Treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest - drugs, physiotherapy and gymnastics

For modern people, one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system, diagnosed not only in the elderly, is osteochondrosis.It mainly affects the lumbar region, which constantly bears a heavy load, especially when walking, and the cervical region, which affects office workers and students.The chest area is affected less often, but also requires careful attention and timely initiation of treatment.

What is osteochondrosis of the chest

The primary degenerative process (destruction, loss of initial functions) occurring in the intervertebral discs, against the background of which secondary reactive and compensatory changes in the joints and ligaments gradually develop - this is how the diagnosis "osteochondrosis of the spine" is understood in official medicine.The disease is polyfactorial (multifactorial), first affecting the intervertebral disc (formation of fibrocartilaginous tissue between the bodies of a pair of adjacent vertebrae), and then:

• other parts of the spine;
• the entire musculoskeletal system;
• nervous system.

Due to the structural features of the chest area, the symptoms of the disease are similar to the clinical picture of diseases of the heart and respiratory system.Severe pain due to osteochondrosis of the chest occurs at the 2nd stage, increases with physical activity and does not always clearly indicate the back.List of symptoms for each degree of the disease:

1. Pain in the affected area or in the region of the chest on the left, similar to heart pain: constant or shooting.Convulsive muscle contractions.
2. Sharp pain in the area under the shoulder blades, can also appear between the ribs (the intercostal nerves are affected), accompanied by a feeling of pressure in the chest.It has a tendency to intensify when inhaling, when turning, bending the body.Added to discomfort when maintaining an uncomfortable position for a long time.
3. Problems with the sensitivity of the upper chest, abdomen, lower limbs, the appearance of "goosebumps" - due to damage (pinching) of the nerve roots.Development of intervertebral hernia, limitation of mobility due to kyphosis or scoliosis.
4. Hypoxia, pulmonary congestion, other dysfunctions of the respiratory system.The development of fibrosis, the transition of degenerative-dystrophic processes to the structures around the spine.Clinical picture of remission (waning).

Constant pain in the chest area occurs with osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree, which indicates the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring and depression of the nucleus pulposus, which can lead to the rupture of fibrous tissue and the formation of an intervertebral hernia.In the clinical picture of the manifestations of osteochondrosis, in addition to the compression syndrome (from compression of the roots of the spinal cord), reflex symptoms appear:

• muscle-tonic (muscle spasms leading to hypoxia and severe pain);
• neuro-dystrophic (on the background of constant irritation of the peripheral nerves from muscle spasm, paresthesia occurs: a feeling of tingling, "goosebumps", ringing in the ears, which intensifies when taking certain positions of the body);
• vegetative-vascular (spasm of blood vessels from the muscles, manifested by headache, dizziness, disruption of the functioning of internal organs and blood supply to the brain).

How to treat osteochondrosis of the chest

Most experts agree that this disease is closely related to the upright posture and the "working conditions of the spine", therefore it is partly natural for people and, above all, requires the minimization of the number of development factors.These include:

• lack of physical activity (sedentary or sedentary lifestyle);
• posture disorders;
• excessive physical activity, lifting weights;
• nervous tension, stress;
• increased load on the spine due to wearing high heels, flat feet, during pregnancy;
• slouching habit.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest includes the removal of all the above points: this will relieve the patient's condition.In addition, it is important to avoid hypothermia and not maintain an uncomfortable position for a long time.A very important nuance is the question of physical activity: therapeutic exercises should be included in the schedule of a person with osteochondrosis, but in the initial stage - under the supervision of a doctor.In addition, the treatment regimen includes:

• manual therapy (especially in the presence of curvature, pinched blood flow, if the disease is caused by an injury);
• massage courses;
• swimming;
• physical therapy;
• acupuncture;
• local and systemic drug effects.

There is no single scheme for the treatment of osteochondrosis.In some cases, it is even important to take the correct position in bed, correct the diet, and with the 4th degree of thoracic osteochondrosis, supplemented by complications (spina bifida, hemangioma), surgical intervention may be necessary.Based on the patient's complaints and the diagnostic procedures performed, an accurate therapeutic regimen is drawn up.

at home

After receiving the results of the diagnostic tests (X-rays are of particular importance), the doctor chooses the optimal regimen of conservative treatment.All procedures are performed in the hospital (physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture), and at home the following is required:

• Use local anesthetics and analgesics for pain relief.
• Take products that improve the composition of cartilage tissue.Some doctors advise taking additional vitamins for osteochondrosis of the chest (group B).
• Perform therapeutic exercises daily.
• Watch your diet.

