Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

25 January 2024

Osteochondrosis is the wear and tear of the intervertebral discs, which leads to degenerative organic changes in the spine. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is considered the rarest because this section is the least mobile due to its ligament with the ribs. But this is what occurs in a more insidious and severe way, and develops earlier than other types. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by an integrated approach and leads to good results. With a competent therapeutic approach, a person can regain mobility, lightness and a pain-free life.

Causes

The main factors causing the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine include:

Kyphosis and scoliosis. These diseases usually accompany a person from birth, like an anatomical anomaly. If kyphosis is alleviated, a person may spend half their life without knowing its existence. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that leads to impaired distribution of muscular load. As a result, on the one hand, the muscles will atrophy and relax, and on the other, they will spasm due to constant tension.
Injuries. They may be obvious when a person injures their vertebrae in a fall, accident, or other similar circumstances. Lesions may not be noticeable. For example, back injuries are common due to excessive gym use and heavy lifting.
Flat foot. Some doctors argue that this is almost the main reason for the development of degenerative changes in any part of the spine. Flat feet disrupt the balance of the muscular corset; inadequate redistribution of the load leads to impaired depreciation of the vertebrae.
Statically incorrect body position for a long time. As a result of muscle tension, blood circulation and nutrition of muscle tissue deteriorate. That is, they hold the spine. This is the cause not only of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, but also of the cervical and lumbar spine.
Excess weight and lack of sufficient physical activity.
Stress. Stress itself is not as dangerous as the reaction to it. During stress, the adrenal glands produce excessive amounts of adrenaline, which is transformed into norepinephrine. Promotes the thickening of blood vessel walls and the progression of atherosclerosis. Under stressful conditions, blood vessels narrow, which leads to insufficient oxygen supply to muscle tissue.
Alcohol consumption, smoking, use of other drugs and poor diet. Alcohol leaches calcium from bone tissue. Tobacco and other drugs lead to poor functioning of blood vessels. Serious errors in nutrition lead to obesity and a lack of B vitamins and minerals.
Inappropriate use of bags and shoes.
Gastrointestinal diseases that affect the quality of nutrient absorption.
Violation of water and electrolyte balance for a long period of time.
Pregnancy. Thoracic osteochondrosis often occurs in women pregnant with twins or triplets.
Metabolic syndrome.
Autoimmune diseases, infections, poisoning.
Genetic predisposition associated with a genetic mutation. You should not think that genetic predisposition is necessarily associated with the fact that one of your close relatives suffers from osteochondrosis. Often, this has nothing to do with genetics. Genetic predisposition is always a mutation of certain genes. But even then, the disease will only develop in combination with other factors.

The disease can occur both in adulthood and in youth. Every year the disease gets younger. Therefore, it is important to recognize the problem as early as possible by paying attention to the symptoms.

Symptoms

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

Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are interconnected due to two types of clinical picture.

Root signs

Root symptoms:

sharp pain or pain in the shoulder, armpits, or collarbone;
impaired reflexes;
muscle weakness;
pain in the upper thoracic region, similar to a heart attack, in the solar plexus, in the hypochondrium, pain in the mammary glands, in the upper part of the abdomen or in the groin area.

Reflex signals

Symptoms:

respiratory disorders such as feeling short of breath, pain during inhalation and exhalation, difficulty breathing;
feeling of chills, "goosebumps";
feeling of disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, loss of appetite, heartburn, diarrhea or constipation, bloating;
intercostal neuralgia;
pain in the chest of a circular nature, between the shoulder blades, when bending and straightening;
insomnia, feeling tired from getting enough sleep, fatigue;
stiffness of movements in the morning;
worsening gait;
irritability;
decreased libido/potency.

Reflex symptoms are more vague than radicular symptoms and are often misunderstood by doctors. Therefore, it is very important to find a competent doctor who will take the patient's complaints seriously and prescribe the correct treatment for thoracic osteochondrosis, especially during an exacerbation.

Diagnosis

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

MRI shows exactly the anatomical structure, changes, compression, blood flow and a visual image of the effect on the spinal cord. Furthermore, the study demonstrates possible complications of the disease, such as protrusions, osteophytes, hernias and their effects on blood flow.

As before, an examination carried out by a competent doctor plays an important role in the diagnosis.

Treatment

Many have heard that it is impossible to completely get rid of osteochondrosis, but it is only possible to slow down its development. This is a half truth. You can get rid of hernias, osteophytes and other complications of the disease. You can reclaim your life without pain and ease of movement and restore your intervertebral discs. There is a great chance of stopping the destruction process, returning the column to its previous state as much as 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, willingness to overcome difficulties and patience.

You must be prepared for the fact that the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine will be lengthy. On average, active participation will require 1 to 3 months. But even so, life will no longer be the same due to the need for regular and adequate physical activity for at least a year.

In this case, finances and time are not an excuse for refusing treatment, as it is possible to fight the disease both in the hospital or sanatorium and at home. The most convenient option is in a sanatorium. There, the patient is supported by a group of people with the same problems, but the conditions are positive and welcoming. The medical team is always diplomatic and attentive. There you can relax and receive treatment without a hospital environment, but with all the necessary medical services.

Therapy consists of several stages:

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

Drug treatment is also used, but is considered a last resort when other methods do not help. In more serious cases and with dangerous hernias, surgery is prescribed.

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

Home treatment

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

Nutrition

It is necessary to introduce foods into the diet that help speed up metabolism in case of excess weight and the regeneration of cartilage tissue. It is important that the foods you eat are rich in nutrients, microelements, antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and are easy to digest.

