Spinal osteochondrosis is a degenerative dystrophic pathology, which is characterized by damage to the joint surfaces, intervertebral discs, musculoskeletal apparatus.The disease has a chronic course and is fraught with serious consequences.
The therapeutic effect of osteochondrosis is complex.Timely diagnosis of the disease is important -the earlier therapy begins, the greater the likelihood of a positive result.It is almost impossible to return the degenerative processes, but you can stop them in the debut stage.Progressive osteochondrosis can lead to convexities, hernias of intervertebral discs, neurological pathologies.
General information about the disease
Osteochondrosis is the most common spinal disease and one of the most commonly diagnosed human pathologies of all existing ones.The disease can be considered a special consideration of our type of uprising and the benefits of civilization.There is no osteochondrosis in animals as their spine is located horizontally.
If you have periodic or ordinary back pain, in 75-80% of cases, these are manifestations of osteochondrosis.
In the thoracic area, degenerative changes develop more rarely than in the sacral and cervicals of the back.Typically, osteochondrosis of the chest area occurs after 40 years.The predisposing factors are both excessive loads of the spine and a sedentary lifestyle.In the latter case, blood circulation and nutrition of cartilage and bone structures are disturbed, leading to their gradual dystrophy.
In recent decades, doctors have noted the widespread "rejuvenation" of the disease.Osteochondrosis is diagnosed even in people 25-30 years old, which is associated with a change in the environmental status of the planet, as well as the nature of the diet and lifestyle of modern humans.Having your own car, office work, the preference for passive relaxation of the computer is active-all these factors do not contribute to the health of the musculoskeletal system.
The danger of breast osteochondrosis (and any other) is that it is almost impossible to restore the tissues of the intervertebral discs: this means that segments affected by dystrophic and degenerative transformations are doomed to slow down, but relentless destruction.The task of treating osteochondrosis is to stop the destruction of hard and soft tissues and minimize the risk of complications.
Characteristics of breast osteochondrosis
The osteochondrosis of the thoracic zone has a negative effect on the person's ability to actively move.The progression of the disease is also filled with pinches from the nerve endings of the spinal cord, which inevitably affects the functional status of the internal organs.In advanced clinical situations of breast osteochondrosis causes cardiac function, breathing problems.
The thoracic area is distinguished by low mobility;The load on it is not as large as the neck and lower back.Anatomically, the thoracic vertebrae are connected to the ribs and sternum and jointly represent a sedentary and strong design, protected from damage and external influences.For this reason, breast osteochondrosis rarely manifests itself at the initial stage.The same circumstance determines the relative rarity of the diagnosis of "breast osteochondrosis".
The provocative factors of the disease are usually injuries, posture disorders, scoliosis and other anatomical disorders.The signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region are manifested quite late, usually at the stage of compression of nerve roots.
How to manifest chest osteochondrosis
The first manifestation of the disease is the pain between the shoulder blades.The pain is exacerbated with loads or, conversely, manifests in the morning after a long stay in one position.Often the pain passes along the intercostal nerve and occurs when sneezing, coughing, rapid running.
Heart pain is possible, resembling angina attacks and a manifestation of heart failure.The resemblance of symptoms with heart disease often leads to a misdiagnosis.Sometimes the symptoms look like signs of bladder inflammation, ulcers or gastritis.In order to identify the true cause of pain, it is necessary to undergo a complete clinical diagnosis.
Other signs of thoracic osteochondrosis, in addition to pain:
- Neurological symptoms - a feeling of "rubber" on the skin in the chest and abdomen;
- Numbness of skin areas, impaired sensitivity;
- Heart disorders, pelvic organs (with the development of spinal cord compression);
- Metostal neuralgia - pain in the ribs with transition to the sternum (develops in the form of seizures and is usually provoked by weight lifting, hypothermia, stress);
- Dorsalgia - stiffness of the muscles of the case and pain during inhalation/exhalation;
- Reflex muscle tension (the body tries to reduce the symptoms of pain due to the physiological immobilization of the affected spine).
The longer the disease lasts, the more it expresses its signs.It is important not to try to eliminate pain with analgesics and other medicines, but to determine their cause through clinical methods.The suicide of osteochondrosis is at the best possible case pointless, and in the worse it is dangerous and is filled with complications.
The reasons for the pathology
Doctors have not fully studied the mechanisms that begin the process of tissue degeneration.Osteochondrosis is thought to cause improper distribution of vertebral loads with weak muscle corset on the back.The circumstances that increase the likelihood of the disease are clarified in detail.
The main factors of influence:
- Hypodynamia (stuck work, tendency to passive rest);
- Excessive loads due to the birth of activity;
- Damage to the spine;
- Excess weight;
- Heredity;
- Irrational nutrition;
- Spine curvature;
- Standing violation, non -compliance with labor hygiene;
- Metabolic pathologies;
- Dystrophic processes related to age in tissues;
- Constant exposure to vibration (for example, when working with a hammer jack);
- Flat legs;
- Walking in high collection shoes;
- Stress;
- Infectious diseases.
At risk of diseases-athletes, wallets, truck drivers, builders and office workers.Most often, the disease has a multifactorial nature - a combination of several internal and external factors leads to its development.
