Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

25 January 2024

Osteochondrosis is the wear and tear of the intervertebral discs, leading 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 it is precisely this that occurs in a more insidious and serious 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 approach to therapy, a person can regain mobility, lightness and pain-free life.

Causes

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

Kyphosis and scoliosis. These diseases often accompany a person from birth, like an anatomical anomaly. If kyphosis is relieved, a person may not know it exists for half their life. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that leads to an altered distribution of muscle load. As a result, on the one hand, the muscles will be atrophied and relaxed, and on the other, they will spasm due to constant tension.
Injuries. They may be noticeable when a person injures their vertebrae in a fall, accident, or other similar circumstances. The injuries may not be noticeable. For example, spinal injuries are common due to excessive gym use and heavy lifting.
Flat feet. 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; incorrect redistribution of the load leads to a deterioration in the depreciation of the vertebrae.
Statically incorrect body position for a long time. Due to muscle overload, blood circulation and nutrition of muscle tissue deteriorate. That is to say, they hold the spine. This is the cause of not only osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, but also of the cervical and lumbar spine.
Excess weight and lack of sufficient physical activity.
Fatigue. 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 poor oxygen supply to muscle tissue.
Alcohol consumption, smoking, use of other drugs and poor diet. Alcohol removes calcium from bone tissue. Tobacco and other drugs lead to improper functioning of blood vessels. Serious nutritional errors lead to obesity, a lack of B vitamins and minerals.
Improper 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, intoxications.
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 suffered from osteochondrosis. Often this has nothing to do with genetics. Genetic predisposition is always a mutation of certain genes. But even so, the disease will develop only in combination with other factors.

The disease can manifest itself both in adulthood and in youth. Every year the disease becomes 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 a person. The chest area contains the heart, lungs, internal organs of the abdominal cavity, ribs, and in women, the mammary glands. Symptoms in this location may be similar to an angina attack, heart attack, or pain in the stomach, mammary glands, or any other nearby organs. Therefore, when osteochondrosis makes itself felt, it is often mistaken for other dangerous pathologies.

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

Radicular signs

Radicular symptoms:

shooting or aching pain in the shoulder, armpit, 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 abdomen or in the groin area.

Reflex signs

Symptoms:

respiratory disorders such as feeling of lack of air, pain when breathing in and out, difficulty breathing;
feeling of chills, "goosebumps";
feeling of discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, loss of appetite, heartburn, diarrhea or constipation, bloating;
intercostal neuralgia;
pain in the chest of a waist nature, between the shoulder blades, when bending and straightening;
insomnia, feeling tired from having had enough sleep, fatigue;
stiffness of movement in the morning;
worsening of gait;
irritability;
decreased libido/potency.

Reflex symptoms are vaguer 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 a flare-up.

Diagnostics

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 effect on blood flow.

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

Treatment

Many have heard that it is impossible to completely eliminate osteochondrosis, but you can only slow down its development. This is a half-truth. You can get rid of hernias, osteophytes and other complications of the disease. You can regain your life without pain and ease of movement and restore your intervertebral discs. There is a great chance to stop the destruction process, returning the spine to its previous state as much as possible. Some people have managed to completely get rid of the pathology, while others have not. Everything is individual and depends on the state of health, willingness to overcome difficulties and patience.

You need to be prepared for the fact that treatment for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine will take a long time. On average, active participation will take 1-3 months. But even then life will no longer be the same due to the need to carry out regular and correct physical activity for at least a year.

In this case, finances and time are not an excuse to refuse treatment, since you can fight the disease both in the hospital or sanatorium and at home. The most convenient option is in a sanatorium. There the patient is cared for by a group of people with the same problems, but the conditions are positive and familiar. The medical staff is always discreet and attentive. There you can relax and receive treatment without the hospital atmosphere, but with all the necessary medical services.

The therapy consists of several phases:

eliminate 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.

Treatment at home

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

Nutrition

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

You need to eat 4-5 times a day every 2, 5-3 hours, preferably at the same time. Portions must not exceed 300 g, so as not to overload the stomach and liver. Three meals should contain 26-30 g of protein. Proteins are essential for building muscle tissue. Thus, the metabolism will accelerate, the body will stop accumulating fat, and the cells will receive constant nutrition.

