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Thoracic osteochondrosis

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

For chest osteochondrosis, spasms and pains in the chest, under the ribs, shortness of breath, stabbing, cutting, sharp pain behind the sternum are characteristic. Symptoms and manifestations of the disease may be similar to other diseases.

Symptoms

Pain in the spine 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 breathing, you will notice that the pain intensifies. The nature of this pain can be called girdle.
  2. In addition, you may experience pain in completely unexpected places - the area of \u200b\u200bthe heart, stomach, liver. This is due to the fact that thoracic osteochondrosis tends to "mask" 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 girdle. But it is not always possible to recognize this pain by it. Here is another way it can be felt and characterized:

  • most often manifested in the dark, behind the sternum;
  • a feeling that can be described as "a stake in the chest";
  • discomfort in the hypochondrium, both in the right and in the left;
  • feeling as if there was some foreign body behind the sternum;
  • if the lesion touched only the upper part of the thoracic region, then pain can be experienced by a person in the region of the esophagus and pharynx.

Since these symptoms are still very vague and may indicate a number of 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 heart. Here is what thoracic osteochondrosis can entail:

  • effect on the heart. Mostly, it causes pinching of the nerve roots in the chest area. After all, it is from there that the nerve cardiac plexuses go. It is these plexuses that regulate the work of the heart. The main alarm bells here are regular heart palpitations (extrasystoles), arrhythmia, tachycardia. Effects on the circulatory system, therefore, may appear in either one of these symptoms, or all at the same time;
  • effect on the lungs. It manifests itself most often in difficulty breathing and painful sensations at the same time.

Why does thoracic osteochondrosis appear?

Despite the fact that osteochondrosis as a holistic disease is quite common, thoracic osteochondrosis is less common. The prerequisites for the occurrence 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:

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

How to treat?

After an accurate diagnosis has been established during the tests, the doctor prescribes a special medication. In the case of thoracic osteochondrosis, it may include the following drugs, depending on the severity of the disease and the characteristics of its manifestation:

  1. First of all, drugs are prescribed that "remove" the pain and relieve discomfort. They are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or glucocorticosteroid drugs.
  2. To avoid a lack of fluid in the intervertebral disc, papain is used.
  3. Prescribe drugs called "chondroprotectors". With their help, there is a general strengthening of cartilage tissue.
  4. Drugs 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, then a special anti-inflammatory therapy is prescribed.

But, of course, medicines 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 the 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, supplementing drug 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 provides?

  1. Lie on the floor on your stomach. Hands are along the body. We bend in the thoracic region - smoothly, gently. Raise your arms and head as high as you feel, but try to avoid pain. It is recommended to perform at least 5 approaches.
  2. For the next exercise, we need a chair with a small, strong back. We sit straight on a chair. We exhale, bending backwards, while moving our hands back. Then we return to the starting position. We repeat 10-12 times.
  3. We stand up straight. Hands at the seams, legs together. Take a deep breath and raise your hands up. As you exhale, slowly bend 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 down on the floor on our stomach. Hands at the seams. Your task is to tear the body off the floor, stretching your head to your heels. We pull the whole body, we work out 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. We lift them first together, then each separately. We twist the 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 perform 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 - backward, 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 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 there is a therapeutic massage, which is prescribed by a specialist after a thorough examination of the patient. You can also perform it at home - here are a few options for 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 in the area behind the sternum and tear it off sharply, repeat several times, moving the palms from place to place.

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

massage for thoracic osteochondrosis

Classic massage. It consists of several steps, which include: stroking, kneading, vibration, rubbing. It is recommended to perform massage using a cream or ointment against osteochondrosis - it can be recommended to you by the attending specialist.

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 knead the neck, arms, shoulders, buttocks and even 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 a massage. Lilac flowers, horseradish root, garlic, onions, potatoes, ficus are usually taken as the basis. Honey, vegetable oil, and sometimes cologne or alcohol are added. Everything is thoroughly mixed into a homogeneous mass and the damaged area is rubbed. For example, according to the following recipe, you can prepare a rub from ficus leaves:

  • Ficus leaves in the amount of 6-8 are passed through a grater or cut into small pieces. Placed in a container, where they pour 2 bottles of triple cologne. 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 at the computer every day without physical activity can lead to poor posture. This happens because a person performs static work for a long period, without allowing the muscles and spine to rest and without performing any warm-ups or breaks. In the future, without correcting this problem, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region may develop.

To prevent this from happening, experts advise performing the so-called office charging, 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, throwing your head back. Feel a pleasant heaviness in the back. Perform after every hour of work at the computer at least 3-4 times.
  2. Perform circular head rotations. Look left and right, tilt your head forward and back.
  3. Raise your arms up - to the sides - forward - to the sides. Repeat several times.
  4. Stand next to your workspace, if you can, and shift from foot to foot.

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

Strengthening the muscles of the back with osteochondrosis

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