Currently, diseases such as osteochondrosis of the thoracic and cervical spine are considered to be quite common diseases among people of different ages.
An inactive lifestyle, improper posture and wearing uncomfortable shoes can lead to a relatively serious illness, which is almost impossible to diagnose at an early stage.
Characteristics of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, most commonly called thoracic chondrosis, is a disease of the intervertebral disc of the thoracic spine. Also, thoracic degenerative disc disease is called "chameleon", because the symptoms are not immediately detected and can be mistaken for a completely different disease.
Often, this disease occurs due to metabolic disorders, as well as excessive pressure on the intervertebral disc. Thoracic chondrosis interferes with the normal functioning of the intervertebral disc.
Unlike other types, osteochondrosis of the chest is less pronounced and has the following symptoms:
- Chest pain,worsens at night, as well as sharp rotations, or hypothermia.
- Pain between shoulder bladesby lifting sharp limbs, or sharp bends.
- Sharp pain while breathingand chest tightness.
The above symptoms refer to the early stages of the disease.
With a prolonged course without medical intervention, the following symptoms may appear:
- Numbness in small areas of skin.
- Itching or burning in the legs.
- Severe exfoliation.
- Mild pain in the throat or throat.
- Poor gastrointestinal function.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or cervical chondrosis is a disease that weakens the intervertebral disc, leading to changes in the structure of the disc itself and the cervical joint. The nerve endings can become inflamed, pressed by damaged intervertebral discs.
According to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), it has code M42. 02.
The following pain sensations do exist in this disease:
- Periodic headaches.
- Have pain in the neck, back, shoulders periodically.
- Short-term vision problems.
- Decreased collar zone sensitivity.
Symptoms of cervical chondrosis
The second stage is characterized by the appearance of a small vertebral hernia and the following symptoms:
- Pain in the cervical spine, loud cracks on the sharp rotation of the head.
- Periodic loss of sensation in arms and shoulders.
- Visually impaired hearing and ringing in the ears, difficulty sleeping.
- Numbness on the face and neck, weakness of the upper limbs.
- Periodic sharp pain in the shoulder blades.
The third stage of cervical osteochondrosis is difficult to treat. The intervertebral hernia is enlarged, there is a deformity of the spine.
For the third stage, the following symptoms will appear:
- Severe pain in neck and heart.
- Loss of sensitivity to the scalp, arms, shoulders.
- Upper limb paralysis.
- Cervical vertebral hernia.
The fourth stage is characterized by an increase in all of the above symptoms.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
A fairly common disease that immediately attacks the cervical and thoracic areas. It can start at any age due to back injuries, an inactive lifestyle, and being overweight. An important role is played by hereditary factors and functions in hazardous production (excessive vibration).
According to ICD-10, this type of osteochondrosis has the code M 42. 02.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:
- Sudden dizziness.
- Pain in neck and shoulders.
- Pain in right hypochondrium.
- Decreased blood pressure and tachycardia.
Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome
The disease gets its name from dysfunction of the intervertebral nerve roots.
When the roots are affected, some relatively untidy symptoms arise, including sharp "shooting" pain in the lumbar and neck area.
Symptoms also include:
- Loss of short-term ability to perform movements.
- Loss of sensation in the limbs.
- Muscle hypotrophy.
- Changes in neurological reflexes (detected during examination by a neurologist).
The following factors are associated with the occurrence of radicular syndrome:
- Uneven load on the spine when overweight, pregnant, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
- Asymmetry of the lower limbs, flat feet.
- Injuries, sharp loads on the spine.
If the disease is detected at an early stage, surgical intervention is not required.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The main cause of the development of osteochondrosis:
- Weight and work are inactive, lifestyle is inactive.
- Spinal injuries and previous curvature of the spine.
- Nerve pressure and tension.
- Physical disability.
- Lack of a healthy diet.
Degrees of osteochondrosis of the thoracic and cervical regions
The development of cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by the following stages of the disease:
- For the first stagechanges in the intervertebral disc are characteristic. Changes begin to occur due to loss of fluid storage from the core of the intervertebral disc. The pain has not yet been seen.
