Cervicothoracic osteochondrosis: symptoms and treatment with medicines

Pain in the spine may occur for various reasons. Rarely can anyone boast that they do not know what back pain is. One of the most common causes of such pains is osteochondrosis. In this article, we will consider in more detail such pathology as chest osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatment with medications of this ailment will also be considered.

What is osteochondrosis?

This prolifactorial disease is associated with degenerative changes in the ligamentous apparatus of the spine segment. Primarily, it affects the intervertebral disc, if the time does not take action, then the disease leads to reactive and compensatory changes in the osteo-ligamentous apparatus and other parts of the spine.

With osteochondrosis, a whole complex of dystrophic changes occurs in the cartilaginous tissue of the joint. Such processes can occur in almost any joint. But intervertebral discs are affected most often.

Depending on the area of localization, osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral parts is distinguished. Also, there is often a simultaneous lesion of some two or more parts of the spine, for example, cervicothoracic or lumbosacral spine .

Anatomical features of the cervicothoracic

The cervical region is the most movable part of the spine. It is connected on the one hand with the relatively static thoracic region, and on the other - through the atlanto-occipital articulation with the skull.

The thoracic region consists of 12, and the cervical region consists of 7 vertebrae. To each separate vertebra corresponds a certain segment of the spinal cord, which consists of two pairs of roots. They, in turn, are connected to the spinal nerve.

Because of its anatomical features, this section of the spine suffers quite often. People who are often forced to be in the same position (office workers, students) often have cervicothoracic osteochondrosis. Symptoms and how to treat it, we will analyze below. In the meantime, consider the pathogenesis of the disease.

Pathogenesis

With dystrophic changes of intervertebral discs or damage, they become thinner and the adjacent vertebrae move relative to each other. The clearance between the vertebrae decreases and the nerve fibers are infringed . This is accompanied by pain, swelling and inflammation. In this case, the patient's movements can be severely restricted.

In addition, the blood vessels that supply the intervertebral discs in such processes, as well as in physiological aging, are reduced. Their lumen is reduced, with depletion of intervertebral discs. The cartilaginous tissue loses its elasticity, its consistency and shape changes. Incorrect diet this condition exacerbates.

Causes

All the causes of osteochondrosis are not fully understood. Most often, the first symptoms of this disease begin to manifest themselves by 30-35 years. All kinds of back injuries, vibration and heavy physical activity can contribute to the development of the disease. Practically all professional drivers have this ailment. It is allocated to this group of people as a professional disease.

In recent years, more and more young people complain of back pain. Osteochondrosis now occurs in the age of 16 to 30 years. This is promoted by hypodynamia, excess weight, flat feet and violation of posture among young people. Next, consider a common disease - chest osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatment with medications and other methods. But first things first.

The main reasons for the development of this disease can be called:

• Low-activity lifestyle (hypodynamia).
• Injuries of the spine.
• Disturbance of posture and instability (hypermobility) of segments of the spinal column.
• Heavy physical exertion, especially associated with jerky movements and lifting of weights.
• Violation of metabolic processes.
• Excess weight.
• Weakened immunity.
• Infections, frequent colds and hypothermia.
• Endocrine diseases.
• Cardiovascular pathology.
• Genetic predisposition (heredity).
• Unbalanced nutrition and drinking disorders. Especially the development of the disease contributes to the lack of trace elements and water.
• Bad ecology.
• Smoking.
• Mental overstrain and stress.
• In women: pregnancy and high heels.

Thoracic osteochondrosis: causes, symptoms

How to treat this disease, we will consider a little lower. In the meantime, let's talk about the signs of the disease. Symptomatology of the thoracic department of osteochondrosis is very diverse. This disease is sometimes confused with vegetovascular dystonia, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, impaired cerebral circulation, etc. Consider the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest. Among the signs of this disease are:

• Pain in the back between the shoulder blades, very often it rests in the neck, shoulder girdle and arms. Sometimes patients can not turn their necks. The pain is very intense. Often joins a strong headache and dizziness.
• Painful sensations in the chest strengthen at the height of inspiration.
• Paresthesia (unpleasant sensations in the form of numbness, tingling, tingling) in the neck, chest, abdomen.
• There may be noise in the ears and flies before the eyes.
• Heartache.
• Disorders of emotional state and sleep.
• Limitation of movements of the upper limbs.
• Increase or decrease in blood pressure.
• In men, there may be a violation of potency.

