The backbone of man is in the true sense of the word its support. It is designed to withstand heavy loads. In case another kind of negative impact is exerted on the body, thoracic osteochondrosis develops.
Osteochondrosis is a disease in which the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity, resilience and strength, in other words dystrophic and degenerative changes occur. The basis is the violation of metabolic processes in the tissues of the disc. In addition, there is a change in the structure of the vertebrae themselves.
The acceptability of using the term "spinal osteochondrosis" is now debatable, as is the remission of all back pain for this problem.
In the international classification of diseases of the 10th review of the nosological unit "osteochondrosis" is not, but the term still exists among physicians.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the thoracic spine do not develop so often, they can mimic the symptoms of somatic diseases.
If the pain appears on the left side of the chest, even if it increases with inspiration, accompanied by movement, electrocardiography is mandatory to rule out acute coronary syndrome.
What is the disease
Thoracic osteochondrosis is the rarest form of unnatural changes in the spine. The fact is that, unlike the lumbar and cervical regions, the thoracic region of the spine is supported and strengthened by the ribs.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is less common than other forms of this condition, as the thoracic spine is reinforced with ribs.
The symptoms are often similar to those of heart disease as well as pleural disease.
Diagnosis is made on the basis of radiography, CT, MRI. Treatment is chosen to relieve symptoms and prevent further degradation of the spinal cartilage.
Even considerable loads cause minimal damage to the vertebrae in this area. However, the main risk to vertebrae in this area is a prolonged sitting posture.
Such osteochondrosis provokes a change both in the vertebrae themselves and in nearby organs. The onset of the disease is generally mild, with no sharp pain. At the same time, it is extremely difficult to identify osteochondrosis in the chest region due to its uniqueness to mimic other diseases.
Very often, this pathology can be confused with:
- angina pectoris;
- diseasesGastrointestinal tract(gastritis, ulcers, colitis);
- diseaseshearts;
- inflammationappendix;
- renalstomach ache.
With a comprehensive examination, it soon turns out that the symptoms of other diseases are not confirmed, while there are clear signs of one of the degrees of osteochondrosis.
Disease prevalence
The risk group includes workers of any kind of activity. Most often, osteochondrosis of the chest (GO) occurs in people over 55 years of age, but in young people the first signs of the development of the disease can be observed. In the sample surveyed by doctors, 38% were male and 62% female.
The initial stage of HO occurs in 71% of respondents. Osteochondrosis is the most common cause of disability in the working population. There are 33 to 165 cases per 100 workers per year. those. in many cases, within a year, a person has multiple recurrences, each time seeking a medical leave.
Diplomat
The development of thoracic osteochondrosis goes through several stages:
- Tissue dehydrationdisks,due to what they lose flexibility and elasticity. At this stage, the discs are gradually flattened and modified, they are still able to withstand the load, but the person already feels uncomfortable.
- Dehydrated crackingfibrosisunaza disk. When the body position changes, pronounced pain is felt.
- Spacethe outer shell of the disc, the pulposus nucleus emerges, forming a hernia, which affects the nerve roots extending from the spine, in such a situation, a sharp pain appears.
- Convergenceadjacent vertebrae, their displacement, flattening and growth.
Osteochondrosis is divided into several degrees:
- disease1 degreediagnosed with intervertebral disc rupture, when a sharp pain appears in the sternum, comparable to an electric shock, while the muscles are extremely tense.
- 2nd degreeis characterized by the appearance of disc elongation, when part of it begins to press on the nerve roots, but the pulposus nucleus is still intact and does not protrude. This degree of osteochondrosis persists in a constant alternation of exacerbations and remissions.
- IN3 degreesthe pains are permanent, as the nerve endings are subject to incessant irritation. At this stage, there is numbness of the limbs, severe headaches, arrhythmia, insomnia, increased nervousness due to poor overall health.
- IN4 degreesin the vertebrae irreversible transformations are observed, after their convergence and modification, the spine loses its mobility in this place.
Depending on the degree and stage of the disease, symptoms and other factors, an appropriate method of treatment is chosen.
