Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is difficult due to the difficulty to correctly diagnose the disease, to identify it in the initial stage. At present, such a lesion of the spinal column is quite rare, and patients are more often treated with disorders in the cervical spine, lower back, or sacral region. This is due to human anatomy: the vertebrae are quite stable, they are not inherent in mobility. The complexity of diagnosis is due to the location of vital organs in the sternum. Manifestations of osteochondrosis are similar to cardiac, pulmonary, vascular diseases.
General view
It is possible to understand that treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is necessary, if pain surrounds this area, and discomfort is given to the shoulders and shoulder blades. Patients describe them as "shoots." If you take a deep breath, the pain becomes stronger. Some are worried about aching sensations in the chest area. Such pains become stronger if you bend over or take an uncomfortable posture.
It is possible to suspect the need for treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine by pain in the chest on the left, but such manifestations are often confused with a heart attack. If the health of the spinal column manifests itself in the right half of the body, there is a high risk of explaining this with cholecystitis. To make the correct diagnosis, it is necessary to carefully study the condition of the patient. Muscle tension, numbness, goosebumps can indicate osteochondrosis. More often, such manifestations occur in the upper limbs, upper abdomen and throughout the chest.
The relevance of treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine follows from the specifics of human anatomy. In this part of the trunk, the canal inside the spine has a small clearance. With the disease, hernias and protrusions form here. Even with small dimensions, such formations can put pressure on the spinal cord, which means that the quality of life suffers greatly, a person loses working capacity. This leads to mood instability, mental abnormalities amid constant exhausting pain.
It's time to hurry
If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine (lumbar and any other) must be practiced strictly under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Self-medication with folk remedies without the consent of a doctor can cause serious complications and complete loss of mobility, and the choice of pharmacy drugs without appropriate knowledge will certainly lead to various side effects. However, do not despair, especially if you were able to notice the disease by the initial signs. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine allows you to minimize unpleasant impressions of the pathological condition. You will have to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations, reconsider your lifestyle, use all medications, practice exercises, and avoid too much stress. If you manage to follow all the rules of the therapeutic course, the disease will not manifest itself at all.
Where did the trouble come from?
It is highly likely that treatment of osteochondrosis and spondylosis of the thoracic spine will be necessary if the person is inherently incorrect in posture. With scoliosis, the risk of any diseases associated with the spinal column is significantly higher than in people with a flat and straight back. Scoliosis provokes degenerative processes in the discs, leading to a constant increased tension of muscle fibers.
There is a high probability of impaired health in those whose daily life is associated with a minimum of physical activity. More often, the disease develops in those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, work in offices, and for a long time support a forced, not too comfortable and anatomically incorrect posture. Some fundamentally avoid physical activity. In such a situation, the likelihood that treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine and exercises to return back health will be required against the background of symptoms is also increased. A similar lifestyle leads to thinning of muscle fibers, while the static load on the spinal column increases.
In addition to the factors of the development of the disease include:
- extra pounds, creating a significant burden on the vertebrae;
- smoking, which provokes a violation of metabolism, blood flow, and, therefore, the cells do not receive the necessary nutritional components, oxygen;
- irrational, uneven loads, frequent work with weights.
Chances are high for jumpers and runners.
Drugs: where to start?
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine always involves the use of drugs that stop inflammatory processes. They allow you to ease pain, relieve swelling of the soft tissues. There are systemic drugs and local ones. Of the popular representatives of the first group, it is worth mentioning Diclofenac, Nise. The Movalis and Celebrex preparations created a good reputation for themselves. Among ointments, creams, doctors are often advised to stay on:
Local options are especially effective if neuralgia bothers between the ribs.
To relieve pain, anesthetics are allowed. Mostly these are drugs for:
In pharmacies, the bulk of such anesthetics are presented in the form of means for injective administration. They need to be entered directly where it hurts. The drugs simultaneously relieve pain and eliminate spasm, bringing temporary relief. True, you should not expect pronounced effects from them - painkillers only stop sensations.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine involves the use of hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs (glucocorticosteroids). You can use them strictly as prescribed by the doctor - GCS with a high degree of probability provoke side effects, and their unreasonable, irrational use only worsens the patient's condition. The most effective pharmacy drugs are based on substances:
Hormonal drugs are used in the area of ​​maximum pain. They are selected only if milder methods do not show a positive effect.
What else to try?
Preparations for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are also a group of muscle relaxants. Such medications are designed to eliminate muscle spasm. Of the popular items worth mentioning:
- Midokalm.
