Chest osteochondrosis is a difficult diagnosis. It is less common than lesions of the neck and lumbosacral spine because the thoracic vertebrae are inactive. Due to the proximity of important internal organs to the spine, it is not always possible to make an accurate diagnosis immediately: symptoms suggest that the heart, large blood vessels, and lung diseases are close to osteochondrosis — and vice versa: osteochondrosis can occur. itself is similar to lung or heart symptoms.
The pain can be a belt, it can radiate (give) to the shoulders, under the shoulder blades in the form of a lumbago, it can intensify with a deep breath. Possible aching pain in the chest region, manifested by an uncomfortable posture, tilting the body. Pain on the left side of the chest is reminiscent of a heart attack and cholecystitis in the right hypochondrium. Paravertebral muscles are usually tense, with numbness and crawling in the chest, abdomen and arms.
In the thoracic region, the spinal canal is quite narrow, so small hernias or protrusions in osteochondrosis can compress the spinal cord. All this disrupts the quality of life, affects performance, the emotional sphere.
Treatment of breast osteochondrosis should be timely and competent to prevent disease progression and complications. You should know that a complete cure for osteochondrosis of the chest is impossible. But you can be absolutely sure that the disease is causing minimal problems for a person. Important lifestyle changes, introduction of new habits, feasible physical activity, adherence to treatment recommendations. And then osteochondrosis doesn’t feel right.
Risk factors for the development of osteochondrosis of the breast
- Sedentary lifestyle. Osteochondrosis affects people who do sedentary work, are forced to work, such as at a computer desk, sewing machine, or do not recognize physical activity. The muscles holding the spine become hypotrophytized, and the static load increases.
- Overweight. The higher the weight, the greater the load on each vertebra.
- Smoking. This bad habit leads to disruption of the blood supply to the tissues, including vertebrates.
- Excessive, incorrectly dosed physical activity. This includes frequent lifting and carrying of weights, jumping and running.
- Postural disorders, scoliosis. These spinal diseases lead to degenerative changes in the discs and muscle tension.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest
- Drug therapy:
- anti-inflammatory drugs - relieve pain and swelling of soft tissues. Topical forms in the form of gels, ointments, creams may be useful in intercostal neuralgia;
- anesthetics - injected paravertebrally to block pain and relieve muscle cramps;
- glucocorticosteroids - these hormonal drugs are used in the form of paravertebral blocks when other drugs are ineffective;
- muscle relaxants - relieves painful muscle cramps;
- antidepressants - help relieve the psycho-emotional stress inherent in osteochondrosis;
- Group B vitamins - nourish the nerve formations, thus fighting neurological disorders. Formulations containing vitamins B1, B6 and B12 are used to treat osteochondrosis;
- chondroprotectors - are able to somewhat suspend the destruction of intervertebral discs, improve bone metabolism. It is better to inject them directly into the paravertebral tissues because oral medications should be taken for long periods and in large doses.
- Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy methods act locally in the focus of the disease - they relieve pain and cramps, improve blood circulation and the nutrition of tissues. In case of chest osteochondrosis, the doctor may prescribe magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, UHF, laser therapy.
- Massage. The collar zone, the chest region, the hands are massaged. In case of exacerbation, it is not recommended to start the massage from the first day and to perform it sparingly at first. Relaxation of the spasmodic muscles should be achieved. During the period when there is no pain, the massage technique will be different - the techniques will be more intense. In addition to the usual ones, you can also perform point effects. In case of chest osteochondrosis, manual and vacuum massage and vibration massage are useful. These types can be combined or alternated.
- Physiotherapy. Performing special therapeutic exercises on a daily basis will help prevent or reduce the frequency of exacerbations of breast osteochondrosis. For example, you can do the following exercises:
- sitting on a chair put your hands behind your head and inhale, then put your shoulders together, touch the back of the chair (exhale). Repeat 10-15 times;
- stand on all fours and slowly arch your back like a cat, stay in this position for a few seconds. Then bend your back and stay in this position. Repeat 15-20 times;
- in a supine position, raise your head and straight arms along your body, hold them for a few seconds, return to your starting position. Repeat 7-10 times;
- lying on your back, raise your straight legs to a height of 20-30 cm, hold for 15-20 seconds. Repeat 10 times;
- Relieving the spine. They are performed on a special table, on a roller massage bed. Underwater towing is also possible. The soft tissues are tensed, while the intervertebral discs are relieved.
- Post-isometric relaxation. This is done by a massage therapist or rehabilitation therapist who is familiar with the technique. The method allows the spasmodic muscles of the back to relax.
- Acupuncture. It allows you to relieve muscle cramps and reduce pain.
- Hirudotherapy. The biologically active substances secreted by the leech improve blood flow, reduce pain syndrome and eliminate inflammation of the soft tissues.
What you can do yourself to prevent and treat chest osteochondrosis
- Try to avoid static poses. If you are sitting at a computer or work machine, take a break with one warm-up every hour and a half. Stretching, breathing exercise, head bend forward, backward, sideways, arm bend, torso bend. The work chair should have a comfortable backrest that follows the curvature of the spine. You can put a special orthopedic pillow on it. The seat should be solid and the height of the chair should match the length of the leg. There are requirements for the table - the table top is usually at the height of the elbow of the bent arm.
- It is advisable to sleep on an orthopedic mattress to respect the natural curves of the spine.
- It is not recommended to carry excessive weights, but if necessary, squat or kneel to lift the weight off the floor. Wear the dress with your back straight and spread evenly on both hands.
- In case of osteochondrosis, you need to maintain your weight, eat less fried, fatty foods, and exclude carbonated drinks and alcohol.
- Sports such as swimming and skiing are very useful. Regular exercise.
The optimal treatment process for chest osteochondrosis should include a number of complementary methods. The treatment program is designed individually. It is important to relieve pain, improve the nutrition of tissues, relieve intervertebral discs, relax spasmodic muscles, strengthen the muscle ligament. For this purpose, therapy should be repeated, but at least twice a year, supplemented with daily therapeutic exercises, systematic swimming, and spa treatment.
Which doctor to go to
If you experience symptoms of breast osteochondrosis, you should consult a neurologist. Usually, a neurosurgeon examination is required - a therapist, cardiologist, rheumatologist, pulmonologist to rule out concomitant illnesses. Physical methods are important in the treatment of the disease, so it will be useful to consult a dietitian, physiotherapist, physiotherapist and massage specialist.