Causes
Osteochondrosis occurs for a variety of reasons, but the most common:
- Excessweightbodies. The spine is not able to constantly maintain excess weight.
- Wrongnutrition.Due to the small consumption of foods containing calcium and the simultaneous consumption of food, which provokes its drainage from the body, bone tissue is destroyed. The beads are gradually consumed. In addition, if the diet lacks a sufficient amount of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, the intervertebral discs suffer, lacking these important micronutrients.
- Smoking.Smoking disrupts metabolic processes in the body and this has a significant effect on the condition of the intervertebral discs.
- Violationresidence.A systematic violation of the normal position of the spine leads to scoliosis, which, in turn, provokes osteochondrosis.
- I ulurLifestyle. Sedentary work and lack of any physical activity leads to the fact that the muscles of the body lose their tone. They relax and cannot fully support the spine, causing it to bend.
- Physical growthload.Most often they happen to professional athletes, however, in everyday conditions there are such situations. If a powerful effect is exerted on the spine, then it is possible to change the position of the vertebrae, the formation of elongation and hernia.
- geneticspredisposition. Very often, similar pathological disorders in the vertebrae and discs are found in relatives.
- Agechanges. Over the years, the body stops synthesizing glycosaminoglycans and other important constituents that give elasticity to intervertebral discs. Bone tissue becomes porous and brittle, which means that the vertebrae are prone to deformation.
- Traumaback. Even a slight damage to the spine does not pass without leaving a trace and causes transformations in the vertebrae.
In addition, hormonal disorders in the body, hypothermia and infectious diseases can become an impetus for the development of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms
Since thoracic osteochondrosis is similar in symptomatology to many other diseases, it is quite difficult to distinguish its signs. However, doctors agree that the obvious symptoms of osteochondrosis can be considered:
- pain in betweenribs;
- pain in the upper partlimbs,accompanied by a tingling and numbness sensation;
- pain in depthbreathing;
- pain while tryingto set uphand;
- inability to perform from the body corpustiltin one direction or another;
- convulsionsin muscles;
- palenessskin due to improper functioning of nerve endings;
- sensationlumbagoin the back.
Pain attacks increase at night, with a decrease in body temperature when turning the body.
Since the pain can radiate to the upper upper part of the sternum, it is often confused with pain in the heart.
| Vertebra no. | To which parts of the body it relates | What causes |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Trachea, esophagus | Cough, asthma, arrhythmia |
| D2 | Palms, wrists, hands | Pain in the chest, palms and arms |
| D3 | Chest, pleura, lungs, bronchi | Pneumonia, pleurisy, asthma, bronchitis |
| D4 | Bile ducts and bladder | Jaundice, gallstones |
| D5 | The solar plexus | Jaundice, poor blood clotting |
| D6 | Liver | Ulcers, gastritis, digestive problems, liver dysfunction |
| D7 | 12 duodenum, pancreas | Stools, digestive disorders, ulcers and diabetes |
| D8 | Diaphragm, spleen | Weakened immune system, allergies |
| D9 | Adrenaline glands | Weakness, fatigue, kidney problems |
| D10 | KIDNEY | Infertility, digestive problems, diseases of the female genital organs |
| D11 | ureters | Kidney disease, urinary problems |
| D12 | Fallopian tubes, inguinal rings, colon and small intestine | Infertility, diseases of the genital organs, problems with defecation and digestion |
With thoracic spine osteochondrosis, 2 common syndromes can be observed - dorsago and dorsalgia.
Dorsago is a syndrome associated with severe, sharp, and sudden pain in the sternum. Sucking, regular exhalation, and attempts to turn the body in one direction or another are accompanied by painful sensations. This syndrome often occurs in people who have to spend a long time in a position, leaning forward.