- "Baklosan."
- Sirdalud.
If the disease has caused a decrease in mental status, emotional instability, you can take antidepressants. Such drugs must necessarily be agreed with the doctor. Take into account that there are a lot of side effects from them, including drowsiness, slow reaction. Quite often they use effective and relatively sparing means for:
- metocarbamole;
- carisoprodol.
When drawing up a treatment program for osteochondrosis of the 1st degree of the thoracic spine, antidepressants are rarely included in the course, but with an advanced case it can be difficult to do without them, since the disease creates an increased stress on the patient's psyche.
To stimulate the functioning of the nervous system, the doctor can recommend multivitamin complexes rich in various compounds from group B. All of them are useful for the endings of the central nervous system, which means they prevent violations in the functioning of this system. Most often, patients are prescribed Milgamma and Combilipen. As part of these combined products, the most important vitamins for the spine and nervous system are presented - B1, B6, B12.
Chondroprotectors are suitable for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. Under the influence of active components, degenerative processes in the tissues that separate the vertebrae are slowed down, while metabolic processes in the bones are stimulated. For maximum course effectiveness, chondroprotectors are injected into the affected area. In pharmacies, you can also find means for oral use, but their effectiveness is lower, a high percentage of the substance does not fall into the desired area, which means that a very large dose is required. In addition, the tablet form gives an effect only with prolonged use, but injections show the result much earlier. Popular chondroprotectors:
In some cases, the doctor recommends choosing “Arteparon” or “Alflutop”.
Not single medicines
Although medications cannot be dispensed with, for the effectiveness of the therapeutic course it will be necessary to combine these approaches with other therapeutic measures and procedures. In particular, almost always doctors recommend that patients undergo a course of physiotherapy. Such methods allow locally affecting the affected areas. Under the influence of modern and proven methods, pain is relieved, spasmodic phenomena are eliminated, blood flow becomes more active and better, and tissues receive oxygen and substances necessary for life and regeneration. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine of the 2nd degree (1st also) is often practiced using the following methods:
- magnetic therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- UHF
Perhaps the appointment of therapeutic massage to alleviate the condition. The upper limbs, chest, and collar are treated. If the disease is currently proceeding in the acute phase, you should not immediately begin with massage - the first days only the use of medicines is practiced. Gradually, a massage is included in the patient's daily routine. At first, the procedure is done as gently as possible so as not to harm. The main task of the massage therapist is to eliminate spasm, to help muscles relax.
When the pain subsides, you can switch to more intensive methods and techniques. Both regular and acupressure are practiced. In case of damage to the spinal column in the sternum, vacuum massage devices and vibrating devices will be useful, but do not neglect the manual method. The best results are achievable if you combine different approaches, alternate.
Physical activity: delicately but regularly
As with the violation of the health of any other part of the spinal column, in this case, you can not do without physical education. Doctors have developed special complexes of the most effective, safe, easy exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. Regular practice helps alleviate seizures and reduce the frequency of their occurrence.
The easiest option:
- Take a comfortable chair.
- Hold hands behind your head.
- Take a breath.
- Connect the shoulder blades.
- Touch the back of a chair.
- Exhale.
It is necessary to repeat the cycle 15 times. Exercise should be done daily.
Another simple and accessible option for everyone involves the following sequence:
- Get on all fours.
- Bend like a cat.
- Hold in the upper position for a few seconds.
- Bend your back up.
- Linger in the highest position.
This exercise for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is repeated 20 times daily.
Another option for healing the spinal column:
- Lie on your back.
- Raise your head, extend your arms.
- Hold limbs and head for a few seconds.
- Lie back.
Up to ten sets are recommended each day.
Another good option involves the same starting position (lying on your back). The patient lifts straightened legs (not higher than 30 cm), holds the pose for up to 20 seconds, then relaxes. It is recommended to do this exercise in the course of daily gymnastics for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, repeat ten times.
There are many options
As special studies have shown, procedures for unloading the spinal column give good results. For the event, you need to have a massage roller bed or table, although traction under water is allowed. The procedure is carried out by a qualified doctor. Without special skills, one can only harm the patient without bringing relief. During the event, the tissues are stretched, the load is removed from the disks between the vertebrae, the pain goes away, the cramps subside.
As can be seen from the reviews, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine using postisometric relaxation is a fairly effective and modern approach. The procedure is also conducted by a doctor - either specializing in rehabilitation, or a massage therapist. A special technique is applied to affect diseased parts of the body. The main idea of ​​the event is to relieve spasm, relax muscle spinal tissues.
