Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis – medications, physical therapy and gymnastics

For modern people, osteochondrosis is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and it occurs not only in the elderly.It mainly affects the lumbar region, which is constantly subjected to high loads, especially when walking, and the cervical spine region, which affects office workers and students.The chest area is less frequently affected, but also requires careful attention and prompt initiation of treatment.

What is thoracic osteochondrosis

Primary degenerative processes (destruction, loss of original function) of the intervertebral discs occur, against the background of which secondary reactive and compensatory changes gradually occur in the joints and ligaments - this is how official medicine understands the diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the spine".The disease is multifactorial, affecting first the intervertebral disc (the fibrocartilaginous tissue that forms between a pair of adjacent vertebrae) and then:

• other parts of the spine;
• the entire musculoskeletal system;
• nervous system.

Due to the structural characteristics of the chest area, the symptoms of this disease are similar to the clinical manifestations of cardiac and respiratory diseases.Severe pain from osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occurs in the second stage, intensifies with physical activity, and is not always clear to the back.List of symptoms for each degree of disease:

1. Pain in the affected area or left chest area, similar to heartache: persistent or severe pain.Spasmodic contraction of muscles.
2. Severe pain in the area below the shoulder blades, and may also occur between the ribs (the intercostal nerves are affected), along with a feeling of pressure in the chest.It is often aggravated by inhaling, turning, and bending the body.Remaining in an uncomfortable position for an extended period of time can worsen the discomfort.
3. Sensitivity issues in the upper chest, abdomen, lower limbs, "goosebumps" due to nerve root damage (crushing).Intervertebral hernia occurs, resulting in limited movement due to kyphosis or scoliosis.
4. Hypoxia, pulmonary congestion, and other dysfunction of the respiratory system.Development of fibrosis, transformation of degenerative dystrophic processes into structures surrounding the spine.Clinical manifestations of remission (diminishing).

Persistent pain in the thoracic spine, accompanied by second-degree osteochondrosis, indicates cracks in the annulus fibrosus and depression of the nucleus pulposus, which can lead to rupture of fibrous tissue and the formation of intervertebral hernia.Among the clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis, in addition to compression syndrome (compression of the roots of the spinal cord), reflex symptoms occur:

• Muscle tension (muscle spasms leading to lack of oxygen and severe pain);
• neurodystrophies (sensory abnormalities occur against the background of muscle spasms that continuously stimulate peripheral nerves: numbness, "goosebumps", tinnitus, aggravated by adopting certain body postures);
• Vegetative vasospasm (muscle vasospasm, manifested by headache, dizziness, interruption of visceral function and blood supply to the brain).

How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis

Most experts agree that the disorder is closely related to the upright posture and "the operating conditions of the spine," so that it is partly natural to humans and primarily requires minimizing the number of developmental factors.These include:

• Lack of physical activity (sedentary or sedentary lifestyle);
• Postural disorders;
• Excessive physical activity, heavy lifting;
• Nervousness, stress;
• During pregnancy, wearing high heels and flat feet increase the load on the spine;
• The habit of hunchback.

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis consists in eliminating all the above points: this will relieve the patient's condition.It is also important to avoid hypothermia and not remain in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.A very important nuance is the issue of physical activity: therapeutic exercises must be included in the schedule of patients with osteochondrosis, but in the initial phase - under the supervision of a doctor.Additionally, treatment options include:

• Manual therapy (especially in the presence of curvature, obstruction of blood flow, and if the disease is caused by injury);
• massage classes;
• swim;
• physiotherapy;
• acupuncture;
• Local and systemic drug effects.

There is no single treatment option for osteochondrosis.In some cases, it is even important to adopt the correct bed posture and adjust the diet. In the case of 4th degree thoracic osteochondrosis, accompanied by complications (spina bifida, hemangioma), surgical intervention may be required.Develop an accurate treatment plan based on the patient's chief complaint and the diagnostic procedure performed.

at home

After receiving the results of diagnostic studies (X-rays are particularly important), the doctor will choose the best conservative treatment option.All procedures are performed in the hospital (physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture) and at home the following is required:

• Local anesthetics and analgesics are used to relieve pain.
• Take products that improve the composition of cartilage tissue.Some doctors recommend taking additional vitamins to treat osteochondrosis of the chest (Group B).
• Perform therapeutic exercises every day.
• Watch your diet.

drug treatment

Both local and systemic medications are necessary during remission and during exacerbations.Medical treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis includes eliminating symptoms and affecting the degenerative process:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, analgesics - relieve inflammation and pain.Use ointments, creams, tablets.
• Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics - relieve spasms of muscles or blood vessels.
• Chondroprotectants - Glucosamine or chondroitin preparations, which restore cartilage tissue.

