In just 24-36 sessions, depending on the intensity of the treatment and the stages of disease development, you will get rid of pain due to osteochondrosis of the chest, you will be able to normalize your sleep and live life to the fullest.
It is important to understand
If osteochondrosis of the chest is detected, it is necessary to select an individual set of therapeutic exercises, study the technique of their implementation and exclude exercises that have contraindications.
With this diagnosis, it is important to regularly attend treatments, undergo the entire treatment in a specialized center, and in the future you must independently maintain your health preventively.
Osteochondrosis is a fairly common and serious disease.
Its danger is that in the initial stages it cannot be manifested in any way or it can be disguised as other pathologies.
This happens especially often with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
In this place, the vertebrae are not so movably connected, so degenerative processes rarely develop here.
But if osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occurs, it causes severe symptoms and severe pain.
Pathogenesis of osteochondrosis
Recently, osteochondrosis has been diagnosed not only in older people, as it was before. This pathology is becoming more and more common among young people.
This is due to the characteristics of lifestyle and diet. After all, osteochondrosis occurs due to disturbances in metabolic processes and blood circulation.
There can be many reasons for this, but one of the most common is lack of physical activity and sedentary work.
This is a degenerative-dystrophic pathology, characterized by the gradual destruction of the intervertebral discs. They lose water and nutrients, the cartilage tissue dries out and begins to crack.
Due to this, the disc stops performing cushioning functions, the vertebrae come closer to each other and also begin to collapse.
In the thoracic region, such processes rarely develop, because the load on the discs is low here. But various injuries, metabolic disorders and blood circulation can lead to the development of thoracic osteochondrosis.
Moreover, in this place the disease is particularly severe. After all, there are many nerve endings here that go to the internal organs.
Possible complications
The danger of thoracic osteochondrosis is that it begins imperceptibly. Often, in the first stage, there are almost no painful sensations, and those that do occur can be confused with pain in the stomach or heart.
Because of this, many patients are unsuccessfully treated for gastritis or angina for a long time until they undergo a complete examination. An X-ray of the spine will help identify the narrowing of the intervertebral space and suspicion of the development of osteochondrosis.
If this is not done and treatment is not started, the disease will progress rapidly. The destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the discs can only be stopped by special methods. The disks themselves cannot be recovered. In addition, in the thoracic part, this process takes place faster, because due to the low mobility of the spine, the tissue's blood supply is poorer here.
Therefore, without timely treatment, osteochondrosis can lead to serious complications. It can cause the following pathologies:
- protrusion or intervertebral hernia;
- spinal cord compression;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- biliary dyskinesia;
- intestinal, liver or pancreatic disorders;
- heart disease.
Typical symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis of the chest
Every person who is susceptible to diseases of the spine should know how osteochondrosis manifests itself. If you do not ignore the typical symptoms, you can start treatment in time and stop the progression of the pathology.
The main sign of spinal damage is pain associated with physical activity. In the initial stages, they are not strong and appear in the evening, and disappear after rest.
In addition, the pain is aggravated by taking a deep breath, raising the arms up, turning the torso or lifting heavy objects. And it usually starts in one place, only then it spreads to the whole chest.
Due to painful sensations in this place, muscle spasms occur and it becomes difficult for the patient to move. Often, the pathology is accompanied by intercostal neuralgia.
What can be confused with osteochondrosis of the chest?
This disease can be cured only in the initial stage. But the problem is that it is difficult to diagnose osteochondrosis of the chest in time, its symptoms are often confused with other pathologies.
It is not always accompanied by typical symptoms. Some patients do not experience back pain or intercostal neuralgia.
Sometimes thoracic osteochondrosis is manifested by atypical symptoms characteristic of other diseases. It is most often confused with pathologies of internal organs.
- Basically, its manifestations are similar to angina pectoris. Heart pain that intensifies when inhaling, shortness of breath and the inability to raise the arm force patients to take heart medications. But there is no relief, and the EKG also does not reveal any disturbances in the work of the heart.
- Sometimes there is pain that resembles the symptoms of peptic ulcer, gastritis or pancreatitis. But they worsen not after eating, as with these pathologies, but after physical activity.
- Women may notice pain in the mammary glands.
- Localization of the pathology in the upper part of the thoracic region can cause a lump in the throat and difficulty swallowing.
Osteochondrosis of the chest can cause nausea, difficulty breathing, and even suffocation.
Numbness or tingling in the upper extremities, muscle weakness and inability to raise the arm or move to the side are common.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the chest
Often, to accurately diagnose a disease, it is necessary to consider possible causes. People with a hereditary predisposition, overweight and bad habits are susceptible to such pathologies.
Examination of the spine is also recommended for patients with various endocrine and metabolic disorders, diseases of the circulatory system, and diabetes.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine most often occurs in people older than 45 years. At that time, metabolic processes slow down, tissues lack nutrients.
In addition, physical activity decreases, which leads to a weakening of the muscular corset of the spine.
But there are other causes of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region:
- back injuries, bruises or sprains;
- regular weight lifting, heavy physical activity;
- rachiocampsis;
- sitting for a long time in the wrong position, for example, when working at a computer or driving a car.
