Osteochondrosis of the chest: symptoms, causes, extent

In just 24-36 sessions, depending on the intensity of treatment and the stage of the disease, you will be free of pain from osteochondrosis of the chest, able to sleep normally and live a fulfilling life

It's important to understandIf osteochondrosis of the chest is detected, it is necessary to select a separate set of therapeutic exercises, study the technique of their implementation and exclude exercises with contraindications.With this diagnosis, it is important to attend therapy regularly, undergo a complete course of treatment in a specialized center, and later you need to keep yourself healthy in a preventive way.

Osteochondrosis is a fairly common and serious disease.The danger with it is that, in its initial stages, it may not manifest itself in any way, or it may masquerade as another condition.This condition is particularly common in thoracic osteochondrosis.At this location, the vertebrae's connections are less mobile, so degenerative processes rarely occur here.However, if osteochondrosis occurs in the thoracic spine, it will cause obvious symptoms and severe pain.

The pathogenesis of osteochondrosis

Recently, osteochondrosis has not only been diagnosed in the elderly as before. This pathology is becoming increasingly common among young people.This is due to characteristics of lifestyle and nutrition. After all, osteochondrosis occurs due to interruption of metabolic processes and blood circulation.There are many reasons for this, but one of the most common is a lack of physical activity and a sedentary job.It is a degenerative dystrophic pathology characterized by the progressive destruction of the intervertebral discs. They lose water and nutrients, and the cartilage tissue dries out and begins to break down.As a result, the discs no longer function as shock absorbers and the vertebrae move closer together and begin to collapse.In the thoracic region, this process rarely occurs because the load on the discs here is small. However, various injuries, metabolic disorders and blood circulation disorders can lead to the occurrence of thoracic osteochondrosis.And, it is here that the disease is particularly severe. After all, there are a lot of nerve endings here leading to the internal organs.

possible complications

The danger of thoracic osteochondrosis is that it begins unnoticed. There is usually little to no pain in the first stage, and any pain that occurs may be confused with stomach or heartache.Therefore, many patients are unsuccessfully treated long-term for gastritis or angina until a thorough examination is performed. X-rays of the spine will help identify disc space narrowing and suspect the development of osteochondrosis.If this is not done and treatment is not initiated, the disease will progress rapidly. The destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disc can only be prevented by special methods. The disk itself cannot be recovered. Furthermore, in the chest area, the process proceeds faster because the blood supply to the tissues here is poorer due to the lower mobility of the spine.Therefore, if left untreated, osteochondrosis can lead to serious complications. It can cause the following conditions:

• Herniation or intervertebral hernia;
• spinal cord compression;
• intercostal neuralgia;
• Biliary dyskinesia;
• Intestinal, liver or pancreatic disease;
• heart disease.

Typical signs and symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

Everyone who is susceptible to spinal disease should know how osteochondrosis manifests itself. If the typical symptoms are not ignored, treatment can be started on time and the progression of the pathology can be prevented.The main sign of spinal damage is pain associated with physical activity. They are not strong at first, appear at night and disappear after rest.Additionally, the pain may worsen when you take deep breaths, raise your arms, turn your torso, or lift heavy objects. And it usually starts in one place before spreading throughout the chest.Due to the painful sensation, the muscles in the area undergo spasm, making it difficult for the patient to move. The pathology is often accompanied by intercostal neuralgia.

What can be confused with thoracic osteochondrosis?

The disease can only be cured in its early stages. The problem is that thoracic osteochondrosis is difficult to diagnose promptly, and its symptoms are often confused with other conditions.It is not always accompanied by typical symptoms. Some patients experience no back pain or intercostal neuralgia.Occasionally, thoracic osteochondrosis presents with atypical symptoms that are characteristic of other diseases. Most often it is confused with pathologies of internal organs.

• Its performance is basically similar to that of angina pectoris. Increased heart pain when breathing in, shortness of breath, and inability to lift arms forced the patient to take heart medication. But there was no relief, and the electrocardiogram did not show any disturbance in heart function.
• Sometimes there is pain that resembles symptoms of peptic ulcer, gastritis, or pancreatitis. But they don't worsen after eating, as these conditions do, but after physical activity.
• Women may notice breast pain.
• Lesions in the upper chest can cause a lump in the throat and difficulty swallowing.

Osteochondrosis of the chest can cause nausea, difficulty breathing, and even suffocation.Numbness or tingling in the upper extremities, muscle weakness, and the inability to lift the arm or move it to the side often occur.

Causes of Osteochondrosis of the Chest

Often, in order to accurately diagnose a disease, it is necessary to consider its possible causes. People with genetic predispositions, excess weight, and bad habits are prone to developing this condition.Examination of the spine is also recommended for patients with various endocrine and metabolic disorders, circulatory diseases, and diabetes.Thoracic osteochondrosis most commonly occurs in people over 45 years of age. At this time metabolic processes slow down and the tissues are starved of nutrients.Additionally, physical activity is reduced, causing the muscles of the spine to weaken.But there are other causes of osteochondrosis in the chest area:

• Back injuries, bruises, or sprains;
• Regular weight lifting and strenuous physical activity;
• Axial inflorescence;
• Sitting in an incorrect posture for long periods of time, such as when working at a computer or driving a car.