Dorsalgia - unlike dorsago, it develops invisibly, for about a month. It is characterized by throbbing pain and chest discomfort. The pain increases in the dark, with deep breathing and an uncomfortable body position.
| Where does it hurt? | How it manifests |
|---|---|
| breast | There is tightness in the back and chest, it becomes difficult to breathe, pain is felt during breathing and bending, sometimes it is felt in the region of the heart and the left sternum |
| Neck | Hands numb, voice is hoarse, breathing is difficult, head aches, dizziness, sight and hearing are falling |
| Small back | Cold-legged syndrome, lower extremity spasm, increased sweating, abnormalities in the genitourinary system, lower back pain - dull or acute |
Specific and rare symptoms of breast osteochondrosis:
- sensationlumpin the throat, pain in the larynx and esophagus, occur if the disease affects the upper chest;
- symptomspancreatitis,cholecystitis occurs when the middle chest region is affected;
- pathologycasingis able to simulate the loss of the lower chest region;
- of ribsneuralgia,arising from the injury of the intercostal nerve roots, the pain in this case is of the nature of herpes. It is easy to confuse neuralgia with many diseases of the internal organs;
- pulmonarysyndrome - expressed with symptoms of hypoxia and congestion in the lungs.
During the course of the disease, some and almost all of the symptoms can be noticed simultaneously, and they vary depending on the stage of the osteochondrosis of the chest.
| factor | Osteochondrosis | Myocardial infarction | Angina pectoris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intensity | Rarely severe pain, more often mild | Strong to unbearable | Weak |
| Duration | Long: a day or more | A few hours or days | 1 to 15 minutes |
| location | Left sternum, back, area between shoulder blades | Neck, behind the chest | Neck, behind the chest |
Diagnosing
The main methods for diagnosing thoracic osteochondrosis are:
- X-Ray.In the images taken with his help, the following signs usually appear: a changed shape of the vertebral body; the presence of bone growths; reduced height of intervertebral discs; uneven contours of tiles; spinal canal thinning; degenerative processes in the structure of the spine.
- computertomography. In difficult cases it is necessary to obtain a complete 3D model of the spine.
- Neurophysiologicalexamination. Tendon reflexes as well as muscle nerve conduction (electroneuromyography) are assessed.
- STUDYbloodto determine the level of calcium in it.
Since osteochondrosis of the chest is quite difficult to diagnose, you need to know its main symptoms in order to consult a doctor in time.
First aid for deterioration
If it becomes necessary to get rid of an attack in a short time, experts recommend adhering to a number of recommendations.
First of all, the area in which the pain syndrome appears should be warmed. For this, it is better to use special medical ointments. Doctors strongly advise not to use herbal decoction, as there is a possibility of a serious burn. A scarf or woolen scarf works best for a heat compress.
Next, you need to take a body position that will not provoke the appearance of uncomfortable sensations. It is advisable to lie on a firm surface such as the floor.
At the time of a deterioration, a tight bandage should be applied to the chest.
Taking a medication with analgesic effect will help stop or reduce the severity of the attack.
If after 60 minutes your health does not improve, you should call an ambulance. When the doctor arrives, he should be told about the use of painkillers.
Treatment
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis includes a number of procedures:
- Anti-inflammatorynon-steroidal medications - help suppress inflammation and relieve pain. If necessary, hormonal preparations are added.
- Muscle relaxants- relax the muscles that are in tension.
- soothingdrugs - to reduce anxiety and nervousness caused by constant pain.
- Diureticdrugs to relieve swelling.
- medicamentsto stimulate blood circulation.
- Chondroprotectors.Medications prescribed to accelerate the regeneration of cartilage tissue - insufficient evidence base, the effect is individual.
- Acupuncture.Acupuncture specialists are able to relieve pain in osteochondrosis by touching specific areas of the body.
- Physiotherapy.
- handbooktherapy. An experienced chiropractor is able to improve blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm and stop the development of osteochondrosis.
- Massage.The use of this method of treatment in the absence of a disc herniation is permitted.
- ultrasonictherapy.
- Electromagnetictherapy.
- Mud therapy.
- Laying down.Thanks to this method, the muscles and spine are stretched up to 1. 5 mm. This, in turn, leads to decompression of the nerve endings, as the inflammatory process is eliminated, the pain disappears and the local blood circulation increases.
