Spinal osteochondrosis is a degenerative-destrophic pathology, which is characterized by damage to articular surfaces, intervertebral discs, muscle-related apparatus.The disease has a chronic course and is fraught with severe consequences.
The therapeutic effect of osteochondrosis is complex.Timely diagnosis of the disease is important - the sooner the therapy begins, the higher the probability of a positive result.Almost almost impossible to return the degenerative processes again, but you can stop them at the debut stage.Progressive osteochondrosis can lead to extension, hernia of intervertebral discs, neurological pathology.
General information about the disease
Osteochondrosis is the most common spinal disease and one of the most often diagnosed human pathologies of all existing ones.The disease can be considered as a special account of our type for uprising and benefits of civilization.In animals, there is no osteochondrosis, as their spinal column is in the horizontal.
If you have periodic or regular back pain, in 75-80% of cases, these are manifestations of osteochondrosis.
In the thoracic region, degenerative changes develop less frequently than in the sacral and the cervix of the back.Usually osteochondrosis of the thoracic region occurs after 40 years.Predisposing factors are both excess loads on their back and a sedentary lifestyle.In the latter case, the blood circulation and the food of the cartilage and bone structures worry, which leads to their gradual dystrophy.
In recent decades, doctors have noticed the widespread "renewal" of the disease.Osteochondrosis is also diagnosed in people 25-30 years old, which is associated with a change in environmental status on the planet, as well as the nature of nutrition and the way of modern people's lives.The presence of your car, office work, passive relaxation preference on the computer is active-all these factors do not contribute to the health of the muscular system.
The risk of breast osteochondrosis (and any other) is that it is almost impossible to restore the tissue of the intervertebral discs: it means that segments affected by dystrophic and degenerative transformations are doomed to slow down, but inexplicable destruction.The task of treatment for osteochondrosis is to stop the destruction of solid and soft tissue and to minimize the risk of complications.
Characteristics of thoracic osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the chest area adversely affects human ability for active movement.The progression of the disease is also filled with spinal cord nerve endings, which inevitably affects the functional status of the internal organs.In advanced clinical situations of breast osteochondrosis, it causes heart function, respiratory problems.
The chest region is distinguished by low mobility;The load on it is not as large as in the neck and lower spine.Anatomically breast vertebrae are associated with ribs and sternum and jointly represent a decreased and strong design, protected from damage and external impacts.For this reason, breast osteochondrosis rarely manifests itself in the initial phase.The same circumstance determines the relative rarity of the diagnosis of "breast osteochondrosis" ..
Provocative factors of the disease are usually injuries, behavioral violations, scoliosis and other anatomical disorders.Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifest quite late, usually at the stage of compression of the nerve roots.
How to manifest osteochondrosis of the chest
The first manifestation of the disease is the pain between the shoulder edges.The pain intensifies in 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, running quickly.
Heart pain is possible, which resemble an attack of angina pectoris and manifestation of heart failure.The resemblance of symptoms with heart disease often leads to a wrong diagnosis.Sometimes the symptoms resemble signs of inflammation of the bladder, ulcers or gastritis.To identify the true cause of pain manifestations, it is necessary to undergo a complete clinical diagnosis.
Other signs of thoracic osteochondrosis, in addition to pain:
- Neurological symptoms - a feeling of "goosebumps" on the skin in the chest and abdomen;
- Numbness of skin areas, damaged sensitivity;
- Heart violations, pelvic organs (with the development of compression of the spinal cord);
- International neuralgia - pain in the rib field with a transition to the sternum (develops in the form of seizures and is usually provoked by lifting weights, hypothermia, stress);
- Dorsalgia - the stiffness of the muscle of the matter and pain during absorption/extraction;
- 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 its signs express.It is important not to try to eliminate the pain with analgesics and other medicines, but to determine their cause by clinical methods.Self -meters for osteochondrosis at best is useless, and at worst is dangerous and full of complications.
The causes of pathology
Doctors did not fully study the mechanisms that begin the process of tissue degeneration.It is assumed that osteochondrosis causes improper distribution of loads on the beads with a weak corset of the back muscles.Circumstances that increase the possibility of the disease have been clarified in detail.
Main impact factors:
- Hypodinamia (sedentary work, a tendency for passive rest);
- Excessive loads due to the birth of activity;
- Spinal cord damage;
- Excess weight;
- Inheritance;
- Irrational food;
- Curvature of the spine;
- Violation of attitude, disregard for work hygiene;
- Metabolic pathology;
- Age -related dystrophic processes in tissue;
- Continuous exposure to vibration (for example, when working with a hammer of a hammer);
- Flat feet;
- Walking with high -heeled shoes;
- Stress;
- Infectious diseases.
