Chest osteochondrosis

Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease in which the intervertebral discs in the thoracic spine are destroyed. Since this department is the most sedentary, it is less susceptible to disease.

Thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by spasms and pain in the chest, under the ribs, shortness of breath, stabbing, cutting, sharp pain behind the sternum. Symptoms and manifestations of the disease can be similar to those of other diseases.

Symptoms

Spinal pain is the most common and superficial symptom. Of course, they do not always speak about the development of osteochondrosis in humans. Therefore, you should pay attention to other sensations in the body:

1. Unpleasant sensations and chest pains. Often, if you are sedentary, you may not notice this. But as soon as you start doing any physical activity in which breathing is accelerated, you will notice that the pain intensifies. The nature of this pain can be called shingles.
2. In addition, you may experience pain in completely unexpected places - the region of the heart, abdomen, liver. This is due to the fact that thoracic osteochondrosis tends to "disguise" as a particular disease. For example, many may confuse it with gastritis, ulcers, or angina pectoris.
3. If you notice that from time to time in the chest area you have "goosebumps", then in conjunction with other manifestations, this may indicate thoracic osteochondrosis.
4. In some cases, there may be a loss of sexual function, for example, impotence in men.

Pain in chest osteochondrosis

One of the main characteristics of this type of pain is shingles. But it is not always possible to recognize this pain from it. Here's how else it can feel and be characterized:

• most often manifests itself in the dark, behind the breastbone;
• a feeling that can be described as a "stake in the chest";
• unpleasant sensations in the hypochondrium region, both in the right and in the left;
• sensation as if there was some foreign body behind the breastbone;
• if the lesion touches only the upper part of the thoracic region, then pain can be experienced by a person in the region of the esophagus and pharynx.

Since these symptoms are still very vague and can talk about a number of other diseases, the doctor recommends an additional EKG analysis.

Influence on organs

In the process of development, this disease can have a negative effect on the internal organs, namely the lungs and heart. Here's what thoracic osteochondrosis can entail:

• effect on the heart. Mainly, it is caused by pinching of the nerve roots in the chest area. After all, it is from there that the nerve cardiac plexuses go. It is these plexuses that are involved in the regulation of the heart. The main alarm bells here are regular heart palpitations (extrasystoles), arrhythmia, tachycardia. The effect on the cardiovascular system, therefore, can manifest itself either in one of these symptoms, or in all at the same time;
• effect on the lungs. It manifests itself most often in shortness of breath and painful sensations at the same time.

Why does chest osteochondrosis appear?

Despite the fact that osteochondrosis as a whole disease is quite common, thoracic osteochondrosis is less common. The prerequisites for the onset of this disease can already be found among schoolchildren who, grimacing, sit at their desks. Because of this, children may develop scoliosis, and at a more mature age - osteochondrosis. Most of the other causes of development are closely related to scoliosis:

• violation of posture;
• metabolic disorders affecting the integrity of the intervertebral discs;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• hereditary reasons;
• spinal injury;
• static work and prolonged stay in an uncomfortable, twisted position.

How to treat?

After an accurate diagnosis has been established during the tests, the doctor prescribes special medication. In the case of chest osteochondrosis, it may include the following drugs, depending on the severity of the disease and the characteristics of its manifestation:

1. First of all, drugs are prescribed that "remove" pain and relieve discomfort. They are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or glucocorticosteroid drugs.
2. To avoid a lack of fluid in the intervertebral disc, papain is used.
3. Drugs called "chondroprotectors" are prescribed. With their help, there is a general strengthening of the cartilage tissue.
4. Drugs may be added to the list that relieve spasms of the muscles around the spine.
5. If the development of an inflammatory process is detected, then a special anti-inflammatory therapy is prescribed.

But, of course, it is impossible to heal with medicines alone. Be sure to follow a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition. These actions will be useful not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of this and many other diseases.

Exercises for chest osteochondrosis

Since lack of physical activity is one of the fundamental causes of the development of the disease, the role of exercise in this case is great. In addition, supplementing drug treatment with exercises, your body will return to normal and stabilize much faster.

There are a number of special exercises for the thoracic region. When performing them, follow the basic rules: no jerks, act slowly, smoothly, without trying to overload the body. An increase in amplitude is allowed, but only if you do not experience pain. So, what are the most effective exercises provided by physical therapy?

