According to experts, most problems with the spine and joints can be avoided or completely cured at an early stage if simple rules are followed. It is especially important to promptly treat borderline conditions of severe pathologies of the spine and the entire skeletal system. One of them is recognized as protrusion of the thoracic spine. The disorder is considered an intermediate stage between the diagnosis of osteochondrosis and complete protrusion of the disc - a hernia.
Protrusion of the thoracic spine: symptoms, treatment and prevention
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic protrusion
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic protrusion have characteristic features. Experienced doctors working in our clinic will help you cope with this disease. Since there are few nerve formations in this area, this pathology does not manifest itself for a long time. Symptoms are muted.
A person may complain of the appearance in the chest area:
- pain;
- lumbago;
- sensory disturbances.
If the protrusion is not treated, it will progress further and compress the area of the spinal cord. The doctor can choose one of the methods:
- traditional;
- alternative;
- surgical.
It is the doctor who chooses the treatment tactics, which is based on:
- eliminating the cause that led to the disease;
- type and stage of the disease;
- normalization of the patient's functional performance.
The traditional method is the treatment of thoracic protrusion without surgery using massage, physiotherapy, painkillers, and bed rest. Manual therapy and osteopathy help to cope with the painful condition. Surgical intervention is resorted to when conservative methods do not give a positive result.
Benefits of doing exercises
Moderate dosed loads on the back muscles during gymnastics can be a good addition to the treatment of protrusion using conservative methods. The thing is that during training, more blood will flow to the back muscles, and accordingly, the nutrition of the intervertebral discs will improve.
As a result of daily training you will be able to achieve:
- returning mobility to the affected area;
- pain relief;
- eliminating stiffness in the back;
- elimination of edema.
The exercises are chosen by the doctor, since each case of the disease is individual.
Medications
Treatment of thoracic disc protrusion is impossible without medications that help relieve its acute manifestations. In these cases, the following are prescribed:
- anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs;
- means that improve microcirculation;
- vitamin complexes;
- muscle relaxants that relieve spasm of the spinal muscles.
If the disease is at a late stage, then chondoprotectors will be prescribed. Since medications can be harmful to health if taken incorrectly, you should not prescribe them yourself.
Kinds
The intervertebral disc can roughly be called round. In fact, it has a somewhat oblong shape, but this does not play a significant role in the consideration of possible types of protrusions. So, conditionally, the disk can be divided into 2 halves: front and back.
The dimensions of the intervertebral discs are almost identical to the diameter of the vertebral bodies, so together with them they form a single spinal column. Its front part adjoins the soft tissues from the chest, abdominal cavity, etc., and its back part forms the spinal canal, in which the spinal cord passes. This canal is completely protected from external influences, since on the other side (external) it is formed by the arches of the vertebrae with their processes. Therefore, all disc protrusions are divided into anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal).
Ventral protrusions are not considered dangerous. Often they do not manifest themselves and are not treated. The posterior ones, on the contrary, pose a serious threat to a person’s well-being and life, since they protrude into the spinal canal, in which each vertebra passes a pair of spinal roots and the spinal cord. Considering that the distance between the intervertebral discs and the membranes of the spinal cord is extremely small, the formation of a pathological bulge can lead to its compression and the development of complications.
Depending on which sector of the posterior part of the thoracic disc the protrusion is formed, there are:
- median protrusions - located clearly in the center of the spinal canal, therefore there are ways to provoke compression of the nerve roots on both the left and right, causing symptoms of the disease in the corresponding half of the body;
- paramedian protrusions – shifted from the center to the left or right, provoking compression of the nervous structures on the corresponding side;
- foraminal protrusions - are formed in the area of natural openings of the spine, formed by joints and intended for the exit of the spinal roots, which causes severe pain even with a small size of the protrusion;
- diffuse protrusions - the disc evenly increases in volume, compressing all anatomical structures located in the immediate vicinity.
Physiotherapy
The complex of therapeutic exercises includes exercises that eliminate bulging discs and normalize their movements. Exercises help stretch the spine, improve blood flow, and also help strengthen ligaments and muscle tissue.
Exercise therapy is performed using various techniques, which must be selected by the doctor. In our clinic, exercises are performed exclusively under the supervision of experienced medical professionals. If acute pain occurs, it is prohibited to do them. Exercises should be performed slowly and carefully.
Manual therapy and massage
Manual therapy is actively used in the treatment of this disease. When exposed to active points, the inflammatory process is eliminated, blood circulation in the problem area returns to normal. The muscle corset is also strengthened.
