Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative spinal diseases, including
The intervertebral discs become dystrophied, deformed, and gradually disappear.This can cause pain and many unpleasant consequences, even leading to disability in severe cases.It is important to pay attention to your own health and seek medical advice promptly if you develop suspicious symptoms.
The cervical and thoracic vertebrae are less affected than the lumbar vertebrae, but osteochondral disease in these areas may have serious consequences.Because the cervical spine is close to the head, it can sometimes invade the blood supply of the brain, causing many complications.In addition, these changes can cause damage to the nerve roots, causing severe pain and numbness to the patient.
Causes
Osteochondrosis occurs in many people, especially now, when urban dwellers suffer from a severe lack of adequate physical activity, proper nutrition and posture.Possible causes of the development of osteochondrosis of the neck and chest include:
- age-related changes;
- Genetic tendency;
- A sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity;
- Postural disorders;
- Severely overweight;
- Injuried;
- overload;
- flat feet and other musculoskeletal system defects;
- stress and bad habits;
- Hypothermia on the back and long exposure to the cold.
Recently, more and more young people have begun to develop osteochondria, which is mainly related to an unhealthy lifestyle.
Symptoms of cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis
Like most chronic diseases, osteochondrosis in the neck and chest areas is quite concealed and does not appear immediately.In the early stages, patients may not notice anything other than periodic discomfort in the spine, but symptoms worsen as the disease progresses:
- Pain in the head or neck, sometimes extending to the shoulder girdle and upper limbs. Depending on the course of the disease, it may be acute pain or soreness or dull pain that manifests during menstruation;
- Dizziness, impairment of vision and hearing, motor coordination;
- Numbness, burning or tingling in the upper limbs;
- Asymptomatic, fatigue, loss of normal working ability;
- Intercostal neuralgia, heart pain, decreased pressure.
Most negative symptoms are caused by the fact that deformed areas of the spine squeeze blood vessels and nerve roots, therefore, their normal function is disturbed.Later, if you leave it untreated, this complication can lead to serious malfunctions and even disability in the body.
Diagnosis and treatment
Doctors began to suspect osteochondrosis in the patient based on his complaints and collected tumors.To confirm or refute the diagnosis, experts prescribe diagnostic measures, which are mainly X-rays of the spine in direct and lateral projections.To obtain more detailed information, CT and MRI are performed: they help track complications.
This treatment is prescribed comprehensively through osteocartilage degeneration in the cervical and thoracic vertebrae.Generally, it includes several main directions:
- Drug treatment mainly involves painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, which can relieve pain.In addition, it is usually prescribed to strengthen the muscle spasm of cartilage tissue and B vitamins, cartilage protectors, to clear the state of nerve tissue.
- Physical therapy includes massage and other procedures (ultrasound, magnetic therapy, etc.) designed to improve spinal status and eliminate limits on mobility;
- Therapeutic sports allow you to activate blood flow, strengthen muscles, thereby removing excess load on the spine, allowing the body to adjust and regulate posture; it also helps reduce pressure on nerve roots.
The process of stretching the spine, applied regularly, aims to return the original shape.