Breast osteochondrosis is a difficult condition to diagnose. It is less common than cervical and lumbar spine lesions 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 exact diagnosis immediately: depending on the symptoms, severe diseases of the heart, large vessels, lungs are close to osteochondrosis - and vice versa: osteochondrosis can manifest itself similar to pulmonary or pulmonary onescardiac symptoms.
The pain can be belt-shaped, radiate into the shoulders, under the shoulder blades in the form of a lumbago, intensified with a deep breath. Possible aching chest pain manifested in an uncomfortable posture and tilting of the body. Pain in the left side of the chest resembles a heart attack, and in the right hypochondrium - cholecystitis. The paravertebral muscles are usually tense, numbness, creeping crawling in the chest, stomach and arms often occurs.
The spinal canal in the chest area is quite narrow, so even small hernias or protrusions that are formed in osteochondrosis can compress the spinal cord. All of this disrupts the quality of life, affects performance, affects the emotional sphere.
Treatment of breast osteochondrosis must be timely and competently to prevent the progression of the disease and the development of complications. You should know that it is impossible to completely cure thoracic osteochondrosis. However, it is entirely possible to ensure that the illness causes a person a minimum of problems. It is important to change your lifestyle, introduce new habits, exercise, and follow treatment recommendations. And then osteochondrosis will not make itself felt.
Risk factors for developing breast osteochondrosis
- Sedentary lifestyle. Osteochondrosis affects people with sedentary work, forced posture at work, for example at a computer desk, a sewing machine, people who do not recognize physical activity. The muscles that support the spine are hypotrophied and the static load increases.
- Obesity. The higher the weight, the greater the load on each vertebra.
- Smoking. This bad habit leads to an interruption in the blood supply to tissues, including vertebrates.
- Excessive, incorrectly dosed physical activity. These include lifting and carrying weights, jumping, and running frequently.
- Postural disorders, scoliosis. These diseases of the spine lead to degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, muscle tension.
Treatment of breast osteochondrosis
- Drug Therapy:
- anti-inflammatory drugs - they relieve pain and swelling of the soft tissues. Local forms in the form of gels, ointments, creams can be useful with intercostal neuralgia;
- Anesthetics - injected paravertebrally to block pain and relieve muscle spasms;
- Glucocorticosteroids - these hormonal drugs are used in the form of paravertebral blocks when other drugs are ineffective;
- Muscle relaxants - relieve painful muscle spasms;
- Antidepressants - help relieve the psycho-emotional stress inherent in osteochondrosis;
- Group B vitamins - nourish nerve formations and thus fight neurological disorders. In the treatment of osteochondrosis, preparations containing vitamins B1, B6 and B12 are used;
- Chondroprotectors - can somewhat suspend the process of destruction of the intervertebral discs and improve bone metabolism. It is better to inject them directly into the paravertebral tissues, since oral drugs must be taken for a long time and in high dosages.
- Physical therapy. Physiotherapeutic methods act locally on the focus of the disease - relieve pain, spasms, improve blood circulation, nutrition of tissues. For breast osteochondrosis, the doctor may prescribe magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, UHF, laser therapy.
- Massage. A massage of the collar area, chest area and hands is performed. In the event of an exacerbation, it is advisable not to start the massage on the first day and to do it sparingly at first. It is necessary to achieve relaxation of the spasmodic muscles. In the painless time, the massage technique changes - the techniques become more intense. In addition to the usual, you can do point effects. In the case of breast osteochondrosis, manual and vacuum massage, vibration massage are useful. These types can be combined or alternated.
- Physical therapy. Conducting special therapeutic exercises on a daily basis will help prevent or reduce the frequency of exacerbations of thoracic osteochondrosis. For example, you can do the following exercises:
- while sitting in a chair, put your hands behind your head and inhale, then bring your shoulder blades together and touch the back of the chair (exhale). Repeat 10-15 times;
- Get on all fours and slowly bend your back, like a cat, stay in this position for a few seconds. Then bend your back up and stay in this position as well. Repeat 15-20 times;
- In the supine position, lift your head and arms close to your body, hold for a few seconds and return to the 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;
- Relief of the spine. It is carried out on a special table, massage table with rollers. Underwater traction is also possible. Soft tissues are stretched, while the intervertebral discs are relieved.
- Post isometric relaxation. It is performed by a massage therapist or rehabilitation therapist who is familiar with this technique. The method allows you to relax the spasmodic back muscles.
- Acupuncture. Allows you to relieve muscle spasms and relieve pain.
- Hirudotherapy. With the help of biologically active substances secreted by the leech, blood circulation improves, the pain syndrome decreases, and inflammation of the soft tissues is stopped.
What you can do yourself to prevent and treat breast osteochondrosis
- Try to avoid static poses. If you're at a computer or work machine, take a break with a warm-up every hour and a half. Stretch, do breathing exercises, bend your head forwards, backwards, sideways, swing your arms, curl your torso. The work chair should have a comfortable backrest that follows the curves of the spine. You can put a special orthopedic pillow on it. The seat should be firm and the height of the chair should be the length of the lower leg. Requirements are placed on the table - the table top is usually at the level of the elbow of the bent arm.
- It is advisable to sleep on an orthopedic mattress so that the natural curves of the spine are respected.
- Carrying excessive weights is not recommended, but if necessary, squat or kneel to lift the weight off the floor. Wear the garment with your back straight and distribute it evenly over both hands.
- With osteochondrosis, it is necessary to maintain body weight, eat less fried fatty foods, exclude carbonated drinks and alcohol.
- Sports like swimming and skiing are very useful. Do sports regularly.
The optimal course of treatment for thoracic osteochondrosis should include several complementary methods. The treatment program is put together individually. It is important to relieve pain, improve tissue nutrition, relieve intervertebral discs, relax spasmodic muscles, and strengthen the muscle corset. For these purposes, the therapy must be repeated, but at least twice a year, supplemented by daily therapeutic exercises, systematic swimming and spa treatments.
Which doctor should you contact?
If symptoms of chest osteochondrosis appear, you should see a neurologist. As a rule, if necessary, an examination by a neurosurgeon is also prescribed - a therapist, cardiologist, rheumatologist, pulmonologist to rule out concomitant diseases. Physical methods are important in treating the disease, so it makes sense to seek advice from a nutritionist, physical therapy, physiotherapy, and massage specialist.