How to recognize and treat thoracic osteochondrosis?

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

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

General characteristics of the disease

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

This feature is also the danger of the disease - its 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 affecting bone and cartilage tissue. If untreated, the pathology changes the structure of the ligaments, intervertebral discs, joints, which causes their destruction.

With the development of osteochondrosis, bone structures are affected first, then the pathological process spreads to cartilaginous structures, muscles, connective tissue. At a young age, such pathological changes provoke premature aging of the body.

Classification

Pathology is characterized by gradual progression, therefore, there are four stages (degrees), 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 movement.
2. At the second stage, the protrusion of the intervertebral discs is observed. In this case, the disc bulges into the intervertebral canal - the protrusion is usually no more than half a centimeter. At this stage, instability of the spinal column 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 dangerous. At this stage, osteophytes appear. 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 who have crossed the 40-year mark are at risk;
• various pathologies of the spine, including curvature of the spinal column;
• hereditary predisposition;
• trauma resulting in damage to the intervertebral discs;
• chronic stress;
• hypothermia;
• hormonal imbalance, material metabolism;
• impaired 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 various symptoms, and sometimes it manifests itself atypically. Most often, pathology is expressed by the following signs:

• Pain. This symptom is the main one. Painful sensations usually arise when the body is in one position for a long time, physical exertion, lifting weights. As the pathology progresses, pain can also be observed at rest, intensified due to any movement. She can be dull or aching.
• Crush in the middle of the back. In this case, it is more difficult for a person to breathe. Pain is felt when inhaling or exhaling deeply.
• Parts of the body become numb.
• There may be chills and goosebumps.
• The local temperature in the legs is decreasing.
• Itching and burning may be felt in the lower extremities.
• If the pathology affects the cardiovascular system, causing it to malfunction, this 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 disrupted, which can lead to a whole range of symptoms: nausea, heartburn, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, painful sensations in the abdomen.

Pain is one of the main symptoms of breast osteochondrosis, but it can manifest itself in completely different ways. In some cases, dorsalgia is observed - painful sensations arise at the site of the lesion and continue for a long time. In other cases, dorsal pain occurs - the pain manifests itself intensely and sharply, arises in paroxysms, constrains muscles and disturbs breathing.

The clinical picture of osteochondrosis largely depends on its stage:

1. In the first stage of the disease, a 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, protrusion can be observed, which is accompanied by pain in the thoracic region, which can also affect internal organs.
3. In the third stage of pathology, pain occurs more often. It becomes more difficult for the patient 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, a sharp pain occurs in the chest. At first, it affects only one area, but then spreads throughout 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.

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

Atypical manifestations of chest osteochondrosis include the following symptoms:

• Painful sensations in the region of the heart. Such a manifestation raises suspicions of a heart attack or angina pectoris. Sometimes this symptom lasts for several weeks.
• Concentration of pain in the abdomen, 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, an exacerbation of the disease can provoke a pulling pain in the mammary glands. In this case, there are suspicions of a malignant neoplasm.
• Violation of the genitourinary organs.
• If pathological changes are concentrated in the upper part of the thoracic region, then pain can affect the esophagus or pharynx. Patients in this case complain of the sensation of a foreign object in the throat.

Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Chest osteochondrosis is accompanied by many symptoms that are also 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 at the stage of the initial examination of the patient. Usually a neurologist deals with the problem of osteochondrosis. The doctor examines the spine in various body positions.

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

In addition, the following measures can also be applied:

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

They also resort to laboratory diagnostics. It can consist in general and biochemical blood and urine tests. Such studies are carried out for the purpose of differential diagnosis, revealing the features of pathology, associated complications.

Diagnostics is necessary not only to confirm the diagnosis, but also to differentiate osteochondrosis from other pathologies. With its atypical course, the clinical picture may resemble other pathologies that may not even be associated with the thoracic region.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

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

During an exacerbation of the disease, bed rest is required. Mobility should be limited as much as possible. Often, the pain syndrome is so strong that the patient calls an ambulance. Treatment in this case is carried out in a hospital setting.

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

When the disease is advanced, they resort to traction. This technique involves stretching the spinal column. 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. For these purposes, the following medications can be prescribed:

• The basis of drug therapy is usually non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which relieve pain and eliminate inflammation. Such medicines are prescribed in the form of ointments and gels for external use, tablets and capsules for oral administration, solution 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.
• For severe pain, use glucocorticosteroids. Usually drugs are used for intramuscular injections or applications through physiotherapy.
• For severe pain, analgesics are also used.
• In case of unbearable pain, they resort to drug blockages. Blockades are performed strictly according to indications in a hospital setting.
• Topical irritants can help reduce pain. They can be based on natural ingredients - hot pepper extract, bee or snake venom.
• To restore blood circulation in the affected area, intramuscular injections of nicotinic acid are prescribed.
• Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle tension.
• After stopping the exacerbation of the disease, drugs are often prescribed to activate metabolic processes, restore cartilage structures. This effect is provided by chondroprotectors. These medications involve a long therapeutic course that takes several months.

