Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

25 January 2024

Osteochondrosis is the wear and tear of the intervertebral discs, which leads to degenerative organ changes in the spine. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is considered the rarest, since this section is the least mobile due to its attachment to the ribs. But it is the one that occurs most insidiously and most severely, and develops earlier than other types. The treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by an integrated approach and leads to good results. With a competent approach to therapy, a person can regain mobility, lightness and life without pain.

Cause

The main factors causing the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are as follows:

Kyphosis and scoliosis. These diseases, as anatomical abnormalities, often accompany a person from birth. If kyphosis is smoothed out, a person may not be aware of its existence for half of their life. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that leads to a distribution of muscle load. Because of this, on the one hand, the muscles atrophy and relax, and on the other hand, they become convulsive due to the constant tension.
Injuries. They may become apparent when a person injures their vertebrae in a fall, accident, or other similar circumstance. The damage is not necessarily noticeable. For example, spinal injuries are common due to overexertion in the gym and heavy lifting.
Crow's feet. Some doctors argue that this is almost the main reason for the development of degenerative changes in any part of the spine. Flat feet disturb the balance of the muscular ligament, the incorrect redistribution of the load leads to worsening of the depreciation of the vertebrae.
Statically incorrect posture for a long time. As a result of muscle overload, the blood circulation and nutrition of the muscle tissue deteriorates. Namely, they hold the spine. This is the cause of osteochondrosis not only of the thoracic spine, but also of the cervical and lumbar spine.
Excess weight and lack of adequate physical activity.
Tension. Stress itself is not as dangerous as the reaction to it. During stress, the adrenal glands produce an excessive amount of adrenaline, which is converted into norepinephrine. It promotes the thickening of the walls of blood vessels and the progression of arteriosclerosis. Under stressful conditions, blood vessels narrow, which leads to poor oxygen supply to muscle tissue.
Alcohol consumption, smoking, use of other drugs and poor diet. Alcohol dissolves calcium from bone tissue. Tobacco and other drugs lead to improper functioning of blood vessels. Serious nutritional errors lead to obesity, lack of B vitamins and minerals.
Improper wearing of bags and shoes.
Digestive system diseases that affect the quality of nutrient absorption.
Violation of water and electrolyte balance for a long time.
Pregnancy. Thoracic osteochondrosis often occurs in women expecting twins or triplets.
Metabolic syndrome.
Autoimmune diseases, infections, poisoning.
A genetic predisposition associated with a genetic mutation. You should not think that genetic predisposition is necessarily related to the fact that one of your close relatives suffered from osteochondrosis. This often has nothing to do with genetics. A genetic predisposition is always a mutation of certain genes. But even so, the disease develops only in conjunction with other factors.

The disease can occur in adulthood and youth. The disease becomes younger every year. Therefore, it is important to recognize the problem as soon as possible by paying attention to the symptoms.

Symptoms

Degenerative changes in the thoracic spine cause a person great concern. The chest area contains the heart, lungs, internal organs of the abdominal cavity, ribs, and in women, the mammary glands. Symptoms in this location may be similar to an angina attack, a heart attack, or pain in the stomach, mammary gland, or any other adjacent organ. Therefore, when osteochondrosis makes itself felt, it is often mistaken for other dangerous pathologies.

The symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are related to each other due to the two types of clinical picture.

Radicular signs

Radicular symptoms:

pain in the shoulder, armpit, or collarbone;
impaired reflexes;
muscle weakness;
heart attack-like pain in the upper chest, plexus, hypochondrium, pain in the mammary glands, upper abdomen or groin area.

Reflex signals

Symptoms:

respiratory disorders, such as a feeling of lack of air, pain when inhaling and exhaling, difficulty breathing;
feeling of chills, "goosebumps";
a feeling of disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, loss of appetite, heartburn, diarrhea or constipation, flatulence;
intercostal neuralgia;
girdle-like pain in the chest, between the shoulder blades, when bending and straightening;
insomnia, feeling tired despite enough sleep, tiredness;
stiffness of movement in the morning;
worsening gait;
irritability;
decreased libido/potency.

Reflex symptoms are more obscure than radicular symptoms and are often misunderstood by doctors. Therefore, it is very important to find a competent doctor who takes the patient's complaints seriously and prescribes the appropriate treatment for thoracic osteochondrosis, especially in case of exacerbation.

Diagnostics

The gold standard for diagnosing thoracic osteochondrosis is an MRI of the thoracic spine and an examination by a neurologist.

