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Thoracic osteochondrosis

Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease in which the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine are destroyed. Since this department is the most inactive, it is less susceptible to disease.

For thoracic osteochondrosis, spasms and pains in the chest, under the ribs, shortness of breath, stitches, cuts, sharp pain behind the sternum are characteristic. The symptoms and manifestations of the disease can be similar to other diseases.

Symptoms

Spinal pains are the most common and superficial symptoms. Of course, they do not always talk about the development of osteochondrosis in a person. Therefore, you should pay attention to other sensations in the body:

  1. Discomfort and pain in the chest. Often with a sedentary lifestyle, you may not notice this. But as soon as you start doing any physical activity that speeds up your breathing, you will notice that the pain intensifies. The nature of this pain can be called a girdle.
  2. Also, you may experience pain in completely unexpected places - the area of the heart, stomach and liver. This is due to the fact that thoracic osteochondrosis tends to "mask" itself as a particular disease. For example, many may confuse it with gastritis, ulcers or angina pectoris.
  3. If you notice that periodically in the chest area you have "goosebumps", then, in combination with other manifestations, this may indicate thoracic osteochondrosis.
  4. In some cases, there may be a loss of sexual function, for example impotence in men.

Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis

One of the main characteristics of this type of pain is the girdle. But it is not always possible to recognize this pain for it. Here is another way it can be felt and characterized:

  • most often manifests itself in the dark, behind the sternum;
  • a feeling that can be described as "a stake in the chest";
  • discomfort in the hypochondrium, both on the right and on the left;
  • sensation as if there is a foreign body behind the breastbone;
  • if the injury touched only the upper part of the thoracic region, a person may experience pain in the region of the esophagus and pharynx.

Since these symptoms are still very vague and may indicate other diseases, the doctor recommends an additional ECG test.

effect on organs

In the process of development, this disease can have a negative impact on the internal organs, namely the lungs and the heart. This is what thoracic osteochondrosis can entail:

  • effect on the heart. Mainly, it causes pinching of the nerve roots in the chest area. After all, it is from there that the cardiac nerve plexuses depart. It is these plexuses that regulate the work of the heart. The main alarm signals here are regular heart palpitations (extrasystoles), arrhythmia, tachycardia. Effects on the circulatory system, therefore, can appear in any of these symptoms, or in all of them at the same time;
  • Effect on the lungs. It most often manifests itself in shortness of breath and painful sensations at the same time.

Why does thoracic osteochondrosis appear?

Although osteochondrosis as a holistic disease is quite common, thoracic osteochondrosis is less common. The prerequisites for the appearance of this disease can already be found in schoolchildren who, grimacing, are sitting at their desks. Because of this, children can develop scoliosis, and at a more mature age - osteochondrosis. Most of the other causes of development are closely related to scoliosis:

  • posture violation;
  • violation of metabolic processes that affect the integrity of the intervertebral discs;
  • sedentary lifestyle;
  • hereditary causes;
  • spinal injury;
  • static work and prolonged stay in an awkward and twisted posture.
spinal curvature as a cause of thoracic osteochondrosis

How to deal with?

After establishing an accurate diagnosis during tests, the doctor prescribes a special drug. In the case of thoracic osteochondrosis, it may include the following drugs, depending on the severity of the disease and the features of its manifestation:

  1. First of all, drugs are prescribed that "remove" pain and relieve discomfort. They are called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or glucocorticosteroids.
  2. To prevent a lack of fluid in the intervertebral disc, papain is used.
  3. Prescribe drugs called "chondroprotectors". With its help, there is a general strengthening of cartilage tissue.
  4. Medications that relieve spasms of the muscles around the spine can be added to the list.
  5. If the development of the inflammatory process is detected, special anti-inflammatory therapy is prescribed.

But of course, drugs alone cannot be cured. Be sure to follow a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition. These actions will be useful not only for the treatment, but also for the prevention of this and many other diseases.

Exercises for thoracic osteochondrosis.

Since lack of physical activity is one of the fundamental causes of the development of the disease, the role of exercise in this case is great. In addition, by complementing the pharmacological treatment with exercises, your body will return to normal and stabilize much faster.

There are a number of special exercises for the thoracic region. When performing them, follow the basic rules: no jerks, act slowly, smoothly, without trying to overload the body. An increase in amplitude is allowed, but only if you do not experience pain. So what are the most effective exercises that physical therapy offers?