At risk for diseases-athletes, motors, truck drivers, builders and office employees.Most often, the disease has a multifactorial nature - a combination of several internal and external factors leads to its development.
The widespread opinion that osteochondrosis develops due to "salty deposits" is scientifically inaccurate.Disk calcification and cartilage really develops with degenerative spinal diseases, but this is not the root cause, but a consequence of pathology.
Diagnostic methods
Identification of the disease begins with the initial examination of the patient, the study of information about the symptoms, the patient's lifestyle, the nature of his or her food and the simultaneous diseases.Palpation of affected areas is performed.
The following diagnostic procedures are presented:
- General test of blood and urine clinic;
- Radiography;
- Ultrasound, MRI and CT;
- Myelography - the introduction of contrast with the spinal cord to study its structure.
The most indicative diagnostic method is x -ay.Typically, the target radiography of specific spinal segments is performed.Pictures make it possible to identify disc atrophy (reduce their thickness), presence of osteophytes - bone growths, changes in the spine.
To rule out 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 orthopedic or a vertebologist - a spine specialist.
Modern methods of therapy for thoracic 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 it.Most often, treatment is an outpatient except for situations with a difficult clinic.
The main purpose of treatment is to minimize degenerative processes and their consequences.Any specific case requires the preparation of an individual treatment regimen, including the effects of the drug, physiotherapeutic methods and further rehabilitation methods.They practice mainly conservative therapy, less often prescribed surgery.
Experienced doctors will never undergo treatment based on an isolated methodology or simply drug effects.Treating spinal cord diseases with pills that eliminate the symptoms of pain is practice without a therapeutic perspective and a sign of an unprofessional approach.However, it is impossible to do completely without medication - especially in the acute phase of the disease.
Treatment
Apply the following drug groups:
- Analgesics;
- Anti -inflammatory drugs;
- Steroid;
- Musorelaxants to relieve spasms;
- Vitamins.
Preparations are mainly used at the initial stage of treatment.They stop acute pain, eliminate inflammation (if any), stimulate metabolic processes.Most often, medicines are used externally (in the form of ointments), less often - within the form of tablets.It is even less needed to make an injection into the affected area - this method is called "Novokaine Blockade".
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic methods are given the main role in degenerative pathologies of the chest spine.These methods eliminate pain, inflammation, restore the food of the affected tissue.Hardware and other exposure methods are used:
- Laser treatment;
- Magnetotherapy;
- Amplululsterrarapy;
- Exposure to ultrasound;
- Balneotherapy (water treatment);
- 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 physiotherapeutic method - reflex therapy: effect on body acupuncture points.The most famous way of reflexology is acupuncture.Cauterization is also performed, acupressure.It is proven that a competent effect on certain areas releases self -healing mechanisms, eliminates pain.
Therapeutic
Exercise therapy is a method used for both the treatment of osteochondrosis and for the prevention of complications.The complex of physical exercise is individually selected.The purpose of exercise therapy is to reduce pressure on the nerve roots, strengthen the ligaments and muscles and prevent extensions and hernias.
Gymnastic complexes must be carried out either under the direction of a qualified instructor, or in line with the safety rules.It is dangerous to overload the muscles, so exercises must be accompanied by periods of rest.
Manual therapy
Massage for osteochondrosis has the same goals as physiotherapy and pain of exercise therapy, improve the functionality of the ligamentous and muscular apparatus and stimulate blood circulation.Competent professional massage captures soft tissue and cartilage feeding, accelerates regeneration processes.It is permissible to use mechanical equipment - applicants, electrical and roll massages.
A special type of manual therapy is osteopathy.The method includes a specialist in the diagnostic and therapeutic manipulations of the hands.Such a massage is distinguished by softness and physiology.Osteopathy eliminates tissue damage and has no age restrictions.
Diet
The main principles of diet therapy for osteochondrosis: balance, the presence of all the necessary trace elements, vitamins, a 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 included in dishes, jelly and floods.
Radical therapy
In modern clinics, surgery with breast osteochondrosis is rarely placed.Operations can only be required if complications occur in the form of continuous radicular syndrome.The intervention can be determined by the development of protrructions and hernia.
PREVENTION
It is much easier to prevent the disease than to develop long -term, sometimes long -term therapy.Prevention of osteochondrosis should be done from childhood.Degenerative processes are hampered by: proper behavior, dosage of loads on the back, compliance with safety during sport, rational nutrition, sleep on the maximum flat surface.Timely detection of the first signs of the disease and the strict application of the doctor's recommendations is important.