How to recognize and treat thoracic osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis in the chest is rare, but can cause many complications. It is important to make a thorough diagnosis in order to make an accurate diagnosis. Treatment should be timely and comprehensive. Preventive measures will help prevent the development of such a disease.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a degenerative disorder in cartilaginous structures. Without timely and competent treatment, osteochondrosis can cause various complications, so it cannot be ignored. Preventive measures will help to avoid such pathology.

General characteristics of the disease

Osteochondrosis is a fairly common lesion of the musculoskeletal system, but it rarely affects the thoracic region compared to other parts of the spine. This is due to the fact that this part of the spine is the least mobile, so it experiences less stress.

This feature poses a risk of disease - the symptoms are less pronounced, so patients go to the doctor with advanced osteochondrosis.

The disease is characterized by the development of degenerative and dystrophic processes. They cause pathological changes that affect bone and cartilage tissue. If left untreated, the pathology changes the structure of the ligaments, intervertebral discs, joints, causing their destruction.

With the development of osteochondrosis, they first affect the bone structures, and then the pathological process spreads to the cartilage structures, muscles and connective tissue. In youth, such pathological changes provoke premature aging of the body.

Classification

The pathology is characterized by gradual progression, so there are four stages (stages), each of which is characterized by certain clinical manifestations and complications:

1. The first stage usually involves rupture of the intervertebral disc, which can cause excessive stress or sudden movements.
2. In the second stage, a protrusion of the intervertebral discs is observed. In this case, the disc bulges into the intervertebral canal - the protrusion is usually no larger than half a centimeter. At this stage, spinal instability develops.
3. The third stage of osteochondrosis is characterized by an increase in the intensity of clinical manifestations and is often accompanied by an intervertebral hernia.
4. The fourth stage of the disease is called the most severe and most dangerous. Osteophytes appear at this stage. Their proliferation creates pressure on the spinal cord and nerve endings.

Reasons

Osteochondrosis can develop at any age. The risk of its occurrence is not related to gender.

The disease often develops against the background of the following factors:

• age - people over the age of 40 are at risk;
• various pathologies of the spine, including curvature of the spine;
• hereditary predisposition;
• trauma resulting in damage to the intervertebral discs;
• chronic stress;
• hypothermia;
• hormonal imbalance, material metabolism;
• disturbed blood circulation in the thoracic region;
• features of professional activity that create an increased burden on the thoracic region.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

The disease can have different symptoms and is sometimes atypical. The pathology is most often expressed by the following signs:

• Bol. This symptom is the main one. Painful feelings usually occur when the body is in one position for a long time, with physical effort, lifting weights. As the pathology progresses, the pain may be noticed at rest as well and intensify due to any movements. It can be boring or painful.
• Crush in the middle of the back. In this case, it is harder for a person to breathe. Pain is felt on deep inhalation or exhalation.
• Body parts numb.
• There may be chills and goose bumps.
• Local temperature in the legs decreases.
• Itching and burning may be felt in the lower extremities.
• If the pathology affects the cardiovascular system, causing its malfunction, it may be accompanied by peeling of the skin, thinning of the nail plates and increased fragility of the nails.
• With the progression of osteochondrosis, the work of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is disturbed, which can lead to a whole range of symptoms: nausea, heartburn, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, painful sensations in the abdomen.

Pain is one of the main signs of osteochondrosis in the chest, but it can manifest in completely different ways. In some cases, dorsalgia is observed - painful sensations occur in the affected area and continue for a long time. In other cases, dorsag occurs - the pain manifests itself intensely and sharply, occurs in paroxysms, restrains muscles and interferes with breathing.

The clinical picture of osteochondrosis largely depends on its stage:

1. In the first stage of the disease, rupture of the intervertebral disc is usually observed. This phenomenon is expressed by severe pain and muscle tension. The sensations are reminiscent of the effect of an electric current, the discharge of which seems to pass along the spine.
2. In the second stage, a bulge may be noticed that accompanies pain in the thoracic region, which can also affect the internal organs.
3. In the third stage of pathology, pain occurs more often. The patient finds it harder to breathe, headaches appear. The disease can slightly disrupt the work of the heart.
4. In the fourth stage, due to compression of the nerve roots, intercostal neuralgia may develop. In this case, there is a sharp pain in the chest. It initially affects only one area and then spreads to the chest. This makes breathing difficult. The patient sometimes cannot change the position of the body, the pain during various movements intensifies many times, it can be unbearable. Due to severe pain, the pupils may dilate.