What are the degrees of disease?

Thoracic osteochondrosis is a chronic pathology. It develops slowly but constantly.In order to choose the right treatment, doctors distinguish several stages of the disease. They have characteristic symptoms and require specific treatments.

• Stage 1 osteochondrosis causes little to no pain. If it occurs, it occurs after physical activity.
• In the second stage, the pain becomes more severe. In fact, as the discs gradually break down and the vertebrae move closer to each other, this can cause nerve roots to become pinched. In this case, neurological symptoms and signs of internal organ dysfunction occur.
• Intervertebral hernia often occurs in the third stage of osteochondrosis. A ruptured disc can put pressure on blood vessels and nerves, causing severe pain and other health problems. The mobility of the spine is greatly limited in this area.
• The final stage of pathology is characterized by complete destruction of the intervertebral disc. Osteophytes appear on the vertebrae, and sometimes they become completely fused together. Every movement of the patient causes him pain, so this stage of the disease often leads to disability.

Why should you see a doctor right away?

Some patients ignore the first symptoms of the disease. They mistake mild back pain and muscle weakness for overexertion. After the break, they continued their normal lifestyle. As a result, the disease can progress, leading to serious complications.Reduced shock-absorbing function of the intervertebral discs can lead to curvature of the spine. Thoracic kyphosis is often present. As a result, there is pressure on the chest and difficulty breathing.Without prompt medical attention, the disc may completely collapse. This causes the vertebrae to converge and squeeze the nerve endings. With every movement, the vertebrae begin to collapse due to friction, making the condition worse. This can lead to spinal cord damage and paralysis of the body below the damaged vertebrae.

prevent disease

To prevent serious pathological complications, prompt medical attention is required. The sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance of stopping the degenerative process completely.This is best done with the help of exercise therapy. During the initial stages of pathology, as well as during prevention, this method will help strengthen the muscle bundles of the spine and improve the blood supply to the intervertebral disc tissue.The specialists of the Modern Movement Therapy Center will help people with degenerative tendencies to prevent the development of degenerative processes. After all, moderate physical activity is necessary to maintain a healthy spine.An individually designed daily program as well as special exercises and diet will help avoid disc destruction and complications of the procedure.

How does treatment work?

History collection - analysis of the disease, identification of limitations and contraindications, explanation of principles of exercise therapy, characteristics of the recovery period.Myofascial Diagnosis is a manual diagnostic method in which a doctor can assess a joint's range of motion and identify painful tightness, swelling, muscle hypotonia or hypertonia, and other changes. Functional diagnosis (conducted in the recovery room) - the doctor explains how to perform certain exercises on the equipment and observes: how the patient performs these exercises, the range of motion he can perform, which movements cause pain, the weight the patient can tolerate and the cardiovascular systemHow to react to work together. Vascular system. Identify problem areas. The data is entered into the card. The accent is set.Based on the results of the doctor's preliminary examination and functional diagnosis, a preliminary individualized treatment plan will be formulated.It is recommended that you bring:

• Spinal pain - MRI or CT (magnetic resonance or computed tomography) of the problem area;
• Joint pain – X-ray;
• Presence of concomitant diseases - medical history or outpatient card extract;
• Comfortable (athletic) clothes and shoes

Take classes with a coach

At the beginning of a treatment cycle, the doctor and patient create a treatment plan that includes treatment dates and times, follow-up visits with the doctor (usually 2-3 times per week).The basis of the treatment process is the use of simulators in the recovery room and treatment in the gym.Rehabilitation simulators allow you to accurately adjust the load on individual muscle groups to provide an appropriate physical activity program. Treatment plans are individually formulated by doctors based on each patient's physical characteristics. Supervision is provided by qualified lecturers. During all stages of recovery, it is important to follow correct movement and breathing techniques, know your weight standards when working on exercise equipment, adhere to prescribed treatment regimens and follow expert advice.Joint gymnastics classes help restore visual coordination, improve joint range of motion and spinal elasticity (flexibility) and are an excellent self-use preventive system.Each treatment cycle consists of 12 sessions. Each class is supervised by an instructor. The duration of a treatment ranges from 40 minutes to 1. 5 hours. Instructors will develop plans taking into account comorbidities and the patient's condition on the day of class. Teach practice techniques and monitor correct execution. Every sixth session, there is a second consultation with the doctor, where changes and additions to the plan are made based on the dynamics.How many cycles are needed? – individually for each personIt's important to know:

• How long have you had this problem (stage of disease)
• How your body prepares for physical activity (whether you do gymnastics or any sport).
• What result do you want.

If the disease is in its early stages and the body is ready, one treatment cycle is enough. (For example - young people of 20-30 years who participate in sports. We focus on their exercise techniques, breathing, stretching and exclude "wrong" exercises that are harmful to the problem areas. Such patients are trained and "cared for"body" techniques, accept advice as your condition worsens and continue to learn on your own).