Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine are a kind of human payment for walking. It is known that other mammals do not suffer from osteochondrosis, as their spine is located horizontally on the surface of the earth. Vertical loads while walking lead to the gradual destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs and contribute to the displacement of the vertebrae in a dangerous position.
In the chest region, such processes occur less frequently than in the sacrum and cervix, but this does not reduce the risk of this disease. This article will discuss in detail the issues of symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis in the chest region, as well as items related to the prevention of this disease.
Characteristics of thoracic osteochondrosis
The thoracic spine is characterized by low mobility, which reduces the likelihood of degenerative processes in this area. However, cases of this disease are regularly recorded by orthopedists and traumatologists in representatives of different age groups.
In recent decades, there has been a steady increase in the incidence of osteochondrosis in civilized countries. Doctors believe that the main reasons for this trend are an inactive lifestyle, poor diet and general environmental background on the planet.
Women suffer from thoracic osteochondrosis 2-3 times more often than men. This is due to the peculiarities of female anatomy and physiology. Additional influencing factors are: childbirth, walking on the heel, general weakness of the musculo-ligament apparatus in women.
In both sexes, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region causes painful symptoms and reduces range of motion. The progression of the pathology is fraught with compression of the nerve endings, which inevitably affects the condition of the internal organs. Advanced cases of the disease are often accompanied by disturbances in the work of blood vessels and heart, breathing problems.
Anatomically, 12 thoracic vertebrae are connected to the ribs and sternum in a strong and inactive frame structure that protects the internal organs from mechanical stress. In the initial stage, the disease almost does not cause severe symptoms, but in later stages, the manifestations of the pathology are so different that sometimes this prevents an accurate diagnosis. It is no wonder that osteochondrosis is often referred to as "chameleon disease".
The most common causes of thoracic osteochondrosis are trauma, muscle weakness, physical inactivity, metabolic disorders, excessive load on the spine, and genetic predisposition. The disease develops gradually, which, on the one hand, makes it possible to start treatment in time and stop the degenerative processes, but on the other hand, prevents early detection of pathology.
Stages of the disease
Doctors classify thoracic osteochondrosis according to developmental stages:
Stage 1.The intervertebral discs lose their elastic qualities, shrink in size, but still do not move from their anatomical position.
Stage 2.There is a further decrease in the height of the discs, and the spine itself loses its stability. Cracks form in the ring, the discs move and put pressure on the nerve endings, blood vessels and muscles. The second stage is characterized by severe back pain and neurological symptoms.
Stage 3.Degenerative processes can lead to the development of fibrosus ring extensions and ruptures. In such cases, herniated discs are diagnosed. The discs lose their cushioning properties and cease to perform their proper anatomical functions. The vertebrae themselves also suffer - they coalesce, collapse and form osteophytes - dangerous bone growth.
In addition to strong tissues, muscles, ligaments and tendons are affected. Muscles are blocked, spasmodic phenomena occur in them. The body tries to immobilize the affected area as much as possible in order to reduce pain - this leads to muscle overload and muscle atrophy.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis
As already mentioned, in the early stages, thoracic osteochondrosis manifests poorly or not at all. As the pathology progresses, periodic pain occurs between the shoulder blades: symptoms intensify after physical activity or, conversely, after prolonged rest. Often, the pain bothers patients in the morning after waking up and subsides within an hour. Sometimes the pain moves along the intercostal nerve, radiating to the chest when coughing, sneezing or running.
Typical signs
In 2-3 stages, the most indicative symptom of osteochondrosis in the chest region is persistent aching pain in the intercapsular area. Chest pain is also quite typical: the sensations resemble an attack of angina pectoris with coronary artery disease or heart failure.
Similarity of symptoms to heart disease is a fairly common cause of misdiagnosis. However, it is quite simple to distinguish pain in degenerative processes in the spine from heart symptoms: nitroglycerin and similar drugs that stop angina attacks, with osteochondrosis, do not in any way alleviate the patient's condition.
Other characteristic symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Stiffening of the trunk muscles during deep breathing (dorsalgia) - as if the body is squeezed with rings;
- Dorsago - a sharp pain in the chest (so-called "chest lumbago");
- Feeling of goose bumps and numbness in the hands (in the presence of radicular syndrome);
- Interstitial pain during walking and physical activity (intercostal neuralgia): with inflammation of the nerve endings, the pain becomes constant;
- Spasms in the back of the chest;
- Pain in raising arms, turning the torso and taking deep breaths.
Stages of the disease directly affect the intensity of symptoms. For therapeutically patients, it is important not to eliminate the pain with unconventional medications and methods (analgesics, antispasmodics, various oils, compresses and heat), but to visit the clinic and find out the cause of the pain by a doctor. Self-treatment for osteochondrosis is rarely effective, and in some cases even worsens the course of the disease.