MRI accurately shows the anatomical structure, changes, compression, blood flow and a visual picture of the effect on the spinal cord. In addition, the study shows possible complications of the disease, such as protrusions, osteophytes, hernias and their effect on blood flow.

As before, the examination performed by the competent doctor plays an important role in establishing the diagnosis.

Treatment

Many people have heard that it is impossible to completely get rid of osteochondrosis, but you can only slow down its development. This is a half-truth. You can get rid of hernias, osteophytes and other complications of the disease. You can get your life back and restore your intervertebral discs without pain and ease of movement. There is a great chance to stop the destruction process by restoring the spinal column to its previous state if possible. Some people managed to completely get rid of the pathology, while others did not. Everything is individual and depends on the state of health, ability to overcome difficulties and patience.

You should be prepared for the fact that the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine takes a long time. Active participation takes an average of 1-3 months. But even then, life will not be the same due to the need for regular and appropriate physical activity lasting at least one year.

In this case, finances and time are not an excuse to refuse treatment, since you can fight the disease in a hospital or sanatorium and at home. The most convenient option is in the sanatorium. There, a group of people with the same problems supports the patient, but the conditions are positive and homely. The medical staff is always tactful and caring. There, you can relax and receive treatment without the hospital atmosphere, but with the use of all the necessary medical services.

The therapy consists of several stages:

get rid of pain (wearing a special corset, taking painkillers, performing procedures);
restoration of damaged spinal discs and preventive measures against the progression of the disease (physiotherapy, gymnastics, proper nutrition, help of a psychologist).

Drug treatment is also used, but it is a last resort when other methods do not help. In the most severe cases and in the case of a dangerous hernia, surgery is prescribed.

The most important rule is not to self-medicate or self-diagnose. Mistakes can be very costly.

Treatment at home

If you do not have time or financial resources for treatment in a clinic or sanatorium, you can achieve impressive results in getting rid of osteochondrosis at home. The following recommendations will help you cope with the disease.

Nutrition

Foods that help to speed up metabolism and regenerate cartilage tissue in case of excess weight should be included in the diet. It is important that the food you eat is rich in nutrients, microelements, antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins and is easily digestible.

Eat 4-5 times a day every 2. 5-3 hours, preferably at the same time. Doses should not exceed 300 g so as not to overload the stomach and liver. Three meals should contain 26-30 g of protein. Protein is essential for building muscle tissue. In this way, the metabolism speeds up, the body stops the accumulation of fat, and the cells receive constant nourishment.

The first breakfast and dinner should be predominantly protein. For example, egg whites and cucumbers. The main principle of the first and last meal is the absence of insulin peaks, which is achieved by removing carbohydrates. Cucumber, although a carbohydrate, has a low glycemic index. Protein cannot be digested without a small amount of fat and carbohydrates.

Physical exercise

Exercise is an integral part of the treatment of osteochondrosis of any part of the spine. It may include the following techniques:

Gymnastics was developed by scientist Yuri Gushcho. It includes elements of dynamic and static yoga. He also advises to carry out hardening procedures. If you are interested, you can read his book "12 Keys to the Longevity Safe" in which he talks about what to do to live an active life as long as possible. It makes sense to trust him, because Yuri lifted himself out of his wheelchair and recoveredfrom coxarthrosis. He has many awards, thanks to the President of the Russian Federation.
Gymnastics with Dr. Bubnovsky's technologies. His technique is quite effective and can be done at home. A series of exercises can be found on the Internet in video format, and books are also available with full instructions.
Swimming pool. Swimming not only helps you lose weight, but also strengthens your heart, lungs and back muscles.
Isometric gymnastics. This type of exercise was first developed for returning astronauts. Exercises make it possible to restore weakened muscles, restore flexibility and ease of movement without damaging the joints. Gymnastics is indicated in many pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, including osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
Walks outdoors. It is advisable to set aside an hour every day for intensive walks, preferably in parks or along the coast. The aim is to improve cerebral circulation, muscle nutrition and mood.
Exercises to improve posture.

Complete relaxation

It is absolutely necessary to develop the habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time. Ideally, go to bed at 9 p. m. and get up at 5-6 a. m. During this time, the brain manages to restore the functioning of the body's internal systems, the psyche, and process all the information it received the previous day. This is especially important for spinal health.

To sleep, you need to choose the right mattress and pillow. It is better to forget about options that are too soft or hard.