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

Physiotherapy and massage

With thoracic osteochondrosis, physiotherapy methods allow you to get rid of pain, restore mobility. The doctor may prescribe the following procedures:

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

Particular attention should be paid to massage for chest osteochondrosis. In the treatment of such a pathology, the following techniques can be involved:

• Classic.In this case, massage consists in light stroking, kneading, pinching, rubbing. Such treatment should be a course. One course can include up to 15 sessions, each of which lasts no more than 20 minutes.
• Spot.The impact can be made on painful or acupuncture points. The movements are performed with the fingertips in a circle with a gradual increase in pressing force.
• Canned.The use of cans allows you to create a vacuum, which increases blood circulation and lymph drainage. Cupping massage increases muscle tone, eliminates pathological reflexes, accelerates the microcirculation of various fluids in the body.
• Segmental.This massage is performed to improve blood supply to the affected area, stimulate lymphatic drainage and oxygenate tissues.

Remedial gymnastics

Physiotherapy exercises provide excellent effect in case of chest osteochondrosis. It should be done under the supervision of a specialist, but some exercises can be performed at home:

• Warm up before the remedial gymnastics. To this end, you can take a shower and do a little warm-up. It consists in hand waving, rotations, body turns.
• Lie on the floor, on your stomach. Put both hands behind the head, while spreading the elbows wide. Slowly raise your shoulders and body up. Pull up the right elbow first, then the left. Do 5 reps.
• In the same starting position, put your hands behind your back and clasp them into the lock. Performing a bend in the torso, raise your arms up without opening them. At the extreme point, you need to linger for a few seconds, smoothly return to its original position.
• Get on the floor and put your hands behind your shoulders. Raise your shoulders alternately, moving your head in the same direction.
• Lie on a hard surface, on your stomach. Stretch your arms forward while lifting the body. Do several reps, then perform the same body lifts, but with arms extended along the body.
• Sit on a chair and place both hands on your belt. Move the shoulder girdle, smoothly lifting it and lowering it to its original position. At the extreme point, you need to linger for a few seconds. Do 5 reps.
• This exercise should be done with a gymnastic stick. It is necessary to sit down and raise your arms while inhaling, holding a stick in them. On exhalation, return to the starting position and tilt the body forward.
• Get on the floor and put your hands with a gymnastic stick over your shoulders. Then tilt the body to the left and right. This exercise is contraindicated in scoliosis.
• Sit on a chair with a back, lean on it and bend back.

All exercises should be done smoothly and slowly. Abrupt movements are excluded. If an exercise is painful, you should stop doing it and get some rest. If the pain persists, then the exercise should be finished and a doctor should be consulted.

Prognosis, complications

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

The progression of osteochondrosis can lead to the development of other pathologies:

• protrusion of the intervertebral disc when it bulges into the intervertebral canal;
• intervertebral hernia - unlike protrusion, it involves rupture of the annulus fibrosus;
• stenosis of the intervertebral canal, vertebral artery;
• radiculopathy - a complex of symptoms that occurs when the roots of the spinal cord are damaged;
• kyphosis - popularly called hump and implies curvature of the spinal column with the bulge pointing backwards (sagittal plane);
• pneumosclerosis;
• shingles;
• malignant neoplasms;
• sexual dysfunction.

Prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to stop and cure the pathological changes that have already occurred.

Observance of the following preventive measures will help to avoid breast osteochondrosis:

• Maintain a normal body weight.
• Moderate physical activity. It is necessary to exercise regularly or exercise at least daily. The set of exercises must include elements to strengthen the back muscles.
• Avoiding injuries, physical overload.
• Maintaining correct posture, if necessary, carrying out its correction.
• Avoiding emotional overload, stress.
• Proper nutrition.
• Elimination of bad habits.
• Correct organization of the sleeping place. It is important to correctly select the firmness of the mattress, orienting it to your individual characteristics.
• Properly organize the workplace. If the work is sedentary, then you should take care of a chair with a high back. It is necessary to take breaks and warm up during them.
• 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 a competent treatment. All regulations must be strictly followed.