1. Lie on the floor on your stomach. Hands - along the body. We bend in the thoracic region - smoothly, gently. Raise your arms and head as high as you feel, but try to avoid pain. It is recommended to complete at least 5 approaches.
2. For the next exercise, we need a chair with a small, sturdy back. Sit down exactly on a chair. We exhale, bending backward on the back, while pulling our arms back. Then we return to the starting position. We repeat 10-12 times.
3. We stand up straight. Hands at seams, feet together. We take a deep breath and raise our hands up. On exhalation, we slowly bend back and lower our arms. We return to the starting position. It is recommended to do 7-9 approaches at a time.
4. Get on all fours on the floor. Slowly arch your back while inhaling, while exhaling - return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 7-10 times.
5. We lie on the floor on our stomach. Hands at the seams. Your task is to tear the body off the floor, reaching with your head towards your heels. We pull the whole body, work out the chest. The required number of approaches is 7-8.
6. We work with the upper part of the thoracic region. Starting position - hands at the seams, feet shoulder-width apart. We work with our shoulders. We raise them first together, then each separately. We twist our shoulders forward - backward, forward - backward. We carry out 10-15 approaches for each task.
7. Also, for the upper part of the thoracic region, you can perform circular movements with your hands. Starting position, as in the previous task. We stretch our arms to the sides, squeeze our palms into fists. We rotate our fists forward and backward, then rotate the hand from the elbow back and forth, then with the whole hand back and forth. We perform each part of the exercise 4-6 times, in general we repeat the exercise 2-4 times.

Exercise in the morning and evening for at least 15-20 minutes. Dilute it with a set of exercises for other muscle groups by inserting several of the above options.

Massage

Massage is also a very good remedy in the fight against osteochondrosis. Here, a therapeutic massage takes place, which is prescribed by a specialist after a thorough examination of the patient. You can also do it at home - here are several options for how this can be done.

Honey massage. We need 2-3 tablespoons of honey, preferably not candied, warm. Dip the palms in honey so that they are covered with a thin layer. We apply in the area behind the sternum and tear off sharply, repeat several times, moving the palms from place to place.

This massage should not be performed for too long as it is painful. Enough 10-15 minutes for one session. After that, the skin will turn red, it will "burn".

Classic massage. It consists of several steps, which include: stroking, kneading, vibration, rubbing. It is recommended to perform massage using a cream or ointment against osteochondrosis - it can be recommended by your attending specialist.

The duration of this massage should not exceed 20 minutes, and the general course of treatment with this method should not include more than 11-13 sessions. As a preventive measure, kneading, therefore, is also recommended for the neck, arms, shoulders, buttocks and even legs.

Home treatments

In addition, there are alternative methods for the treatment of chest osteochondrosis. For example, rubbing is very good, the base of which can also be used when performing massage. Lilac flowers, horseradish root, garlic, onions, potatoes, ficus are usually taken as a basis. Honey, vegetable oil, and sometimes cologne or alcohol are added. Everything is thoroughly mixed into a homogeneous mass and the damaged area is rubbed. For example, according to the following recipe, you can prepare rubbing from ficus leaves:

• Ficus leaves in the amount of 6-8 are passed through a grater or cut into small pieces. Placed in a container, where it is poured with 2 bottles of triple cologne. Mix. Grinding should be in a dark place for 2 weeks. Then it is necessary to use it at least 2 times a day until heat appears on the skin.

Working at a computer is one of the most important causes of osteochondrosis. If you spend a long time at the computer, it is recommended to do exercises at least every two hours.

Computer work and osteochondrosis

Performing activities at the computer every day without physical activity can lead to poor posture. This happens because the person performs static work for a long period, not giving the muscles and spine a rest and not doing any warm-up or respite. In the future, without correcting this problem, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region may develop.

To prevent this from happening, experts advise performing the so-called office charging, designed specifically for those who work at a computer most of the time.

For example, the following exercises are very good:

1. Bend in your back, pulling your arms up, throwing your head back. Feel a pleasant weight in your back. Perform after every hour of working at the computer at least 3-4 times.
2. Perform circular rotations with your head. Look left and right, tilt your head back and forth.
3. Raise your arms up - to the sides - forward - to the sides. Repeat several times.
4. Stand next to your work area, if you can, and shift from foot to foot.

Do not forget to change your position while working at the computer, then you will keep your health, spine and posture for a long time!

Strengthening the muscles of the back with osteochondrosis

Strengthening the muscles of the back is a very important part in the treatment and prevention of osteochondrosis. In order to do this, it is enough to do physical activity - exercise, go to fitness classes or the gym. Choose the option that works best for you. For example, swimming strengthens muscles well, so you can not only enjoy it, but also improve your body.