Treatment in a hospital or sanatorium

Manual therapy

This is an effect on the patient's body with the help of hands to restore metabolism and the proper shape of the spine. The procedure consists of manipulations aimed at restoring joint function, a relaxing massage that relieves pain and muscle tension, mobilization and relaxation that improves blood circulation.

The duration of treatment is about 3 months.

Massage

In the treatment of degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, both classical therapeutic and acupressure massage types are used. The massage therapist works with the muscle fibers of the upper back and shoulders to affect the chest region.

Mineral baths

During the procedure, the hemodynamics of the body changes. This means that the blood goes from the center to the periphery, and from there to the heart, which carries it through all the organs and tissues. Thus, the following effects are achieved:

blood circulation improves;
the nervous system is strengthened;
The respiratory system and kidneys work better;
the adaptive properties of the body increase;
reducing inflammation;
pain relief;
removal of toxins;
skin sensitivity increases.

The chemical composition of the water affects the effect of the mineral bath on the body of a patient with osteochondrosis. The temperature of the water affects muscle relaxation and metabolic processes.

Acupuncture

This procedure is also called acupuncture or acupuncture. Its essence is to influence the biological points of the human body with the help of a needle. Long and short sterile needles are inserted up to a depth of 15 mm and left for half an hour.

This seemingly simple procedure has proven itself all over the world. Patient reviews indicate the following effects after completing acupuncture procedures:

recreation;
cessation of tinnitus and dizziness;
increasing energy potential;
improved blood flow;
improving thought processes;
get rid of headaches;
relief of muscle spasms.

Laser therapy

The advantage of laser therapy is that it improves the penetration of drugs and normalizes the adaptive properties of the body. During the procedure, laser beams of a certain range reach the areas of the spine that require treatment. The result of the exposure is an anti-inflammatory effect, the metabolism in the affected area is normalized, the general well-being improves, the tissue regeneration process starts, the degeneration process stops.

The degenerative process can be completely reversed by carrying out a full course of procedures as part of the complex therapy.

Mud therapy

This procedure is beneficial not only for the spine, but also for the whole body. The only thing is that it cannot be used in the acute phase of osteochondrosis.

The effects of mud therapy include improving the trophism of intervertebral joint formations, vascular function, adaptation and recovery processes. In addition, the functioning of the nervous system normalizes, the pain disappears.

Cooperation with a psychologist

Since a person with osteochondrosis experiences constant stress, anxiety states often develop. The psychologist not only helps to get rid of them, but also stimulates in moments of despair and fatigue. A positive attitude plays an important role in treatment.

Exercise therapy

The treatment procedure is carried out in groups of several people and includes exercises, taking into account the individual characteristics and medical history of the patient. The focus is on improving the function of the joints and strengthening the ligaments. Without exercise, full recovery is unlikely.

Nordic walking

This is one of the most effective physical activities for osteochondrosis and is becoming more and more popular every year.

While walking with a pole, 90% of the muscles become toned, active calorie burning takes place, the load is evenly distributed in the body, the cardiovascular system is strengthened, the intestinal function, the nervous system and the psyche are improved, the respiratory system is improved, insomnia disappears, the blood vessels become stronger, a strong corset forms around the thoracic spine.

Drug therapy

Drug therapy is used only in the acute phase of osteochondrosis and when other treatment methods are ineffective.

At the height of the disease, pain relievers are prescribed, as well as drugs that speed up metabolic processes. Both drugs help in the form of tablets and injections.

Prescribed drug groups:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that also relieve pain. It is available in the form of cream, tablets and ampoules for intravenous or subcutaneous administration.
vasodilators. Vasoconstriction occurs during muscle tension and severe pain, as a result of which the blood pressure may rise and oxygen supply to the brain may become more difficult. Vasodilators restore vascular tone to normal.
Muscle relaxants. The purpose of this group of drugs is to relax and calm tense muscles. This effect triggers a chain of beneficial changes such as improved blood circulation, regulation of vascular tone and pain relief. When blood flow is normalized, damaged tissues are repaired more quickly.
Chondroprotectors and B vitamins. These are drugs that restore cartilage tissue and stop the destruction process.
A complex of tranquilizers. The stress of pain makes the pain worse. Irritability and anxiety activate the sympathetic nervous system, which results in an even greater tone of the muscles and blood vessels. Tranquilizers and sometimes antidepressants can break this vicious cycle.

As you can see, the treatment of osteochondrosis should be approached comprehensively, after examining all the nuances. It is best to turn to professionals to protect yourself from mistakes.