Osteochondrosis is usually called dystrophic changes in the bones and connective tissue of the spine.The spine turns out to be unable to cope with the normal load - and this manifests itself primarily in the appearance of pain, which appears vaguely at first, but becomes more and more intense over time.
The main symptoms of the disease
Osteoporosis is a disease that usually occurs in adulthood and does not fully manifest itself for a long time.This is because the thoracic spine is naturally supported and anchored by the ribs - therefore providing good protection to the intervertebral discs.
In this disease, the core of the spinal disc becomes thinner and dries out, the fibrous tissue around it begins to deteriorate and the cartilage tissue undergoes negative changes.The spine turns out to be unable to cope with the normal load - and this manifests itself primarily in the appearance of pain, which appears vaguely at first, but becomes more and more intense over time.However, with significant stress - a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, constant stress, poor posture and back injuries - sooner or later osteochondrosis affects the thoracic region.The disease is considered very common - one in three adults suffers from it.
What are the symptoms of osteochondrosis in the chest?First of all, when pain occurs, which includes:
- interscapular and intercostal neuralgic lumbago;
- pain in left side of chest;
- pain in the hands, worse when they are lifted, and extends to the tips of the fingers;
- pain when bending over;
In addition, osteoporosis in the chest can appear numb - not only in the chest, but also in various parts of the body.Sometimes osteochondrosis leads to slurred speech and sometimes causes peeling skin, brittle nails, itchy skin and indigestion.
Osteoporotic breast pain can manifest in different ways.Sometimes these are mild stabbing or dull pains that appear in the afternoon and disappear after physical exertion - for example, a short walk.This is usually how the initial stage of thoracic osteochondrosis proceeds, when the intervertebral discs are not yet deeply affected.
In the later stages of the development of the disease, pain symptoms often appear in the form of lumbago.The pain is pronounced, acute, interferes with normal breathing, and unnecessary movements only aggravate the condition.Often, lumbago begins after a long period of inactivity - for example, several hours of stationary computer work.
A special "cleverness" of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region is that the disease can disguise itself as dozens of other ailments.Osteoporosis is very easy to confuse with symptoms of pneumonia, angina, ischemia and heart attack.Sometimes the disease is more similar to kidney or liver inflammation, and the loss of speech and a feeling of numbness in different parts of the body are even confused with the symptoms of a stroke.
Moreover, mistakes are made not only by patients themselves, but also by experienced doctors - which greatly complicates the diagnosis of the disease.Breast bone disease is particularly difficult to recognize in the early stages - therefore it is often diagnosed when the disease has already become noticeable and has reached a chronic stage.
At the same time, timely diagnosis of thoracic osteoporosis is fundamentally important.This allows you to start treatment immediately and delay the development of the disease, which significantly reduces the pain symptoms associated with the disease.
Why is thoracic osteoporosis dangerous?
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is not a direct threat to the patient's life.However, if it is neglected, it can lead to significant complications:
- the appearance of chronic intercostal neuralgia;
- thoracic hernia;
- compression of the spinal cord in the damaged area of the spine.
Advanced osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in scoliosis;sometimes the disease spreads to the cervical vertebrae and causes loss of voice.
In addition, severe weakening of the spine in the thoracic region can lead to deformation of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity.In turn, this will most likely lead to all kinds of disturbances in the digestive tract - stomach, pancreas, liver, kidneys, biliary tract.
Bone in the chest requires careful treatment, which will help to slow down the development of the disease for a long time, prevent complications - and in the early stages completely disable the symptoms of the disease.
How is the disease treated?
What methods are used in the treatment of thoracic osteomyelitis?First, a detailed analysis is made, including both an expert's examination of the patient and research with modern equipment.This allows you to make an accurate diagnosis and make sure that it is bone disease and not another disease.
After diagnosis, the doctor may use the following methods of treatment:
- drugs aimed at relieving pain symptoms;
- physical therapy, laser therapy, acupuncture and reflexology;
- manual therapy and therapeutic massage;
- a special course with therapeutic exercises.
Almost all of the methods listed are not aimed at eliminating osteoporosis as such, but at relieving inflammation and reducing the severity of pain.Pain relief is the main goal of breast osteoporosis treatment.At the same time, manual therapy and exercise therapy can "straighten" the spine, increase the distance between the vertebrae, and prevent compression.However, the patient needs to perform therapeutic exercises regularly - otherwise it will not give any result.
In some, particularly severe cases, surgery to the sternum can be used.In such situations, the affected vertebrae are replaced with an artificial joint - practice shows that the operation is successful for approximately 50% of patients.
For osteochondrosis in the chest, regular trips to the health center are recommended.At a sanatorium, the patient receives a complete complex treatment that combines drug therapy, physical therapy and gymnastics - and for a long time he feels a significant improvement in his condition.
Folk medicine
In acute cases of the disease, it is recommended to treat osteochondrosis of the thoracic cavity in an inpatient unit.But if the symptoms are not serious, it is not necessary to go to the hospital.In this case, home care becomes essential.It is not only possible, but also necessary to treat bone disease with folk remedies - sometimes they show no less success than official medical procedures.
Home treatment aims at the same goal - quick relief of pain and inflammation, relief of the symptoms of the disease.Therefore, when you treat bone disease with folk medicine, decoctions, ointments, compresses and infusions of herbs and plants that have a calming, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect are used.
What medicinal preparations are recommended to brew instead of tea and drink for bone disease?These are chamomile, calendula, sage, birch leaves, strawberry leaves and mature viburnum.In addition, these mixtures can be mixed - an aromatic hot drink made from two or three different herbs gives a noticeable effect.
Decoctions are brewed in the same way as tea - a tablespoon of medicinal herb is poured into a glass of hot water, infused and consumed internally two to three times a day.Along with taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory herbs, it is recommended to drink soothing infusions of motherwort, lavender, valerian - stress, inevitable during the course of the disease, can further aggravate the symptoms.
In addition to medicinal decoctions, baths with medicinal additives are used - for example, extracts of celandine, plantain and pine needles have a soothing and warming effect.This bath relieves muscle spasms, improves blood flow between the swollen discs in the spine and removes inflammation.
Compresses, ointments and massages are not recommended for use during periods of acute pain.However, they can be used during the illness.For example, it is popular to massage with mustard-camphor ointment - 50 grams of mustard and camphor are diluted with 100 ml of alcohol and 100 grams of raw egg white, stirred until smooth.The ointment is applied to the back for two weeks at night - the top of the treated area must be covered with a woolen cloth.
What to do in case of aggravation?
What is considered a progression of the disease?This term refers to severe pain.If the patient feels noticeable discomfort, familiar lumbago and dull pain in the chest area, radiating to the abdomen, lower back and arms, then it's time to pay maximum attention to the disease.
During an exacerbation, it is recommended:
- avoid hypothermia and stress;
- stay as little as possible in a stationary position, where the load on the spine remains;
- gently use compresses and ointments on the affected area that do not have too strong an effect;
- gently massage the affected area yourself - but avoid applying a lot of pressure;
- continue physical therapy as much as possible - but only if it does not lead to increased pain.
In case of acute complications, bed rest is also recommended.If unbearable pain occurs, hospitalization may even be necessary.But in most cases, the progression of osteoporosis in the chest can be stopped at home, especially if you combine gentle treatment with taking medicine prescribed by a specialist.
The main condition for the aggravation of osteochondrosis is the lack of physical activity.Swollen intervertebral discs need maximum rest - then the aggravation can be dealt with quickly.