Breakfast and dinner should be predominantly protein-based. For example, egg white 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 a carbohydrate, has a low glycemic index. Proteins without a small amount of fats and carbohydrates are not digestible.

Physical exercise

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 dynamic and static yoga elements. It also recommends carrying out hardening procedures. If you are interested, you can read his book "12 Keys to the Longevity Safe", 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 independently got up from the wheelchair and recovered from coxarthrosis. He has many awards, gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation.
Gymnastics using the technologies of Dr. Bubnovsky. His technique is quite effective and can be performed 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 back muscles.
Isometric gymnastics. This type of exercise was initially developed for astronauts returning home. Exercises allow, without damaging the joints, to restore weakened muscles, restore flexibility and ease of movement. Gymnastics is indicated for many pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, including osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
Walks in the open air. It is advisable to dedicate an hour a 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. Ideally, go to bed at 9pm and wake up at 5-6am. During this period, the brain manages to restore the functioning of the internal systems of the body, the psyche and process all the information 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 too soft or hard options.

Treatment in a hospital or sanatorium

Manual therapy

This 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 pain and muscle tension, mobilization to improve blood circulation and relaxation.

The duration of treatment is approximately 3 months.

Massage

Both classic therapeutic massage and acupressure types are used in the treatment of degenerative changes in the thoracic spine. The massager works with the muscle fibers of the upper back and shoulders to target the thoracic region.

Mineral baths

During the procedure, the hemodynamics of the body changes. This means that the blood is directed from the center to the periphery and from there to the heart, which guides it through all organs and tissues. The following effects are thus obtained:

blood circulation improves;
the nervous system is strengthened;
The respiratory system and kidneys work better;
the adaptive properties of the body increase;
reduction of inflammation;
pain relief;
removal of toxins;
skin sensitivity increases.

The chemical composition of water influences the effect of a 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 the biological points of the human body with the help of needles. Long and short sterile needles are inserted to a maximum depth of 15 mm and left for half an hour.

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

relaxation;
cessation of tinnitus and dizziness;
increase in energy potential;
improved blood flow;
improvement of thinking processes;
get rid of headaches;
relieve muscle spasms.

Laser therapy

The advantage of laser therapy is to improve drug penetration 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 need treatment. The result of exposure is an anti-inflammatory effect, normalization of metabolism in the affected area, improvement of general well-being, initiation of the process of tissue regeneration and stopping of the process of degeneration.

After 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 the improvement of the trophism of the intervertebral joint formations, vascular function, adaptation and recovery processes. In addition, the functioning of the nervous system is normalized, the pain disappears.

Work with a psychologist

Since with osteochondrosis a person experiences constant stress, anxiety states often develop. A psychologist not only helps to get rid of it, but also stimulates in moments of desperation and tiredness. A positive attitude plays an important role in treatment.

Physical therapy

The treatment procedure is carried out in groups of several people and includes exercises that take into account the individual characteristics of the patient and her medical history. The emphasis is on improving joint function and strengthening the muscle 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.

Walking with sticks, 90% of muscles are toned, active calorie consumption occurs, the load is evenly distributed throughout the body, the cardiovascular system is strengthened, intestinal function improves, the nervous system and psyche are strengthened , the functions of the intestines the respiratory system improves, insomnia disappears, blood vessels strengthen, a strong corset is formed around the thoracic spine.

Pharmacological 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 drugs that accelerate metabolic processes are prescribed. Both drugs in the form of tablets and injections help.

Groups of drugs prescribed:

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 the supply of oxygen to the brain may become difficult. Vasodilators bring vascular tone back to normal.
Muscle relaxants. This group of drugs is designed to relax and calm tense muscles. This effect triggers a chain of beneficial changes such as improved blood circulation, regulation of vascular tone and pain relief. When blood flow is normalized, damaged tissues are restored more quickly.
Chondroprotectors and B vitamins. These are drugs that restore cartilage tissue, stopping the destruction process.
Sedative complex. The stress of pain makes the pain worse. Irritability and anxiety activate the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to even greater tone of muscles and blood vessels. Sedatives and sometimes antidepressants can break this vicious cycle.

As you can see, the treatment of osteochondrosis must be approached comprehensively, having studied all the nuances. It is better to turn to specialists, thus protecting yourself from mistakes.