The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis usually increase at night, which is associated with a long stay of the body in a horizontal position. After waking up, the symptoms become less intense or disappear altogether, but sudden movements or low body temperature can increase them.

Atypical manifestations of osteochondrosis in the chest include the following symptoms:

• Painful sensations in the heart area. Such a manifestation raises the suspicion of a heart attack or angina pectoris. Sometimes this symptom lasts for several weeks.
• Concentration of abdominal pain, resulting in severe discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract. This symptom increases with physical activity.
• Sharp spastic pain in the upper abdomen. This symptom is characteristic of gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis.
• In women, worsening of the disease can cause pulling pain in the mammary glands. In this case, there is a suspicion of a malignant neoplasm.
• Violation of genitourinary organs.
• If the pathological changes are concentrated in the upper part of the thoracic region, then the pain may affect the esophagus or pharynx. Patients in this case complain of a sensation of a foreign object in the throat.

Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Osteochondrosis in the chest is accompanied by many symptoms that are characteristic of other pathologies. A qualified specialist will be able to understand all the nuances of the clinical picture.

Diagnostics

The doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis already in the initial examination phase of the patient. Usually a neurologist deals with the problem of osteochondrosis. The doctor examines the spine in different body positions.

To confirm the diagnosis and identify the features of the pathology, they resort to instrumental diagnostics. The basic study is an X-ray.

In addition, the following measures can be applied:

• computed tomography;
• magnetic resonance imaging;
• scintigraphy;
• discography;
• electromyography.

They also resort to laboratory diagnostics. It may consist of general and biochemical blood and urine tests. Such studies are conducted with the aim of differential diagnosis, identifying features of pathology and associated complications.

Diagnosis is necessary not only to confirm the diagnosis, but also to distinguish osteochondrosis from other pathologies. With its atypical course, the clinical picture may resemble other pathologies that may not be related to the thoracic region.

Treatment of thoracic spine osteochondrosis

The disease requires complex treatment. It involves not only the use of drugs, but also various methods of physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises, massage.

Bed rest is necessary during the worsening of the disease. Mobility should be limited as much as possible. The pain syndrome is often so severe that the patient calls an ambulance. Treatment in this case is carried out in a hospital setting.

Limit movement during treatment. When bed rest is no longer needed, you can walk, but long walks are forbidden. Walking should be alternated with rest. You should also not sit in one position for long.

Traction is used in advanced disease. This technique involves stretching the spine. This allows you to increase the distance between the vertebrae, reduce the size of the intervertebral hernia and activate the nutrition of the intervertebral discs.

Drug Therapy

Various medications for breast osteochondrosis are used to relieve pain, muscle tension, and improve blood supply. The following medications may be prescribed for this purpose:

• The basis of drug therapy is usually nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve pain and eliminate inflammation. Such drugs are prescribed in the form of ointments and gels for external use, tablets and capsules for oral administration, solutions for injection. Therapy may involve the simultaneous use of several forms of drugs of the same group. The therapeutic course usually lasts 1-2 weeks.
• Use glucocorticosteroids for severe pain. Medications are usually used for intramuscular injections or applications through physiotherapy.
• Analgesics are also used for severe pain.
• In case of unbearable pain, they resort to drug blockades. Blockades are performed strictly according to the indications in the hospital environment.
• Local irritants can help reduce pain. They can be based on natural ingredients - hot pepper extract, bee or snake venom.
• Intramuscular injections of nicotinic acid are prescribed to restore blood circulation in the affected area.
• Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle tension.
• After stopping the worsening of the disease, drugs are often prescribed that activate metabolic processes, restore cartilage structures. This effect is provided by chondroprotectors. These medications include a long-term therapeutic course that lasts several months.

Only a doctor can prescribe the medication needed in a particular case. It is necessary to determine the duration and schedule of taking each drug, taking into account the compatibility of different medicinal substances.

Physiotherapy and massage

In thoracic osteochondrosis, physiotherapy methods allow you to get rid of pain and restore mobility. Your doctor may prescribe the following treatments:

• drug electrophoresis or phonophoresis, including anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs;
• magnetic therapy;
• darsonvalization;
• paraffin wax applications;
ozokeritotherapy;
• balneotherapy;
• ultrasound;
• mud therapy;
• UHF therapy.