You need to eat 4-5 times a day every 2. 5-3 hours, preferably at the same time. Portions 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. Thus, the metabolism will speed up, the body will stop accumulating fat and the cells will receive constant nutrition.

The first breakfast and dinner should be predominantly protein. For example, egg whites and cucumber. The fundamental principle of the first and last meal is the absence of insulin spikes, which is achieved by eliminating carbohydrates. Cucumber, although it is a carbohydrate, has a low glycemic index. Protein without a small amount of fat and carbohydrates is not digestible.

Physical exercise

Physical exercise is an integral part of the treatment of osteochondrosis of any part of the spine. The following techniques may be included:

Gymnastics developed by scientist Yuri Gushcho. Includes elements of dynamic and static yoga. He also advises carrying out hardening procedures. If you are interested, you can read his book "12 Keys to Secure Longevity" in which he talks about what to do to live as long as possible while being active. It makes sense to trust him, because Yuri got out of the wheelchair independently and recovered from coxarthrosis. He has many awards, thanks from the President of the Russian Federation.
Gymnastics using Dr. Bubnovsky's technologies. His technique is quite effective and can be done at home. A set of exercises can be found on the Internet in video format, and books with complete instructions are also available.
Pool. Swimming not only helps you lose weight, but also strengthens your heart, lungs and develops your back muscles.
Isometric gymnastics. This type of exercise was initially developed for astronauts returning home. Exercises allow, without damaging joints, to restore weakened muscles, restore flexibility and ease of movement. Gymnastics is recommended for various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, including osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
Walk outdoors. It is advisable to dedicate an hour every day to intense walks, preferably in park areas or along the coast. The goal is to improve cerebral circulation, muscle nutrition and mood.
Exercises to correct posture.

Complete rest

It is essential to develop the habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time. The ideal is to go to bed at 9pm and wake up at 5am to 6am. 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 day before. This is especially important for spinal health.

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

Treatment in hospital or sanatorium

Manual therapy

It is an effect on the patient's body with the help of hands to restore metabolism and give the spine the correct shape. The procedure consists of manipulations to restore joint function, relaxing massage to relieve muscle pain and tension, mobilization to improve blood circulation and relaxation.

The duration of treatment is around 3 months.

Massage

In the treatment of degenerative changes in the thoracic spine, classical and acupressure therapeutic massages are used. The massage therapist works the muscle fibers in the upper back and shoulders to influence the thoracic region.

Mineral baths

During the procedure, the body's hemodynamics change. This means that the blood is directed from the center to the periphery and then to the heart, which carries it through all organs and tissues. Thus, the following effects are achieved:

blood circulation improves;
the nervous system is strengthened;
The respiratory system and kidneys function better;
the adaptive properties of the body increase;
reduction of 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 suffering from osteochondrosis. Water temperature affects muscle relaxation and metabolic processes.

Acupuncture

Also, this procedure is called acupuncture or acupuncture. Its essence lies in influencing biological points of the human body with the help of needles. Sterile long and short needles are inserted to a depth of up to 15 mm and left for half an hour.

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

relaxation;
cessation of tinnitus and dizziness;
increase energy potential;
better blood flow;
improvement of thought processes;
get rid of headaches;
relieving muscle spasms.

laser therapy

The advantage of laser therapy is to improve the penetration of drugs and normalize the adaptive properties of the body. During the procedure, laser beams of a certain range are exposed to the areas of the spine that require treatment. The result of exposure is an anti-inflammatory effect, normalization of metabolism in the affected area, improvement in general well-being, the process of tissue regeneration begins and the process of degeneration stops.

As a result of completing a full course of procedures as part of complex therapy, the degenerative process can be completely reversed.

Mud therapy

This procedure is beneficial not only for the spine, but also for the entire 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 formations in intervertebral joints, vascular function, adaptation and recovery processes. In addition, the functioning of the nervous system is normalized, the pain disappears.

Working with a psychologist

Since with osteochondrosis a person 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 tiredness. 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 of the patient and his medical history. The emphasis is on improving joint function and strengthening the muscular corset. Without exercise, full recovery is unlikely.

nordic walking

This is one of the most effective types of physical activity for osteochondrosis and is gaining more and more popularity every year.

When walking with poles, 90% of muscles are toned, active burning of calories occurs, the load is evenly distributed throughout the body, the cardiovascular system is strengthened, intestinal function is improved, the nervous system and psyche are strengthened, the functions of the respiratory system improve, insomnia disappears, blood vessels are strengthened, a strong corset is formed 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, painkillers and medications that accelerate metabolic processes are prescribed. Both medicines in the form of tablets and injections help.

Prescription drug groups:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which also relieve pain. Available in the form of cream, tablets and ampoules for intravenous or subcutaneous administration.
Vasodilators. During muscle tension and severe pain, vasoconstriction occurs, as a result, blood pressure may increase and oxygen delivery to the brain may become difficult. Vasodilators bring vascular tone back to normal.
Muscle relaxants. This group of medications is designed to relax and soothe tense muscles. This effect triggers a chain of beneficial changes, such as improving blood circulation, regulating vascular tone and relieving pain. When blood flow is normalized, damaged tissues are restored faster.
Chondroprotectors and B vitamins. These are medicines that restore cartilaginous tissue, stopping the destruction process.
Sedative complex. The stress of pain makes the pain worse. Irritability and anxiety trigger the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to even greater tone in muscles and blood vessels. Sedatives and sometimes antidepressants can break this vicious circle.

As you can see, the treatment of osteochondrosis needs to be approached comprehensively, studying all the nuances. It is better to turn to specialists, thereby protecting yourself from mistakes.