  1. Lie on the floor face down. The hands are along the body. We bend in the thoracic region, gently, gently. Raise your arms and head as high as you feel, but try to avoid pain. At least 5 approaches are recommended.
  2. For the next exercise, we need a chair with a small, strong back. We sit up straight on a chair. We exhale, bending back, while moving our hands back. Then we return to the starting position. We repeat 10-12 times.
  3. We stand up. Hands at the seams, legs together. Take a deep breath and raise your hands. As you exhale, slowly lean back and lower your arms. We return to the starting position. It is recommended to do 7-9 sets at a time.
  4. Get on the floor on all fours. Slowly bend your back as you inhale, as you exhale return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 7-10 times.
  5. We lay face down on the floor. Hands at the seams. Your task is to tear the body off the ground, stretching the head to the heels. We pull the whole body, work the chest. The required number of approaches is 7-8.
  6. We work with the upper part of the thoracic region. Starting position: arms at the seams, feet shoulder-width apart. We work with the shoulders. First we raise them together, then each separately. We turn our shoulders forward - back, forward - back. We perform 10-15 approaches for each task.
  7. Also, for the upper part of the thoracic region, you can make circular movements with your hands. Starting position, as in the previous task. Stretch your arms to the sides, clench your palms into fists. We perform the rotation of the fists forward - back, then the rotation of the arm from the elbow - back and forth, then the whole arm back and forth. We perform each part of the exercise 4-6 times, in general we repeat the exercise 2-4 times.

Exercise in the morning and in the evening, giving it at least 15-20 minutes. Dilute it with a set of exercises for other muscle groups by inserting several of the options described above.

Massage

Massage is also a very good tool in the fight against osteochondrosis. Here is a therapeutic massage, which is prescribed by a specialist after a full examination of the patient. You can also do it at home; here are some options on how this can be done.

honey for massage with thoracic osteochondrosis

Honey massage. We will need 2-3 tablespoons of honey, preferably not candied, warm. We dip the palms in honey so that they are covered with a thin layer. We apply it to the area behind the sternum and sharply tear it, repeat several times, moving the palms from one place to another.

This massage should not be done for a long time, as it causes pain. Enough 10-15 minutes for a session. The skin after that will turn red, it will "burn".

massage for thoracic osteochondrosis

Classic massage. It consists of several steps, including: stroking, kneading, vibrating, rubbing. It is recommended to massage with a cream or ointment against osteochondrosis; your treating specialist may recommend.

The duration of this massage should not exceed 20 minutes, and the total course of treatment in this way should not include more than 11-13 sessions. As a preventive measure, it is also recommended to massage the neck, arms, shoulders, buttocks and even the legs.

home treatments

In addition, for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis there are alternative methods. For example, rubbing is very good, the basis of which can also be used when performing massage. Lilac flowers, horseradish root, garlic, onion, potatoes, ficus are usually taken as a basis. Honey, vegetable oil, and sometimes cologne or alcohol are added. Everything is thoroughly mixed into a homogeneous mass and rubbed into the damaged area. For example, according to the following recipe, you can prepare a dressing from ficus leaves:

  • Ficus leaves in the amount of 6-8 are passed through a grater or cut into small pieces. It is placed in a container, where 2 boats of triple colony are poured. Mix. 2 weeks rubbing should be in a dark place. Then it is necessary to use it at least 2 times a day until heat appears on the skin.
sedentary work as a cause of thoracic osteochondrosis

Working at a computer is one of the main causes of osteochondrosis. With a long stay at the computer, it is recommended to do exercises at least every two hours.

Performing activities in front of the computer every day without physical activity can lead to poor posture. This happens because a person performs static work for a prolonged period, without allowing the muscles and spine to rest and without warming up or resting. In the future, without correcting this problem, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region may develop.

To prevent this from happening, experts advise carrying out the so-called office load, designed specifically for those who work at a computer most of the time.

For example, the following exercises are very good:

  1. Arch your back by stretching your arms up and tilting your head back. You feel a pleasant heaviness in your back. Carry out after every hour of work at the computer at least 3-4 times.
  2. Make circular rotations of the head. Look left and right, tilt your head back and forth.
  3. Raise your arms up, to the sides, forward, to the sides. Repeat several times.
  4. Stand to the side of your workspace, if you can, and move from one foot to the other.

Do not forget to change your position while working at the computer, then it will save your health, spine and posture for a long time!

Strengthening of the back muscles with osteochondrosis.

Strengthening the back muscles is a very important part in the treatment and prevention of osteochondrosis. To do this, it is enough to engage in physical activity: exercise, attend fitness classes or the gym. Choose the option that best suits you. For example, swimming builds muscles well, so you can not only enjoy it, but also improve your body.