Doctors always prescribe a massage, which will help restore and increase circulation in diseased tissues. Also, as a result of such actions, the damaged areas begin to be more actively supplied with oxygen and nutrients, metabolism returns to normal, and cells are restored faster. To ensure that the patient’s condition is not harmed, the procedure must be performed by an experienced massage therapist. These are the specialists who work in our clinic. A non-specialist is prohibited from performing massage during protrusion of the thoracic region.
The most effective exercises for protrusion
Therapeutic exercise is one of the components of complex therapy. Its appointment must be subject to the following rules:
- Classes are allowed only during the period of remission.
- The exercises should be selected by a specialist; before performing them, the patient must carefully study the technique, following the instructions presented in the photo or video.
- During training, it is necessary to avoid pain. If they occur, the activity must be stopped.
- All movements of the patient should be smooth and slow, sudden jerks should be avoided.
- Visualizing a positive effect plays an important role in achieving the goal. While performing the exercise, the patient is advised to imagine how the size of the protrusion decreases, the normal structure of the cartilage tissue is restored, and the spine becomes strong and flexible.
A selection of exercises for thoracic protrusion
The following exercises are safe and effective:
- Starting position - feet shoulder-width apart, feet parallel to each other, arms raised up. The patient's gaze is directed straight ahead. Technique: while inhaling, the patient needs to stretch upward with the tips of his fingers until a feeling of tension in the thoracic vertebrae occurs. At the height of inhalation, hold your breath for a few seconds, then exhale and slowly return to the starting point. Repeat 7-10 times.
- The exercise is performed from a sitting position on a chair. The back is straight, the arms are connected to each other at the back of the head. As you inhale, you need to bend your back, pointing your elbows back. Hold in the maximum possible extreme position for a few seconds. As you exhale, return to the starting point. The number of repetitions is 5-10 times.
- Starting position: lying on your stomach. Palms rest on the floor at shoulder level. As you inhale, you need to slowly straighten your arms, lifting and bending your upper body. At the extreme point, linger for a few seconds, then slowly lower to the starting position. The number of repetitions is no more than 5 times.
- Starting position: lying on your stomach. While inhaling, the patient raises the upper body and legs, thereby creating a deflection of the spine. The hands remain on the floor. In the extreme position, you should linger for 3-4 seconds and smoothly lower to the floor. Number of repetitions - up to 10 times.
- Starting position: standing on all fours. As you inhale, a deflection of the back is created, and as you exhale, the spine rounds. The number of repetitions is 8-10 times.
Typically, when there is protrusion of the thoracic region, therapeutic exercises are carried out according to the principle of circular training. Each exercise is performed a certain number of times, a short pause is made, after which everything is repeated again. One training complex contains no more than 5 circles.
Exercises in the gym
When conducting classes outside a medical institution, control over the exercises should be carried out by an experienced instructor. It is necessary to monitor the load and monitor the correct technique.
Training should be aimed at correcting poor posture, reducing excess weight, and increasing muscle endurance. At the same time, a nutritional plan may be recommended to help achieve recovery.
When working out in the gym, experts advise avoiding the following exercises:
- leg press from a lying position in a machine;
- flexion and extension of the legs in the simulator (if the technique is performed incorrectly, the exercise can be an additional damaging factor);
- lifting legs in the simulator;
- swing your legs;
- horizontal pull-down from a sitting position;
- pull to the chest of the upper block;
- bench press;
- hyperextension.
The effectiveness of yoga for protrusions
Yoga is often used as exercise therapy. The benefits of her practices include gentle relaxation of the back muscles, which helps relieve painful symptoms, partially restore cartilage tissue, and reduce the size of the protrusion.
In addition to its positive effect on the spine, yoga helps relieve nervous tension and improve mood.
Kinesitherapy
One of the methods of physical therapy is kinesitherapy. It is a combination of different types of physical training - active and passive.
Active exercises involve the patient performing the exercises themselves. You can conduct such classes at home, in the gym, or in the pool. During passive training, movements are performed by a specialist. The patient is at rest.
Alternative technique S.M. Bubnovsky
In the interpretation of Dr. Bubnovsky, kinesitherapy is carried out through overcoming pain. In his opinion, this helps the patient to fully feel his body, which contributes to the rapid recovery of the affected part of the spine. Mandatory conditions for such training are:
- control of the exercises by the instructor;
- strict adherence to technique;
- compliance with safety rules.