Drug treatment

Local and systemic use of drugs is necessary both during remission and during periods of exacerbation.Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest includes eliminating the symptoms and affecting the degenerative process:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, pain relievers - to relieve inflammation and pain.Ointments, creams, tablets are used.
• Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics - relieve muscle or vascular spasm.
• Chondroprotectors - preparations of glucosamine or chondroitin, restore cartilage tissue.

The choice of drugs from each group, especially for long-term treatment, should be made with a doctor.A specialist will also tell you how much to use and whether you will need to repeat the course.

food

Dietary adjustment will also provide significant support for bone, cartilage and muscle tissue: eliminate salt, sugar (reduce the amount to a minimum) and carbonated drinks.It is recommended not to overdo it with spices, spicy and fatty foods, carefully monitor your weight, do not overeat and monitor the water balance.Strong coffee, alcohol and fried foods are prohibited.The diet should:

• to be based on protein products (milk, lean meat and fish, cottage cheese);
• have sources of chondroitin (jelly, aspic, jellied meat);
• consists of cooked or baked dishes;
• characterized by a sufficient amount of fresh vegetables and cereals.

Exercises

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis requires regular application of a complex of exercises aimed at increasing the mobility of the intervertebral joints and costovertebral joints.Its tasks include reducing pain, stiffness of the spine, strengthening the muscular corset and improving pulmonary ventilation.Simple home exercises:

• Sit in a chair while inhaling, place your hands behind your head.As you exhale, lean back, resting your shoulder blades on the back of the chair.With a new breath, return to the starting position.Do these steps 5 times.
• Get on all fours, exhale and arch your back.Count to 5, breathing evenly and return to the starting position.Repeat 10 times.
• Lie on your stomach, exhale, lift your legs and lift your chest off the floor, arching your back.Hands along the body.Count to 5, go down.Perform the exercise 10 times.

massage

The indirect and reflex impact on muscle fibers and ligaments through massage has a beneficial effect on all parts of the spine, helps relieve pain, improve lymph flow, blood circulation and muscle tone.Massage is prescribed in the subacute or chronic stage of the disease, the technique is chosen depending on the patient's condition and the presence of additional diseases.Classic scheme:

1. The patient takes a horizontal position lying on his stomach.Lightly stroke the chest area from the bottom up (from the lower edge of the shoulder blade to the neck) Duration - 1 minute.
2. The upper area (the shoulder blades) is treated with pressure and kneading (another minute).
3. On the shoulder girdle (trapezius muscles), perform stroking (8 repetitions), squeezing and rubbing (5 times each).
4. The neck is stroked for a minute and again moved to the chest area in the indicated (1-2 steps) order.
5. From the occipital bone downwards, the spine is rubbed (tight parallel lines).The duration of the stage is 1 minute.
6. Then blows are performed on the spine, kneading and again blows (another 2-3 minutes).

The massage of the chest, neck and spine always ends with stroking (soothing) movements.Recommended sequence of techniques: squeezing, rubbing, stroking.If the patient's pain hardly bothers him, the number of kneading movements can be increased and the duration of soothing movements can be reduced.The duration of the sessions is 10 minutes;in the latter (the course consists of 7-10 procedures) it is recommended to use rubbing movements as a basis.

During an exacerbation

Stress, physical overload, hypothermia, lifting weights - these factors can turn the chronic form of the disease into an acute one.The main symptoms for this are dizziness, migraines, chest pain and breathing problems.Treatment includes:

• relief of symptoms with local pain relievers and analgesics for internal use;
• bed rest;
• wearing a corset to fix the vertebrae (if there is a hernia).

If the exacerbation is severe, an ambulance should be called and hospitalization in a hospital, where the doctor will monitor the patient's condition and choose the right drugs for him.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture (acupuncture) is a leader among non-traditional methods of treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system and beyond.It is based on the impact of thin needles on active points, each of which is a complex formation of choroid plexuses, nerve endings and connective tissue.Acupuncture helps:

• stimulate the synthesis of endogenous (internal) opiates - endorphins and enkephalins, which have an analgesic effect: this leads to the elimination of pain;
• stimulate the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands, which has an anti-inflammatory effect;
• normalizes blood circulation;
• removal of swelling of the spinal nerves;
• improvement of cartilage tissue regeneration;
• relief of spasm of the paravertebral muscles.