Such symptoms are caused by narrowing of the spinal canal due to dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs, inflammatory processes and edema.

Chest osteochondrosis: types, symptoms, treatment

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest were examined. It should be noted that the pain syndrome can be of two kinds. Allocate dorsago and dorsalgia.

Dorsago is also called a thoracic chamber. This pain arises suddenly, and it is very strong. Patients note that it even hurts to breathe. There is limited movement (it is impossible to raise arms) and muscle tension. As a rule, such pain can arise at the moment of getting up in people who have to sit at the table for a long time, bowing their heads. This pain does not last long.

What can not be said about dorsalgia. In this case, the opposite is true. It appears gradually. Painful, dull and prolonged. It can disturb for 2-3 weeks. Strengthening of painful sensations occurs at a deep inspiration or inclinations. There is a limitation of movement and muscle tension. At night, the intensity of pain in dorsalgia increases, and in the morning, after awakening and some warm-up, it becomes barely noticeable.

Diagnostics

Even with such a variety of symptoms, the specialist can easily diagnose "osteochondrosis of the chest." Diagnosis and treatment of this ailment is usually performed on an outpatient basis.

Diagnostics include examination of a neurologist, anamnesis, ultrasound and x-ray examination of the cervico-thoracic spine. If necessary, the doctor can prescribe a magnetic resonance imaging or computer tomography to diagnose a disease such as chest osteochondrosis. Symptoms and treatment with medications and other modern methods of this pathology will be considered further.

Methods of treatment

Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis is complex. It is aimed at eliminating the pain syndrome, as well as relieving inflammation of the edema and preventing dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc and vertebral structure disorders. In case of ineffectiveness of the measures taken, on special indications, operative treatment is performed.

For treatment of osteochondrosis the following methods of treatment are used:

1. Medicamentous therapy.
2. Therapeutic blockades.
3. Physiotherapy.
4. Physiotherapy.
5. Massage.
6. Manual therapy.
7. Tract (stretching) of the spine.
8. Reflexotherapy.
9. Moxotherapy (thermal effect on active points).

Medication Therapy

The treatment of osteochondrosis with medicines is aimed primarily at removing pain, as well as reducing edema, inflammation and improving metabolic processes. For these purposes, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anesthetics and steroid hormones are used. These drugs are used in tablet form or in the form of intramuscular or intravenous administration. Good results are given by medicines: "Ketanov", "Ibuprofen", "Ketolong", "Indomethacin", etc.

The pain of paravertebral novocain blockades is well-stopping . They are conducted by a doctor in a hospital.

In addition, vitamin complexes, for example, vitamins of group B, etc. are necessarily prescribed. To treat this disease, immunostimulants and medications are used that promote the normalization of tissue metabolism.

There are specific drugs that can enhance the regeneration of the affected cartilage. These include: "Glucosamine", "Chondroitin sulfate".

In cases of disturbances in the emotional state and sleep, tranquilizers and sedatives are prescribed. In pharmacies, they are only released on prescription.

If there are brain disorders, then drugs are used: "Pyracetam", "Actovegin", etc.

We examined the often occurring disease of chest osteochondrosis: symptoms and treatment with medications, now I want to say a few words about other fairly effective methods of treating this disease.

Massage and manual therapy

Massage during the exacerbation of the disease is not assigned. It is used only after the removal of acute pain syndrome.

Manual therapy is allowed to be performed with pain syndrome, especially chronic, but it should only be done by a specialist. Often after several sessions, the pain syndrome is completely removed.

Reflexology

An effective method of treating osteochondrosis is acupuncture (acupuncture). It allows you to eliminate excessive hypertonic muscle and restore the amplitude of movements, as well as improve blood supply.

Usually, reflexotherapy is carried out together with physiotherapy, manual therapy or moxotherapy. All these modern methods of treating osteochondrosis give positive results.