Special attention should be paid to massage in osteochondrosis of the chest. The following techniques can be used to treat this pathology:

• Classic.In this case, the massage consists of light stroking, kneading, pinching, rubbing. Such treatment should be a course. One course can contain up to 15 sessions, each lasting a maximum of 20 minutes.
• Spot.The effect can be exerted on painful or acupuncture points. The movements are performed with the fingertips in a circle with a gradual increase in the pressure force.
• Canned.The use of cans allows the creation of a vacuum that increases blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. Kupping massage increases muscle tone, removes pathological reflexes, accelerates the microcirculation of various fluids in the body.
• Segmental.This massage is performed to improve the blood supply to the affected area, stimulate lymphatic drainage and tissue oxygenation.

Rehabilitation gymnastics

Physiotherapy exercises provide an excellent effect on osteochondrosis in the chest. This should be done under the supervision of an expert, but you can perform some exercises at home:

• Warm up before extra gymnastics. For this purpose, you can take a shower and warm up a bit. It consists of waving the hand, turning, turning the body.
• Lie on the floor, on your stomach. Place both hands behind your head while spreading your elbows wide. Slowly lift your shoulders and body up. Pull the right elbow first, then the left. Do 5 reps.
• In the same starting position, put your hands behind your back and fasten them in the lock. When bending the torso, raise your arms up without opening. At the end point you need to hold for a few seconds, returning smoothly to its original position.
• Stand on the floor and put your hands behind your shoulders. Alternately raise your shoulders, moving your head in the same direction.
• Lie on a hard surface, on your stomach. Extend your arms as you lift your body. Do a few reps, then perform the same body lifts, but with your arms outstretched along your body.
• Sit on a chair and put both hands on your belt. Move the shoulder girdle, raising and lowering it smoothly to its original position. In the end, you need to hold on for a few seconds. Do 5 reps.
• This exercise should be done with a gymnastic stick. You need to sit down and raise your arms as you inhale while holding a stick in them. On the exhale, return to the starting position and lean your body forward.
• Stand on the floor and place your hands with a gymnastic stick over your shoulder. Then tilt your body left and right. This exercise is contraindicated in scoliosis.
• Sit on a chair with a backrest, lean on it and lean back.

All exercises should be done lightly and slowly. Sudden movements are excluded. If the exercise is painful, stop doing it and rest. If the pain persists, the exercise should be completed and a doctor sought.

Prognosis, complications

Subject to timely detection and competent treatment of osteochondrosis in the chest, the prognosis is favorable. If the disease is neglected, life expectancy is reduced by about 7%.

Progression of osteochondrosis can lead to the development of other pathologies:

• protrusion of the intervertebral disc when protruding into the intervertebral canal;
• intervertebral hernia - unlike a bulge, it involves a ruptured annular fiber;
• stenosis of the intervertebral canal, spinal artery;
• radiculopathy - a complex of symptoms that occurs when the roots of the spinal cord are damaged;
• kyphosis - popularly called humpback and implies curvature of the spine in the direction of the bulge back (sagittal plane);
pneumosclerosis;
• shingles;
• malignant neoplasms;
• sexual dysfunction.

Prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to stop and cure already pathological changes.

Adherence to the following preventative measures will help avoid breast osteochondrosis:

• Maintain a normal body weight.
• Moderate physical activity. You need to exercise regularly or exercise at least daily. It is necessary to include elements to strengthen the back muscles in a series of exercises.
• Avoiding injuries, physical overload.
• Maintaining proper posture, if necessary, performing its correction.
• Avoiding emotional overload, stress.
• Proper nutrition.
• Eliminate bad habits.
• Proper organization of sleeping places. It is important to choose the right mattress strength, orienting it according to your individual characteristics.
• Organize your workplace properly. If the job is inactive, you should take care of a high-backed chair. During them, it is necessary to take breaks and warm up.
• Timely medical examinations.
• Complete and timely treatment of any pathology.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can lead to various complications that negatively affect the quality of life. It is necessary at the first signs of pathology to consult a doctor who will diagnose and prescribe competent treatment. All regulations must be strictly observed.