Medication selection for any group, especially long-term treatment, must be made by a physician.Experts will also tell you how much to use and whether you need to repeat the course.

food

Correction of the diet will also provide important support to bones, cartilage and muscle tissue: elimination of salt, sugar (reduce the amount to a minimum) and carbonated drinks.It is recommended not to overdo it with spices, spicy and greasy foods, to monitor your weight carefully, not to overeat, and to monitor your water balance.Strong coffee, alcohol and fried foods are prohibited.The diet should:

• Mainly protein products (milk, lean meat and fish, cheese);
• There are sources of chondroitin (jelly, aspic, aspic);
• Includes boiled or grilled dishes;
• Features just the right amount of fresh vegetables and grains.

practise

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis requires the regular implementation of a series of exercise therapies aimed at increasing the mobility of the intervertebral and costovertebral joints.Its tasks include reducing pain, spinal stiffness, strengthening muscle tracts, and improving lung ventilation.Simple home exercises:

• Sit in a chair and put your hands behind your head as you inhale.As you exhale, bend back and rest your shoulder blades against the back of the chair.With a new breath, return to the starting position.Perform these steps 5 times.
• Lie on all fours, exhale and arch your back.Count to 5, breathe evenly, and then return to the starting position.Repeat 10 times.
• Lie on your stomach, exhale, lift your legs, lift your chest off the floor, and arch your back.Hands along the body.Count to 5 and go down.Perform the exercise 10 times.

massage

Massage has an indirect and reflective effect on muscle fibers and ligaments, which has a beneficial effect on all parts of the spine, helping to relieve pain and improve lymphatic flow, blood circulation and muscle tone.Massage is performed in the subacute or chronic stage of the disease, the technique is chosen depending on the patient's condition and the presence of other diseases.Classic solution:

1. The patient is placed in a horizontal recumbent position.Gently caress the chest area from bottom to top (from the lower edge of the shoulder blades to the neck) for - 1 minute.
2. Treat the upper area (shoulder blades) with squeezing and kneading movements (for another minute).
3. Stroke (repeat 8 times), squeeze, and rub (5 times each) on the shoulder girdle (trapezius).
4. Stroke the neck for a minute and then move again to the chest area in the designated (1-2 steps) sequence.
5. From the occipital bone downward, rub the spine (the closely spaced line parallel to it).The duration of this phase is 1 minute.
6. Then beat the spine again, kneading movements, and beat again (another 2-3 minutes).

Massage of the chest, neck and spine always ends with caressing (soothing) movements.Recommended sequence of techniques: squeeze, rub, stroke.If the patient's pain is not obvious, the number of kneading movements can be increased and the time of soothing movements can be reduced.The duration of the session is 10 minutes; the last few sessions (the course consists of 7-10 programs) should be based on kneading movements.

During the period of exacerbation of illness

Stress, physical overload, hypothermia, heavy lifting – these factors can turn chronic illness into acute illness.The main symptoms are dizziness, migraine, chest pain and difficulty breathing.Treatment includes:

• Use topical analgesics and internal analgesics to relieve symptoms;
• bed rest;
• Wear a corset to stabilize the vertebrae (if you have a hernia).

In case of severe deterioration, an ambulance must be called and hospitalized, where doctors will monitor the patient's condition and choose appropriate medications for him.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture (cupuncture) is a leader among non-traditional methods of treating conditions of the musculoskeletal system and other conditions.It is based on the influence of fine needles on active points, each of which is a complex structure of the choroid plexus, nerve endings and connective tissue.Acupuncture helps:

• Stimulates the synthesis of endogenous opioids - endorphins and enkephalins, which have analgesic effects: this eliminates pain;
• Stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, which has anti-inflammatory effects;
• normalizes blood circulation;
• Reduce spinal nerve swelling;
• Improve cartilage tissue regeneration;
• Relieve paravertebral muscle spasm.