The widespread view that osteochondrosis develops due to "salts deposits" is incorrect from a scientific point of view.Calcification of discs and cartilage is indeed performed with degenerative diseases of the spine, but this is not the root cause, but a consequence of pathology.
Diagnostic methods
The identification of the disease begins with the initial examination of the patient, the examination of information about the symptoms, the lifestyle of the patient, the nature of his or her nutrition and the concomitant diseases.Palpation of the affected areas is performed.
The following diagnostic procedures are prescribed:
- General clinical test for blood and urine;
- Radiography;
- Ultrasound, MRI and CT;
- Myelography - the introduction of contrast to the spinal cord to examine its structure.
The most indicative method of diagnostics is X -Ray.Typically, directional radiography of specific spinal segments is performed.Photos allow to identify disc atrophy (reduction of their thickness), the presence of osteophytes - bone growth, changes in the shape of the spine.
In order to exclude other pathologies with similar symptoms, consultations of cardiologists, gastroenterologists and other specialists (and relevant studies - ECG, gastroscopy) may be required.The main treatment is performed by an orthopedist or vertebologist - a spinal specialist.
Modern methods of therapy for chest osteochondrosis
The therapeutic effect begins with the detection of the root cause of the disease.If this is an infection, antibiotic treatment is performed if the weakness of the muscle apparatus is performed to strengthen.More often, treatment is ambitious except in situations with a difficult clinic.
The main purpose of treatment is to minimize degenerative processes and their consequences.Each case requires the receipt of an individual regimen of treatment, including drug effects, physiotherapy methods and methods for more rehabilitation.They mainly practice conservative therapy, rarely prescribed surgery.
Experienced doctors will never be treated based on isolated methodology or pure drug effects.Treatment of spinal diseases with pills that eliminate the symptoms of pain is a practice without a therapeutic perspective and a sign of a non -professional approach.However, it is impossible to completely do without medication - especially in the acute stage of the disease.
Medication
Apply the following drug groups:
- Analgesics;
- Anti -inflammatory drugs;
- Steroids;
- Mussorelaxants for relieving spasms;
- Vitamins.
The preparations are mainly used in the initial stage of treatment.They stop acute pain, eliminate inflammation (if any), stimulate metabolic processes.More often, medicines are used externally (in the form of ointments), less often -inside the form of tablets.It is required to make an injection even more in the affected area - this method is called "Novocaine Blockade".
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy methods are given a leading role in degenerative pathologies of the thoracic back.These methods eliminate pain, inflammation, restore the nutrition of the affected tissues.Hardware and other exposure methods are used:
- Laser treatment;
- Magnetotherapy;
- Amphipulosterapy;
- Exposure to ultrasound;
- Balneotherapy (treatment with water);
- Paraffin therapy;
- Mud;
- Hypothermia - cold therapy;
- Electrophoresis and phonophoresis.
The advantage of physiotherapy in its absolute safety.This method has no contraindications for health reasons.The competent use of physical techniques provides a healing effect even in the most difficult cases.
Independent physiotherapy method - reflex therapy: effect on the acupuncture points of the body.The most famous way of reflexology is acupuncture.Cutterization, acupressure is also performed.The competent effect on certain areas has been shown to shoot the self -healing mechanisms, eliminates pain.
Therapeutic gymnastics
Exercise therapy is a method that is used both to treat osteochondrosis and to prevent complications.The exercise complex is selected individually.The purpose of exercise therapy is to reduce the pressure on the roots of the nerves, to strengthen the connections and muscles, and to prevent convexities and hernia.
Gymnastics complexes must be carried out either under the guidance of a qualified instructor or in strict accordance with the safety rules.It is dangerous to overload the muscles, so the exercises should be accompanied by periods of rest.
Manual therapy
Massage for osteochondrosis has the same goals as physiotherapy and exercise therapy reduces pain, improves the functionality of the ligament and muscle apparatus and stimulates blood circulation.The professional competent massage grips the nutrition of soft tissues and cartilage, accelerates the processes of regeneration.The use of mechanical devices - applicators, electric and roller massagers is allowed.
A separate type of manual therapy is osteopathy.The method includes a specialist in diagnostic and therapeutic manipulations of the hands.Such a massage is distinguished by softness and physiological.Osteopathy eliminates tissue damage and has no age restrictions.
Diet
The basic principles of diet therapy for osteochondrosis: balance, presence of all necessary trace elements, vitamins, reduced number of calories.Another important criterion is the presence in the menu of products responsible for the synthesis of cartilage tissue in the body.These compounds are called mucopolysaccharides: the largest number of such substances are contained in dishes with jokes, jelly and floods.
Radical therapy
In modern clinics, breast osteochondrosis surgery is extremely rare.Operations can only be required if complications occur in the form of a persistent radicular syndrome.The intervention can be assigned to the development of convexity and hernia.
Prevention
It is much easier to prevent the disease than to have long -term, sometimes long -term therapy.Osteochondrosis prevention should be done from childhood.Degenerative processes are impeded by: proper posture, dosage of spinal loads, safety during sports, rational nutrition, sleep on the maximum flat surface.It is important to detect the first signs of the disease and the strict application of the doctor's recommendations.