- In the second stage, the intervertebral disc becomes flatter. As a result, there is a lot of load on the ligaments and muscles, which, due to the constant strong load, begins to numb. Persistent dizziness is characteristic.
- The third stageis characterized by significant changes in bone and cartilage tissue, i. e. the appearance of arthrosis.
- The fourth stageis characterized by the appearance of bone growth on the vertebrae.
Diagnostics
To diagnose osteochondrosis, the first step is to perform a complete examination of the spine. The signs of osteochondrosis in the early stages can be confused with a number of other diseases. Diagnosis should be performed by a qualified specialist.
To diagnose the disease, it is necessary to contact the attending physician, who will refer to a specialist with a narrower profile. The sooner the patient seeks medical help, the faster and safer treatment.
Actually, osteochondrosis is treated not by one specialist, but by several people:
- Radiologist.After receiving the X-ray results, the picture of the disease will be clearer.
- Chiropractor. Determine the exact location and stage of the disease.
- A doctor is an osteopathic patient.The method of treatment is very similar to manual therapy.
- Physician - neuropathologist.Osteochondrosis is closely related to diseases of the nervous system. The doctor will assist in the treatment of this disease, both in the first and second stages.
- Physician - physiotherapist.Is an expert in physiotherapy training. Physical education only helps in the early stages of the disease.
Severe disease progression is considered quite common. In such cases, you should immediately see a neurologist. Osteochondrosis of both the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions is closely related to nerve disease. The neurologist will prescribe a course of special medication to relieve the pain.
Osteochondrosis during pregnancy and lactation in women
Osteochondrosis during pregnancy is a common phenomenon, because during pregnancy a woman experiences a global reorganization and a very strong load on the whole body. Diseases of the fetus do not have any effect, but during childbirth can cause a number of serious problems.
And the duration of breastfeeding is also recommended to be observed by a doctor and wearing a corrective corset to reduce tension in the spinal space.
Causes of osteochondrosis during pregnancy include:
- Weight gain and severe stress on the spine and wearing uncomfortable shoes.
- Uterine pressure on adjacent organs.
- Changes in hormone levels.
- Lack of useful vitamins and minerals.
- Lack of rest and sleep, various types of stress.
To prevent this disease, you must see a doctor at the first sign of annoyance. You can not wait for the end of pregnancy. After giving birth, the disease can develop and it will be more difficult to cure.
If the disease is detected, pregnant women will be assigned to wear prenatal bandages, vitamin and mineral courses, as well as special gymnastics.
First aid for exacerbating osteochondrosis at home
The period of exacerbation depends on the type and degree of neglect of the disease. Often, exacerbations can last from 1 week to 1 month.
Attention! In the event of an increase in the disease, it is forbidden: warming up in the bathtub, or warming up, massage and other self-treatment.
In the event of a sudden attack, before the arrival of the doctor, you must do the following:
- Give the patient maximum rest.
- If possible, place the patient on a firm surface.
- Apply cold compress to the affected area.
- Apply anti-inflammatory ointment to the affected area.
If a visit to a specialist in the near future is not possible, then you must take the following actions:
- Take a hot, relaxing shower.
- Do not make sudden movements.
- Do not lift weights.
- To avoid pinching further, make sure the neck remains stable.
Dorsago and dorsalgia
Dorsagois the name of one of the symptoms of thoracic spine inflammation. Dorsago is characterized by sharp pain in the heart area, most often in people who do monotonous sitting work, or after a long stay in an uncomfortable position. With sudden movements, short-term breathing difficulties may occur.
Dorsalgia- a pain syndrome that occurs during a sharp increase in illness, lasting about 2 weeks. With dorsalgia, the sensation of pain increases gradually. The pain is very severe when bending forward or breathing deeply. Often, pull pain occurs in the shoulder blade area, the lumbar region.
Methods for the treatment of cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis
If there is a disease, various methods are used to treat osteochondrosis.
Most commonly considered:
- Physiotherapy- paraffin compress, magnetic therapy, laser therapy.