What are the degrees of the disease?
Osteochondrosis of the chest is a chronic pathology. It develops very slowly, but it is constantly improving.
In order to choose the right treatment methods, doctors distinguish several stages of the disease. They have characteristic symptoms and require a special approach to therapy.
- The first stage of osteochondrosis causes almost no pain. If they occur, they occur after physical activity.
- In the second stage, the pain becomes stronger. Indeed, due to the gradual destruction of the disc, the vertebrae come closer to each other, which can cause pinching of the nerve roots. In this case, neurological symptoms and signs of dysfunction of internal organs appear.
- In the third stage of osteochondrosis, an intervertebral hernia often appears. A ruptured disc puts pressure on blood vessels and nerves, leading to severe pain and other health problems. The mobility of the spine in this place is very limited.
- The last stage of the pathology is characterized by the complete destruction of the disc. Osteophytes appear on the vertebrae, sometimes completely fused. Every movement of the patient causes pain, so the disease at this stage often leads to disability.
Why should you see a doctor right away?
Some patients ignore the first symptoms of the disease. They mistake mild back pain and muscle weakness for overwork. Even after the vacation, they continue to lead their usual way of life. Because of this, the disease progresses, which leads to serious complications.
A decrease in the cushioning function of the intervertebral discs leads to curvature of the spine. Thoracic kyphosis usually develops. Because of this, the chest is compressed and breathing is difficult.
If you do not consult a doctor in time, the intervertebral discs can completely collapse. This will lead to convergence of the vertebrae and pinching of the nerve endings. With each movement, the situation will be aggravated by the fact that the vertebrae will begin to collapse due to friction. This can cause damage to the spinal cord and paralysis of the body below the damaged vertebrae.
Disease prevention
To prevent serious complications of the pathology, you should consult a doctor in time. The earlier the treatment is started, the greater the possibility of completely stopping the degenerative processes.
This is best done with the help of kinesiotherapy. In the initial stage of the pathology, as well as during its prevention, this method will help strengthen the muscular corset of the spine and improve blood supply to the disc tissue.
Specialists of a modern kinesiotherapy center will help prevent the development of degenerative processes in people with a predisposition to them. After all, moderate physical activity is necessary to maintain a healthy spine.
An individually designed daily regime with special exercises and nutrition will help to avoid disc destruction and complications of this process.
How is the treatment carried out?
Collection of anamnesis - determination of the disease, limitations and contraindications, explanation of the principles of kinesitherapy, characteristics of the recovery period.
Myofascial diagnostics is a manual diagnostic method in which the doctor assesses the range of motion of the joint, determines painful tension, swelling, hypo- or hypertonus of the muscles and other changes.
Functional diagnostics (performed in the rehabilitation room) - the doctor explains how to perform certain exercises on the equipment and observes: how the patient performs them, with what range of motion he can work, which movements cause pain, what weight the patient can work with, how the cardiovascular systemthe vascular system reacts. Problem areas have been identified. The data is entered into the card. Accents are set.
Based on the results of the initial examination by the doctor and functional diagnostics, a preliminary individual treatment program is drawn up.
It is recommended to have with you:
- for pain in the spine - MRI or CT (magnetic resonance or computer tomography) of the problem area;
- for joint pain - X-rays;
- in the presence of accompanying diseases - excerpts from the medical history or ambulatory card;
- comfortable (sports) clothes and shoes
Lessons with an instructor
At the beginning of the treatment cycle, the doctor and the patient draw up a treatment plan that includes the date and time of the treatment, subsequent visits to the doctor (usually 2-3 times a week).
The basis of the treatment process is treatments in the rehabilitation room on simulators and sessions in the gym.
Rehabilitation simulators enable precise dosing of the load on individual muscle groups, providing an adequate regimen of physical activity. The treatment program is drawn up by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the body. Supervision is provided by qualified instructors. In all stages of recovery, it is important to adhere to the correct movement and breathing technique, to know the weight standards when working on devices, to adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen and to adhere to the recommendations of experts.
Joint gymnastics sessions help to restore visual coordination, improve joint mobility and spine elasticity (flexibility) and are an excellent preventive system for independent use.
Each treatment cycle consists of 12 sessions. Each lesson is supervised by an instructor. The duration of one treatment session is from 40 minutes to 1. 5 hours. The instructor compiles the program, taking into account accompanying diseases and the condition of the patient on the day of the lesson. He learns the technique of performing exercises and follows the correct execution. Every 6 hours, a second consultation with the doctor is held, they change and supplement the program, depending on the dynamics.
How many cycles will it take? – for everyone individually
Important to know:
- How long have you had this problem (stage of disease)
- How your body is prepared for physical activity (do you do gymnastics or some sport).
- what kind of result you want to get.
If the disease is in an early stage and the body is prepared, one cycle of treatment is enough. (example - young people 20-30 years old who play sports. We focus their attention on the technique of performing exercises, breathing, stretching, excluding "wrong" exercises that are harmful to problem areas. Such patients undergo training and acquire the skills of "taking care of their body", receive recommendations in case of deterioration and continue learning independently).