D4 syndrome

D4 syndrome is commonly known as middle back pain. The patients affected by this syndrome have pain between neck and the lumbar region (Lower back). Initially the pain occurs in the central position of the back, then gradually spreads to the lateral portion (side) of the chest. In some cases the pain may even be felt in the centre of chest causing breathing difficulty.

Reason: While driving we tend to berid a little forward coupled with this when the vehicle jolts in a pit it forces out body to bend downwards causing the posterior back ligament to stretch and lose its elasticity. The inter vertebral disc can also slip posteriorly (back wards) and it compresses the spinal cord causing pain. Whenever normal positioning of the bone is disturbed out body tends to deposit osteophytes (bone forming cells). This deposition of osteophytes compresses the nerves which branch from the spinal cord causing radiating pains in the chest. If this osteophytes compress the respiratory nerves, the patient will get some breathing problem. Problem similar to above can also be caused by wrong posture.

Bending forward creates angulation in the 4th thoracic vertebra (middle back) resulting pain in scapula region. Thus it is called D4 syndrome.

Treatment: In combined therapy, homoeopathic medicines, machines like shortwave diathermy ultrasound and special manipulation techniques are used. In physiotherapy ultrasound and shortwave diathermy are the effective treatment to remove the osteophytes. The vibration from the ultrasound and the electromagetic waves from the shortwave diathermy remove the osteophytes.

In addition, by effective manipulation we can rearrange the vertebrae to normal alignment. To maintain the normal positioning of the vertebrae the patient should do muscle strengthening exercises regularly. In these cases, traction treatment is not effective. Homeopathic medicines like Kali carb, pulsatilla, Cal Carb. Rhus tox can reduce the pain and inflammation immediately. They prevent the recurrence also.