- Physiotherapygymnastics and massage.
- Reflexotherapy- treatment is carried out using a needle that acts on the affected area. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to consult a specialist, as there are a number of contraindications.
- Folk remediesand diet.
- Medication- prescribed only after a complete examination by a specialist.
Medicine
To relieve pain in the spine, doctors often prescribe medication. When advanced, medications relieve pain for a short period of time. Therefore, to relieve further pain and inflammation, doctors prescribe NSAIDs in tablet or capsule form.
Chondoprotectors- another type of medication prescribed for osteochondrosis. This medicine is designed to protect and strengthen bone and cartilage tissue from destruction.
With a strong inflammatory process that occurs in the muscle tissue, the patient will be given medication to relieve muscle cramps.
The dose must be determined by the attending physician. Taking the drug no more than 3 weeks.
Also one of the effective drug treatment methods is the use of injections that can relieve pain.
Improving means
If there is complicated treatment, the patient can get a special fitting corset and bandage.
Exercises for osteochondrosis
Exercises prescribed in the physiotherapy room can not only relieve pain, but also strengthen the muscles of the spine, which further prevents the development of various types of complications. And after some physiotherapy training, the body posture improved.
The famous physician Bubnovsky has created a set of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis, which can be used at home.
The most common exercises are:
- Walking, lifting arms and legs smoothly.
- Rotate the shoulders in different directions, bringing and extending the shoulder blades.
- The head slowly bends to the side.
- Stretching exercises for the muscles of the spine and neck.
- Flexion of arms and legs.
With cervical osteochondrosis, it is forbidden to turn the head, as it can cause complications of the disease.
Physiotherapy treatment
Physiotherapy aims to reduce pain in the spine. This procedure improves blood circulation, enriching the muscles with oxygen.
Today, the most common physiotherapy procedures are:
- Massage with vibration- helps remove nerves that are pinched on the intervertebral disc. Contraindications - pregnancy, high blood pressure.
- Acupuncture- relieves pain. It also helps relax the back muscles. Contraindications are epilepsy.
- Electrotherapy- the method is to apply the effect of weak current on the affected spinal area. Contraindications are the presence of heart disease.
- Ultraviolet- enriches the body with vitamin D, thanks to which calcium is absorbed faster. It also has anti-inflammatory effects on the affected area. Contraindications to such procedures are the presence of blood diseases, allergic reactions to the skin, cancer.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies
In the treatment of complex diseases, some doctors also recommend the use of folk remedies to get rid of the disease. In complex treatment, it is very important to observe the correct dosage and method of treatment.
Folk remedies for home use relieve pain in muscle and joint areas, and also restore joint mobility:
- Pine and turpentine ointment.150g. dilute the animal's original fat in 1 tbsp bath water. fir and turpentine oils. After 20 minutes, remove the ointment from the heat, let cool and apply exclusively to the affected spinal area.
- Compress mustard.Mix mustard powder, vodka and camphor alcohol in equal amounts. After mixing, add 4 egg whites. Leave the mixture for 4 hours. Apply compress to the affected area.
- Tender bath.Shake the solution bottle thoroughly. Then pour 5 ml of emulsion into the warm water bath. In subsequent times, the solution can be increased to 10-15 ml. You have to spend 20 minutes for a shower like that. The water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees. It is also necessary to ensure that water does not reach the heart area.
Methods of treating osteochondrosis according to Valentin Dikul
This technique is quite common in the treatment of this disease. Valentin Ivanovich Dikul, first of all, tested his method on his own. Dikul technique is indicated for spinal and intervertebral hernia diseases.
The following principles should be followed during training: If there is complicated treatment, a special diet should be followed, which includes: Diet has an exception: To prevent the development of this disease, or to stop its development, it is necessary to use the following prophylaxis: By adhering to all the above recommendations, and by timely referencing a specialist, almost any disease can be cured. Treatment of osteochondrosis requires more time and money, but further illness can lead to wheelchairs.Principles of nutrition for osteochondrosis
Precautions
Conclusion