Recommend
Official site Traugel

Thoracic osteochondrosis

Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease in which the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine are destroyed. Since this department is the most inactive, it is less susceptible to disease.

For thoracic osteochondrosis, spasms and pains in the chest, under the ribs, shortness of breath, stabbing, cuts, sharp pain behind the sternum are characteristic. Symptoms and manifestations of the disease can be similar to those of other diseases.

Symptoms

Pain in the spine is the most common and superficial symptom. Of course, they do not always talk about the development of osteochondrosis in a person. Therefore, you should pay attention to other sensations in the body:

  1. Discomfort and pain in the chest. Often with a sedentary lifestyle you may not notice it. But as soon as you start doing any physical activity that makes your breathing quicker, you will notice that the pain intensifies. The nature of this pain can be called a belt.
  2. In addition, you can feel pain in completely unexpected places - the region of the heart, stomach, liver. This is due to the fact that thoracic osteochondrosis tends to "hide" as a special disease. For example, many may confuse it with gastritis, ulcers or angina.
  3. If you notice that periodically in the chest area you have "goosebumps", then in combination with other manifestations, this may indicate chest osteochondrosis.
  4. In some cases, there may be a loss of sexual function, for example, impotence in men.

Pain in chest osteochondrosis

One of the main characteristics of this type of pain is the belt. But it is not always possible to recognize this pain by her. Here's another way to feel and characterize it:

  • most often manifests itself in the dark, behind the sternum;
  • a feeling that can be described as "a pile in the chest";
  • discomfort in the hypochondrium, right and left;
  • sensation as if there is a foreign body behind the breastbone;
  • if the lesion affects only the upper part of the chest region, then a person may experience pain in the region of the esophagus and pharynx.

Since these symptoms are still very vague and may indicate a number of other diseases, the doctor recommends an additional ECG test.

Effect on organs

In the process of development, this disease can have a negative impact on the internal organs, namely the lungs and the heart. Here is what thoracic osteochondrosis can lead to:

  • effect on the heart. Mainly, it causes pinching of the nerve roots in the chest area. After all, this is where the nervous cardiac plexuses originate. It is these plexuses that regulate the work of the heart. The main alarm bells here are regular heart palpitations (extrasystoles), arrhythmia, tachycardia. Effects on the circulatory system may therefore appear in any or all of these symptoms at the same time;
  • effect on the lungs. It is most often manifested by difficulty breathing and painful sensations at the same time.

Why does thoracic osteochondrosis appear?

Although osteochondrosis as a holistic disease is quite common, thoracic osteochondrosis is less common. Prerequisites for the onset of this disease are already found in schoolchildren who, grimacing, sit at their desks. For this reason, children can develop scoliosis, and at older ages - osteochondrosis. Most other developmental causes are closely related to scoliosis:

  • violation of posture;
  • violation of metabolic processes affecting the integrity of intervertebral discs;
  • sedentary lifestyle;
  • hereditary causes;
  • Spinal injury;
  • static work and prolonged stay in an uncomfortable and twisted posture.
curvature of the spine as a cause of thoracic osteochondrosis

How to treat?

After an accurate diagnosis has been established during the tests, the doctor prescribes a special drug. In case of thoracic osteochondrosis, it may include the following drugs, depending on the severity of the disease and the features of its manifestation:

  1. First of all, drugs are prescribed to "remove" pain and relieve discomfort. They are called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or glucocorticosteroids.
  2. To avoid a lack of fluid in the intervertebral disc, papain is used.
  3. Prescribe drugs called "chondroprotectors". With their help, there is a general strengthening of the cartilage tissue.
  4. Drugs that relieve muscle spasms around the spine can be added to the list.
  5. If the development of the inflammatory process is detected, then special anti-inflammatory therapy is prescribed.

But, of course, drugs alone cannot be cured. Be sure to follow a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition. These actions will be useful not only for the treatment, but also for the prevention of this and many other diseases.

Exercises for thoracic osteochondrosis

Since the lack of physical activity is one of the fundamental causes of the development of the disease, the role of exercise in this case is important. In addition, by supplementing the drug treatment with exercises, your body will return to normal and stabilize much more quickly.

There are a number of special exercises for the chest region. When performing them, follow the basic rules: no jerks, act slowly, smoothly, without trying to overload the body. An increase in amplitude is allowed, but only if you do not feel pain. So what are the most effective exercises provided by physiotherapy?