Use of additional therapeutic techniques
Treatment of thoracic protrusion using physiotherapeutic procedures such as magnetic therapy, electrophoresis and low-frequency currents is common. During these procedures, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are used to help localize the pain and relieve difficulty in movement.
Due to the instability of the vertebrae with protrusion of the thoracic region, their significant displacement can be observed. In order to strengthen muscles and stabilize the spine, it is recommended:
- maintain bed rest;
- wear a corset;
- exclude all kinds of physical activity.
Wearing special corsets will help prevent spinal disc displacement. In some situations, it will be necessary to carry out measures aimed at stretching the spine.
This disease can lead to serious complications. To prevent this from happening, you need to seek help from the experienced specialists of our clinic. They will make an accurate diagnosis and select for each patient specific and adequate treatment for protrusion of the thoracic region and spine, which will take place under their strict supervision. If all recommendations are strictly followed, the patient is guaranteed a long period of relief from the disease and the opportunity to return to their previous lifestyle.
Sign up for a consultation
Prices in your city
Russia
- Russia
- Kazakhstan
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Uzbekistan
- Ukraine
Moscow
- Adler
- Almetyevsk
- Anapa
- Angarsk
- Arkhangelsk
- Astrakhan
- Balashikha
- Barnaul
- Belgorod
- Biysk
- Blagoveshchensk
- Bratsk
- Bryansk
- Vladivostok
- Vladimir
- Vologda
- Voronezh
- Grozny
- Ivanovo
- Irkutsk
- Yoshkar-Ola
- Kazan
- Kaliningrad
- Kaluga
- Kemerovo
- Korolev
- Kostroma
- Kotlas
- Krasnodar
- Kyzyl
- Leninogorsk
- Magnitogorsk
- Makhachkala
- Moscow
- Naberezhnye Chelny
- Nazran
- Nalchik
- Nizhnekamsk
- Nizhny Novgorod
- Novodvinsk
- Novokuznetsk
- Novosibirsk
- Omsk
- Pavlovo
- Penza
- Permian
- Petrozavodsk
- Pskov
- Pushkino
- Rostov-on-Don
- Ryazan
- Samara
- Saint Petersburg
- Saransk
- Saratov
- Sarov
- Sevastopol
- Smolensk
- Sochi
- Stary Oskol
- Sterlitamak
- Tambov
- Tomsk
- Tula
- Tyumen
- Ulan-Ude
- Ulyanovsk
- Ufa
- Khabarovsk
- Khimki
- Chelyabinsk
- Yaroslavl
Select a branch
- m. Aviamotornaya - Moscow, st. Aviamotornaya, 10, building 2
- m. Academicheskaya - Moscow, st. Dm. Ulyanova, 31
- metro station Altufyevo - Moscow, Altufevskoe highway, 70, building 2
- m. Bagrationovskaya - Moscow, st. Novozavodskaya, 27A
- m. Belorusskaya - Moscow, 1st st. Yamskogo Polya, 24
- m. Boulevard Dm. Donskoy - Moscow, st. Feodosiyskaya, 2
- metro station Butyrskaya - Moscow, 17th proezd Maryina Roshchi, 4, building 1
- m. Kashirskaya - Moscow, Kashirskoe highway, 43, building 4
- Khodynka metro station, CSKA metro station, Polezhaevskaya metro station - Moscow, Berezovaya Roshchi passage, 12
Exercises in the gym
This type of training can be aimed at stretching the muscles and increasing the space between the vertebrae. Do the following:
- find a board that is attached at an angle of 30 degrees, put your hands through the straps, lie on your stomach and hang with your whole body;
- hang on the wall bars, holding the crossbar with your hands, which you can reach with your arms outstretched;
- Lie on your stomach on a soft support and hang your arms and legs down.
When stretching, you should not feel pain, otherwise it will mean that you are damaging the structures of the musculoskeletal system.
Prices
| Consultation with a doctor on the treatment of protrusion of the thoracic spine | From 500 rub. |
| First treatment cycle (12 sessions) | From 6,500 rub. |
| Second treatment cycle (12 sessions) | From 5,900 rub. |
| One lesson | From 700 rub. |
| General massage | From 1000 rub. |
| Simple zonal taping | From 500 rub. |
| Combined zonal taping | From 800 rub. |
Based on the results of the consultation, diagnosis and/or treatment will be prescribed.
*Prices in different regions may vary; current information on the cost of services can be obtained from the center manager.