Acupuncture will be effective only if you contact a qualified specialist: this way you will not experience side effects and you will get results quickly - relief after the first session.The recommended course of treatment is 10 procedures.Because doctors often apply electric current through the needle, you may experience slight discomfort during the procedure, and reddish spots may remain after the needle is removed.

manual therapy

Based on the X-ray data, the doctor may recommend that a chiropractor begin treatment for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.The task before him was to restore the functional state of blood circulation, ligamentous organs and spine.Add additional manual therapy sessions to your main treatment plan:

• Help reduce pain severity;
• Eliminate muscle spasms;
• Slow down the progression of disease;
• Stimulates the regenerative properties of tissue cells.

In modern medicine, a new manual technique - isometric muscle relaxation (PIR) - has been particularly popular for several years.It's based on gentle stretching, stimulating the entire muscle to contract simultaneously and then relax completely.This technique is suitable for situations where the function of the surrounding joints is interfered with due to uneven contraction of the muscle tissue, resulting in limited movement.

during pregnancy

High loads on the spine, fluctuations in hormonal, water and electrolyte balance, especially in the second month of pregnancy, can lead to the exacerbation or development of osteochondrosis in pregnant women.The treatment plan is chosen exclusively by the doctor; it must include:

• Wear a corset to support your back;
• Choose comfortable shoes (reduces load on the spine);
• Topical NSAIDs;
• Perform therapeutic exercises.

folk remedies

In addition to the main treatment regimen, several non-traditional methods with local and systemic effects on osteochondrosis can be added.Most of these are permitted in both acute and chronic phases, but keep in mind that any remedy may cause adverse reactions related to the individual untranslatability of the specific product.Valid options:

• Take 2 hot peppers, chop them finely along with the seeds and mix them with a cup of vegetable oil.Infuse in a glass container for 5 days (in a dark place).Apply lightly to affected area up to 2 times daily without covering anything.This ointment should not be applied to skin with cuts or abrasions.It is not used for long-term treatment - only for severe pain.
• Boil a few large peeled potatoes and mash them.You can add a little butter.Distribute this substance on gauze folded three times and apply it to the affected area.Cover the area with a wool scarf.Leave the compress on until it cools, repeating the process each night.Treatment lasts 3 weeks.

celery root

To relieve symptoms of discomfort (pain caused by muscle spasms), you can take a range of celery-based remedies.The simplest is to grate the fresh peeled roots and squeeze them through cheesecloth, or squeeze the juice through a juicer.Drink 1 tbsp.Take it before meals, 3 times a day.Duration of treatment - 3 weeks.Alternative: Pour 2 Tbsp.Boil the resulting juice with a glass of boiling water and let it sit for 2 hours.Drink 1 tbsp.It can also be taken before meals, up to 4 times a day.Treatment lasts for one month.

sunflower root

Decoctions and tinctures of sunflower roots have a good effect on pain from any pathology of the musculoskeletal system.It can be used both locally and internally; it is also useful for the gallbladder and nervous system.Simple recipe:

• Crush the roots and pour 200 g of the resulting powder into 1.5 liters of cold water.After boiling, remove from heat and leave for 3 hours, wrapping the container with a towel.Apply to compress 1-2 times daily until cool.The course of treatment is 3 weeks.
• Add 2 liters of water per 100 g of crushed sunflower roots and cook for 10 minutes.Wait until the broth has cooled.Drink half a cup before meals, 3-4 times a day, warm it up before taking it.The course of treatment lasts 3 weeks.

homemade ointment

Local effects on the musculoskeletal system are mainly caused by ointments applied and prepared at home.Based on honey and vegetable oils; alcohol or vodka is added to some compositions.All topical treatment products are designed to be applied to the skin in small amounts each day without causing damage.Most effective recipes:

1. Mix camphor and mustard in a 1:1 ratio.
2. For 100 g of the resulting mixture, take 100 ml of alcohol and 100 g of egg whites (raw, beaten).
3. Store the ointment in the refrigerator for 2 weeks, apply it to the affected area at night (take out a small amount in advance and warm it to room temperature), and then cover the back with gauze and towel.Treatment lasts 2 weeks.