  1. Lie on the floor on your stomach. The hands are along the body. We bend in the chest area - gently, gently. Raise your arms and head as high as you feel, but try to avoid the pain. It is recommended to perform at least 5 approaches.
  2. For the next exercise, we need a chair with a small, sturdy backrest. We sit directly on a chair. We exhale leaning back, while moving our hands back. Then we return to the starting position. We repeat 10-12 times.
  3. We stand straight. Hands together, legs together. Take a deep breath and raise your hands. As you exhale, slowly lean back and lower your arms. We return to the starting position. It is recommended to do 7-9 sets at a time.
  4. Get down on all fours. Slowly bend your back as you inhale, as you exhale return to starting position. Repeat the exercise 7 to 10 times.
  5. We lay on the ground on our stomachs. Hands at the seams. Your task is to tear the body off the ground, stretching the head to the heels. We pull the whole body, we work the chest. The required number of approaches is 7-8.
  6. We work with the upper part of the thoracic region. Starting position - arms at the seams, feet shoulder-width apart. We work with the shoulders. First we lift them together, then each separately. We twist the shoulders forward - back, forward - back. We perform 10-15 approaches for each task.
  7. Also, for the upper part of the thoracic region, you can perform circular movements with your hands. Starting position, as in the previous task. Stretch your arms out to the sides, clench your palms into fists. We perform the rotation of the fists forward - back, then the rotation of the arm from the elbow - forward and back, then the whole arm forward and back. We perform each part of the exercise 4-6 times, usually we repeat the exercise 2-4 times.

Exercise in the morning and evening, giving it at least 15-20 minutes. Dilute it with a set of exercises for other muscle groups, inserting several of the options described above.

Massage

Massage is also a very good tool in the fight against osteochondrosis. Here there is a therapeutic massage, which is prescribed by a specialist after a thorough examination of the patient. You can also perform it at home - here are some options on how it can be done.

honey for massage with thoracic osteochondrosis

Honey massage. We will need 2-3 tablespoons of honey, preferably uncandied, warm. We dip the palms in honey so that they are covered with a thin layer. We apply it to the area behind the sternum and sharply tear it off, repeat several times, moving the palms from place to place.

This massage should not be practiced too long, because it causes pain. Enough 10-15 minutes for one session. The skin after this will turn red, "burn".

massage for thoracic osteochondrosis

Classic massage. It consists of several steps, among which: stroking, kneading, vibrating, rubbing. It is recommended to perform a massage using a cream or ointment from osteochondrosis - this can be recommended to you by the attending specialist.

The duration of this massage should not exceed 20 minutes, and the total treatment in this way should consist of no more than 11-13 sessions. As a preventive measure, it is also recommended to knead the neck, arms, shoulders, buttocks and even the legs.

Home treatments

Also, for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, there are alternative methods. For example, the friction is very good, the base of which can also be used during massage. Lilac flowers, horseradish root, garlic, onions, potatoes, ficus are usually taken as the basis. Honey, vegetable oil and sometimes cologne or alcohol are added. Everything is thoroughly mixed into a homogeneous mass and the damaged area is rubbed. For example, according to the following recipe, you can prepare a rub from ficus leaves:

  • Ficus leaves in the amount of 6-8 are passed through a grater or cut into small pieces. Placed in a container, where they pour 2 bottles of triple cologne. To mix together. 2 weeks of rubbing should be in a dark place. Then it is necessary to use it at least 2 times a day until the heat appears on the skin.
sedentary work as a cause of thoracic osteochondrosis

One of the main causes of osteochondrosis is working at a computer. With a long stay at the computer, it is recommended to do exercises at least every two hours.

Performing computer activities every day without physical activity can lead to poor posture. This happens because a person performs static work for a long time, without allowing the muscles and the spine to rest, and without performing warm-ups and breaks. In the future, without correcting this problem, osteochondrosis of the chest region may develop.

To prevent this from happening, experts advise carrying out the so-called office load, designed specifically for those who work most of the time at a computer.

For example, the following exercises are very good:

  1. Arch your back as you stretch your arms upward, throwing your head back. Feel a pleasant heaviness in the back. Perform after every hour of work at the computer at least 3-4 times.
  2. Perform circular rotations of the head. Look left and right, tilt your head forward and back.
  3. Raise your arms - to the sides - forward - to the sides. Repeat several times.
  4. Stand next to your workspace, if you can, and switch from one foot to the other.

Don't forget to change your position when working at the computer, this will save your health, spine and posture for a long time!

Strengthening the muscles of the back with osteochondrosis

Strengthening the back muscles is a very important element in the treatment and prevention of osteochondrosis. To do this, it is enough to engage in physical activity - exercise, attend fitness classes or in the gym. Choose the option that suits you best. For example, swimming builds muscles well, so you can not only benefit from it, but also improve your body.