts and the process of degeneration stops.
Through a comprehensive series of procedures as part of complex therapy, the degenerative process can be completely reversed.
Mud therapy
This procedure is beneficial not only for the spine, but also for the whole body. The only thing is that it cannot be used in the acute phase of osteochondrosis.
The effects of mud therapy include improving the trophism of formations in the intervertebral joints, vascular function, adaptation and recovery processes. In addition, the functioning of the nervous system is normalized and the pain disappears.
Work with a psychologist
Since with osteochondrosis a person experiences constant stress, anxiety states often develop. A psychologist not only helps to get rid of them, but also stimulates in moments of despair and fatigue. A positive attitude plays an important role in treatment.
Exercise therapy
The treatment procedure is carried out in a group of several people and includes exercises taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient and his medical history. The emphasis is on improving joint function and strengthening the muscular corset. Without exercise, full recovery is unlikely.
Nordic's walk
This is one of the most effective types of physical activity against osteochondrosis and is gaining more and more popularity every year.
When walking with sticks, 90% of muscles are toned, active calorie burning occurs, the load is evenly distributed throughout the body, the cardiovascular system is strengthened, intestinal function is improved, the nervous system and psyche arestrengthened, the functions of the respiratory system improve, insomnia disappears, blood vessels are strengthened and a strong corset is formed around the thoracic spine.
Drug therapy
Drug treatment is used only in the acute phase of osteochondrosis and when other methods of treatment are ineffective.
At the height of the disease, painkillers are prescribed, as well as drugs that accelerate metabolic processes. Medicines in the form of tablets and injections are useful.
Prescribed drug groups:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which also relieve pain. Available in the form of cream, tablets and ampoules for intravenous or subcutaneous administration.
- Vasodilators. In case of muscle tension and severe pain, vasoconstriction occurs, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure and oxygen supply to the brain may become difficult. Vasodilators return vascular tone to normal.
- Muscle relaxers. This group of medications is designed to relax and soothe tense muscles. This effect triggers a chain of beneficial changes such as improved blood circulation, regulation of vascular tone and pain relief. When blood flow is normalized, damaged tissues recover more quickly.
- Chondroprotectors and B vitamins. These are drugs that restore cartilage tissue, thereby stopping the process of destruction.
- Sedative complex. Pain stress makes the pain worse. Irritability and anxiety trigger the action of the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to even stronger tone of muscles and blood vessels. Sedatives and sometimes antidepressants can break this vicious cycle.
As you can see, the treatment of osteochondrosis should be approached comprehensively, having studied all the nuances. It is better to turn to specialists to thus protect yourself from errors.