The doctor may advise a course of acupuncture. The correct insertion of needles into active points allows you to relax spasmodic muscles. The condition is much easier, the pain is weakened or completely stopped.
The use of leeches has proven itself well. These worms are capable of producing specific active compounds, due to which blood circulation is activated. Hirudotherapy can relieve pain, the activity of harmful cells in inflammatory foci is inhibited. True, a qualified doctor should conduct the procedure. It is important to use leeches correctly, removing them in time so as not to harm the patient.
Nuances: help yourself without harming
The basic rule is that you can not start treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine with medication without the recommendation of a doctor. If the diagnosis is incorrect, it can drown out the manifestations, the disease will continue to progress, and at the stage when it can be determined, the process will be so neglected that nothing will be done. In addition, many drugs have side effects, negatively affect different organs, or can cause other negative processes in the body. Most drugs inhibit the liver and kidneys, immunity, many negatively affect the heart. Self-medication, especially with the use of strong medications, may be more harmful than the absence of any therapy at all.
To alleviate the condition somewhat, in case of damage to the thoracic spine, you should control your posture. Doctors recommend monitoring habits, possibly not maintaining the body position unchanged for a long time. If the lifestyle is such that a person is forced to spend hours at the machine, computer, you need to make it a rule to constantly take breaks. The optimal frequency is once every half hour or a little more often. During the break, do a little workout. It is recommended to stretch, bend in different directions, do hand swings, bend your back.
It is necessary to analyze the workplace. The chair should be with a comfortable back, similar in shape to the spine. For greater comfort, you should use an orthopedic pillow. The seat is optimally rigid, the height is the length of the lower leg. The surface of the table should be at the level of the elbow when the arm is bent.
Rules and recommendations
When studying recommendations for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine with folk remedies, an interested person will surely pay attention to frequently encountered tips on buying an orthopedic mattress. Otherwise, this seems like a trifle, an insignificant factor, but, in fact, a sleeping place is extremely important. If you manage to organize it in such a way that the surface matches the natural topography of the spinal column, this will alleviate the symptoms of the disease and somewhat slow down its progress.
Another well-known folk remedy for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is the development of a diet. It is necessary to exclude from the diet fried and fatty. A categorical ban is imposed on alcohol and carbonated. You should eat vegetables and fruits, protein foods. The diet should be full, rich in vitamins and minerals. It is important to control weight, avoiding deviations in the direction of both overabundance and lack.
Doctors recommend playing sports:
- gymnastics, physical education;
- to swim;
- ski.
It is important not to overdo it.
Even if the first time treatment with ointments of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine shows a pronounced effect and the condition improves after applying the medication, this does not mean that you can lift, carry heavy objects. , . , , , , . , – , .
To defeat osteochondrosis, you will have to combine medications, a complete diet, physiotherapeutic procedures, gymnastics. Only a program involving multidirectional action on the healing of the spinal column will show a pronounced effect. Different activities should complement each other. In each case, the doctor selects the program, focusing on the needs of the patient. The course is compiled strictly individually. The main objectives of the treatment:
- remove the load from the disks;
- eliminate spasm;
- relieve pain
- stimulate metabolic processes;
- strengthen muscle fibers.
The therapeutic course lasts for a long time, you will have to repeat the treatment 2-3 times a year, and sometimes even more often. Gymnastics should become a habit in the patient. It is wise to become a regular visitor to the pool or section of the ski, sports walking. A good solution is to visit resorts, sanatoriums, whose area of ​​specialization is spinal column disease.
Need help? Do not pull!
If pain in the chest area is bothering, it is difficult to move, the pain girdles, is given to the arm, shoulder, and it is reasonable to consult a doctor as soon as possible. If a person doubts what kind of doctor can help, first make an appointment with a therapist. The doctor will examine, evaluate complaints and refer you to a highly specialized professional. You can immediately sign up to a neurologist. In most cases, directions to:
- neurosurgeon;
- pulmonologist;
- cardiologist;
- to a rheumatologist.
This will prevent an erroneous diagnosis. With a comprehensive examination, doctors will determine which factors have a negative effect on the patient’s health status, which means they can give the most useful, relevant recommendations for recovery.
If it was possible to identify osteochondrosis, you should come to an appointment with a nutritionist. The doctor will tell you how to eat right, what foods to focus on. At the same time, he will take into account the individual characteristics of the patient, concomitant health disorders, possible allergic reactions.