Acupuncture will be effective only if you contact a qualified specialist: then you will not encounter side effects, you will get quick results - relief comes after the first session.The recommended course is 10 procedures.Due to the fact that the doctor often applies current through the needles, slight discomfort is possible during the process, and after removing the needles, reddish dots remain.

Manual therapy

Based on the data obtained from the X-rays, the doctor may recommend starting the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest by visiting a chiropractor.The task set before him is to restore blood circulation, the ligament apparatus and the functional state of the spine.Additional manual therapy sessions added to the main treatment regimen:

• help reduce the severity of pain;
• elimination of muscle spasms;
• slow down the rate of disease development;
• stimulate the regenerative properties of tissue cells.

In modern medicine, a new manual technique - postisometric muscle relaxation (PIR) - has become particularly popular in recent years.It is based on soft and gentle stretching, stimulating simultaneous contraction of the entire muscle, after which it relaxes completely.The technique is suitable for situations in which, due to uneven contraction of the muscle tissue, the functioning of the joint surrounded by it is disturbed, which leads to limitation of its movement.

During pregnancy

High loads on the spine, fluctuations in hormones, water and electrolyte balance, especially from the 2nd trimester, lead to exacerbation or appearance of osteochondrosis in pregnant women.The treatment regimen is chosen exclusively by the doctor;should include:

• wearing a corset to support the back;
• choosing comfortable shoes (reducing the load on the spine);
• local use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• performing therapeutic exercises.

People's funds

In addition to the main treatment regimen, you can add several non-traditional methods for local and systemic effects on osteochondrosis.Most of them are allowed both in the acute and chronic stages, but keep in mind that any drug can cause side effects associated with the individual non-transferability of specific products.Effective options:

• Take 2 hot chili peppers, cut them together with the seeds, mix with a glass of vegetable oil.Insist in a glass container for 5 days (in a dark place).Apply by gently rubbing into the affected area, up to 2 times a day, without covering anything.This ointment should not be applied to skin with wounds or abrasions.It is not used for long-term treatment - only for severe pain.
• Boil some peeled large potatoes and mash them.You can add some oil.Spread this mass on a threefold folded gauze and apply on the affected area.Cover this area with a woolen scarf.The compress is kept until it cools down, the procedure is repeated every night.Treatment lasts 3 weeks.

Celery root

To relieve unpleasant symptoms (pain caused by muscle spasms), you can take a course of celery-based medicines.The simplest thing is to grate the peeled fresh root and squeeze it through cheesecloth or pass it through a juicer to extract juice.Drink 1 tbsp.l. before meals 3 times a day.Duration of treatment - 3 weeks.Alternative: pour 2 tbsp.l. the resulting juice with a glass of boiling water, let it stand for 2 hours.Drink 1 tbsp.l also before meals, up to 4 times a day.The treatment lasts one month.

sunflower root

Decoctions and tinctures of sunflower root have a good effect on pain in any lesions of the musculoskeletal system.It can be used both topically and internally;in addition, it will be useful for the gall bladder and nervous system.Simple recipes:

• Crush the roots, pour 200 g of the resulting powder into 1.5 liters of cold water.Remove from heat after boiling, leave for 3 hours, wrapping the dish in a towel.Use for compresses applied 1-2 times a day until it cools down.The course of treatment is 3 weeks.
• Take 2 liters of water per 100 g of crushed sunflower roots and simmer for 10 minutes.Wait until the broth cools.Drink half a glass before meals 3-4 times a day, warmed before intake.The course of treatment lasts 3 weeks.

Homemade ointment

Local effects on the musculoskeletal system are mainly friction and ointments that can be prepared at home.Honey and vegetable oils are used as a base;alcohol or vodka is added to some compositions.All topical treatment products are applied to undamaged skin in small amounts 1-2 times a day.The most effective recipe:

1. Combine camphor with mustard 1:1.
2. For 100 g of the resulting mixture, take 100 ml of alcohol and 100 g of egg white (raw, beaten).
3. Store the ointment in the refrigerator for 2 weeks, rub into the affected areas at night (take out a small amount beforehand to warm to room temperature), then cover your back with gauze and a woolen scarf.Treatment lasts 2 weeks.