Osteochondrosis is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system, well studied, but difficult to treat. This is not just back pain and a lot of discomfort: over time and if left untreated, osteochondrosis can lead to the development of serious deformities and significantly reduce the patient's standard of living. Therefore, it is very serious to take this seemingly fearless disease even at the first signs.
Symptoms
Osteochondrosis often remains undiagnosed for a long time. Osteochondrosis syndromes may not even target the spine directly, masquerading as other diseases. And the patient "suppresses" the pain syndrome with painkillers, blaming everything on a migraine, at best, and at worst, he is being treated for a completely different disease, without seeing any improvement for years. .
At the initial stage of the development of the disease, osteochondrosis manifests itself only with mild pain and discomfort after intense physical activity or a long sitting in an uncomfortable position at the table. The disease develops over the years, gradually all the symptoms intensify. Characteristic features of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region include:
- numbness and tingling in the extremities. Especially after a long stay in one position or sleeping. This is one of the first signs of spinal problems. After rubbing, the numbness and discomfort pass quickly and do not cause serious discomfort;
- cold sensations, goose bumps on the skin in the area of the hands, often of individual hands or fingers, less often - in the affected area of the back;
- painful sensations are often in the "wrong" location. Pain can occur both in the area of the affected area of the spine and radiate (yield) to the chest area, resembling pain in heart disease, can occur when breathing. Therefore, when diagnosing osteochondrosis in the presence of pain in the heart region, an ECG will be a mandatory study to exclude ischemic disease. Also, pain is often in the area of the scapula (intercostal neuralgia) or in the left hand;
- painful sensations are often intensified at night;
- Furthermore, the patient is often tormented by headaches that resemble migraines. They can occur both on one side of the head and cover the entire head;
- a general decrease in well-being, mood;
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is rarely accompanied by compression of the spinal cord. But if this happens, the symptoms will be more pronounced - pain sensations become strong, accompanied by serious disturbances in the work of internal organs.
All the symptoms of osteochondrosis are a consequence of compression of the nerve roots that pass along the spinal column. Depending on the area and the degree of compression, the symptoms can vary greatly, therefore, at the first suspicion of osteochondrosis, it is very important to carry out instrumental studies and make the correct diagnosis.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region rarely occurs on its own: the thoracic region is inactive and less stressed, most often this disease is combined with cervical osteochondrosis.
Methods of treatment of osteochondrosis.
Like all degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system, osteochondrosis is treated very difficultly and for a long time, there is no simple and quick cure. You should be prepared for this. It is impossible to reverse degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs. The ideal option is to stop the development of the disease at the initial stage, when osteochondrosis does not impose restrictions on the patient's lifestyle. In the early stages, it is enough to slightly adjust the patient's lifestyle: increase physical activity, complete the diet. But it is extremely rare to make a diagnosis at the beginning of the development of pathological changes.
The traditional complex of therapy for osteochondrosis includes:
- Drug therapy. . . It consists of several components:
- with severe pain syndrome, the patient is prescribed painkillers. Most of the time these are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opiates, and opioids are used less frequently. They are stronger, but have many restrictions on their use;
- an obligatory part of the treatment is to take supplements and vitamins that strengthen the bone system;
- Muscle relaxants help relieve muscle tension. But it must be said that without constant exercise in medical gymnastics, taking muscle relaxants is strictly contraindicated;
- taking chondoprotectors helps to speed up the recovery processes in the affected area, although the attitude of specialists towards these drugs is very ambiguous.
- Drug free treatmentit is much more important for the successful treatment of osteochondrosis.
- First of all, one should focus on the systematic and correct implementation of the complex of corrective gymnastics. Exercise therapy is aimed at strengthening the muscle corset around the spine, accelerating local blood circulation, and with regular exercise can significantly improve the patient's condition;
- Physical therapy treatments help relieve pain and muscle tension. They work in the same way as anti-inflammatory painkillers, but they have far fewer contraindications;
- massage therapy. Both traditional therapeutic massage and many alternative methods are practiced, the main selection criterion is the professionalism of a specialist and consultation with the treating physician;
- manual therapy;
- traction (traction therapy) in a special simulator. Gentle traction on the spine allows you to relieve muscle tension and reduce symptoms caused by compression of the nerve roots;
- You should also change the focus of your diet, make it more balanced.
Therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis of the thoracic region.
You can do medical gymnastics both in a special hospital room and at home. The more frequent and regular the sessions, the greater the effectiveness. It is advisable to take classes several times a day, an obligatory part of the complex is the morning exercises. Each workout should last from 5 (in the first stage) to 40 minutes, the number of repetitions of each exercise should be from 5 to 20. Here is an approximate set of exercises:
- Lie on your back, the surface should be flat and firm, for comfort, you can lay a gym mat. Bend your knees, then simultaneously stretch your knee toward your nose and your head toward your knee. Hold at the top point for a few seconds, return to the starting point, switch legs;
- A universal exercise - familiar to everyone from childhood "cat". Get on all fours with your head down. As you inhale, bend your back as far as possible and lift your head. Then, as you exhale, arch your back and lower your head;
- In the middle of the workday, you can take a break to perform a simple exercise: alternately raise each shoulder as high as possible, while while one shoulder is raised, the other is lowered;
- Sit in a chair with the back up to your shoulder blades (a normal office chair will do), press your back firmly against the back of the chair. Then raise your arms and bend your upper back as much as possible;
- Do several circular movements as wide as possible with your arms extended. Performed sitting in a straight rigid chair or standing;
- Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Clasp your arms behind your back under your shoulder blades. Lean back as much as possible in the thoracic region, resisting with your hands;
- Also, from a standing position, hunched over as much as possible, the chin tends to the chest and shoulders to each other. Stay in the lowest position for a few seconds. Then, do the movement backwards: stretch your shoulders as much as possible, bringing your shoulder blades together and throwing your head back. The exercise is done at a slow and gentle pace.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region can develop very slowly, without causing much concern for a long time, but as a result, the patient is faced with many restrictions in his usual lifestyle and the fact that the standard of living is constantly falling. Therefore, if you experience the first sensations of discomfort and slight pain, you should consult a doctor.