Rare Symptoms
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic area is often disguised as other pathologies, causing their symptoms. This complicates the diagnosis and is often the cause of inadequate treatment.Atypical manifestations of the disease are very different:
- Signs of ischemia, heart attack, heart attack (ECG or other tests should be performed for differential diagnosis);
- Pain resembling breast disease in women: to rule out the presence of neoplasms, you should be examined by a mammologist;
- Pain resembling gastritis, colitis, stomach or intestinal ulcers, hepatitis - to rule out these diseases, a diagnosis is prescribed by a gastroenterologist;
- Paroxysmal band pain corresponding to renal colic or other urinary tract disease.
Urinary disorders and disorders of the reproductive system are also possible. Women have anorgasmia, painful and heavy menstruation (menorrhagia), and sometimes infertility. Men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Doctors do not always manage to find the real cause of these pathologies, and therefore the treatment of reproductive diseases does not provide positive dynamics.
Sometimes with osteochondrosis in the chest region, there are pressure waves, toothache and headaches, sleep disorders, tinnitus. Psycho-emotional disorders are not excluded - nervousness, depression, tears, anxiety.
Diagnosis, therapy and prevention
External examinations, touch, spectrum of movements are performed to detect the disease. It is important to learn in detail from the patient about the duration of symptoms, their nature and the accompanying manifestations of the disease.
The following procedures are described:
- X-rays of the spine;
- MRI, CT and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity (if necessary);
- Blood and urine tests;
- Myelography;
- ECG (to rule out cardiac pathologies).
After the diagnosis is made, a treatment regimen is developed. There is no single protocol for treating osteochondrosis: Wellness procedures depend on the patient's condition, age, physical condition, and immune system status.
The main goal of treatment is to minimize the consequences of degenerative processes in cartilage tissue and prevent the development of complications. Therapy is usually outpatient, except in particularly severe clinical situations. Conservative therapy is mainly practiced.
Medications
Medications are prescribed only for severe pain syndrome and inflammatory processes. It is preferable to use medicines in the form of external oils, tablets, intramuscular or epidural injections are less often prescribed.
Most current types of medicines:
- Analgesics;
- Anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
- Vitamin complexes;
- Steroids.
Experienced therapists will never offer purely medication-based therapies. Once the pain and inflammation have subsided, the medication is stopped.
Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage
These methods play a key role in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the thoracic spine. These techniques eliminate pain, strengthen ligaments and muscles, restore and stimulate blood circulation, metabolic processes.
Popular methods of physical therapy:
- Magnetotherapy;
- Electro- and phonophoresis;
- Laser exposure;
- Amplipulse therapy;
- Ultrasound treatment;
- Paraffin applications;
- eavesdropping on Kinesio;
- Mud therapy;
- Balneotherapy;
- Hypothermia;
- Hirudotherapy, treatment with bee venom.
The main advantage of physiotherapy is its safety. Procedures can be prescribed at any age, with almost any concomitant disease. A special field of physiotherapy is reflexology (acupuncture). The method is effective, but requires the presence of a professional specialist.
Physiotherapy is a mandatory stage in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. Gymnastics strengthens the muscular apparatus, restores the normal anatomical position of the vertebral structures, reduces the pressure on the nerve endings and prevents the development of extensions and hernias of the intervertebral discs.
Exercise complexes should be performed regularly and for a long time - only then will they produce a noticeable therapeutic effect. Ideally, sessions should be conducted under the guidance of an instructor, as any wrong move can hurt and cause pain.
Massage (manual and hardware effects) has the same therapeutic tasks as exercise therapy: reducing pain, improving blood flow, strengthening muscles. In addition to the impact with the hands of a specialist, they practice the use of massages, applicators, orthopedic devices.
Radical Treatment
Surgical intervention for breast osteochondrosis in modern medical institutions is directed in exceptional cases - when there is a real risk of spinal stenosis or there are dangerous extensions and hernias. Spine surgery is always an additional risk, so interventions are rarely performed and only by experienced surgeons.
Prevention
Disease prevention is much easier than long-term (and sometimes lifelong) therapy. Alas, modern medicine can not change the degenerative processes, it can only minimize the consequences of pathology and eliminate acute symptoms.
Therefore, the prevention of osteochondrosis should be treated from childhood. The development of the disease is hindered by: correct behavior, balanced diet, correct alternation of physical activity and rest, sleep in a comfortable bed. A positive role is played by timely diagnosis of the disease and strict implementation of the doctor's recommendations.