If standard treatment does not work or a disc herniation has formed, surgery is rarely required.
The diet should include dishes that are natural chondroprotectors - jelly meats, jellies, puddings, strong soups cooked from lamb and beef.
All doctors say swimming is essential to maintaining spinal health. This type of activity allows you to evenly distribute the load throughout the body, helps align the spine, strengthen the back muscles and generally improve the health of the body. However, it is worth remembering that in the presence of a hernia, such a method of recovery is ruled out as a deterioration occurs.
Physiotherapy
If grade 1 chest osteochondrosis is diagnosed, regular exercise will allow you to cope with the problem without using medication. In addition, to achieve a positive result, it is recommended to perform aerobics for at least 4 months.
To treat the disease, it is recommended to do the following exercises every day:
- tilt the body forward, alternately bending the lower limbs;
- perform lateral bending by raising your hands in turn;
- raise the upper and lower limbs simultaneously in an inclined position;
- tilt the body forward, reaching with your hands to the leg placed on the opposite side.
Each of the exercises is repeated 10 times. 3 approaches are allowed.
Experts provide another set of exercises:
- Take a standing position. Raise your arms as you inhale and lower them as you exhale.
- Sit in a chair with your back to it. Suck in and pull your shoulders back so that the edges of your shoulders are as close together as possible. Bend your lower back slightly.
- Get up on all fours. Lift your right foot and left arm off the floor, straighten and lift. In this position, you should stand for 15 seconds. After that, take the starting position and do the same on the opposite limbs.
- Perform the "cat" exercise. To do this, you also need to take a position, standing on all fours, bend at the bottom of the back and bend up.
Each should be done 15-20 times. If painful sensations appear during any exercise, it is better not to do it.
Once the muscle corset becomes stronger, the specialist will recommend switching to more complex exercises.
It should be remembered that during the period of disease exacerbation, the load should be minimal, but you should not completely abandon the classes.
Consequences and complications
Complications with the onset of thoracic osteochondrosis are not uncommon, as the disease is initially latent and asymptomatic, recognizable when it has progressed significantly. The following complications are distinguished:
- shakingspinal canal;
- excessive growthvertebral bone tissue;
- spondyloarthritis(thoracoarthrosis, dorsarthrosis);
- inflammationspinal nerve roots;
- vegetative-vasculardystonia.
The nature and severity of complications depend on the duration and correctness of treatment. At the same time, at a younger age, it is more often possible to avoid the consequences.
Prevention methods
As such, there is no specific prevention of osteochondrosis; it is necessary to generally take care of the spine to prevent any change in it. Therefore, you must adhere to the following rules:
- To not allowinjuryspine. Athletes should carefully calibrate the load and use sports belts and corsets to support the spine. People whose work involves physical activity should strengthen their back muscles to support their spine.
- Perform a special complexgymnasticexercise. It is necessary to normalize blood circulation in the spine so that the intervertebral discs do not suffer from a lack of necessary trace elements. When working sitting down, you should get up at least once an hour and do some warm-up.
- At the slightest typical signs of spinal diseases (tingling, numbness, lumbago), you should apply forconsultationto a neurologist.
It is necessary to take care of the health of the spine, to adhere to moderate physical activity, to avoid bad habits, to eat a balanced diet and to drink more fluids. All this will help prevent changes in the vertebrae and discs between them and keep the spine in working condition for a long time.
Answers to common questions
Which doctor is treating you?
At the first symptoms of pathology manifestation, you should contact a vertebrologist or neurologist. To prescribe a complex treatment, you will also need a consultation with a traumatologist (if the cause of the disease is a bruise, trauma, fracture), an osteopath (defines the area of the spinal lesion), a rheumatologist (inflammation in Indiarelated).
How long does a deterioration last?
The duration of the acute phase can be from 3 to 14 days. In the absence of therapeutic measures, relapses may recur continuously, provoking a gradual lesion in new areas.
In what position to sleep?
Experts recommend taking a lateral position in the embryo position. You are also allowed to sleep on your back, but in this case the internal organs can put pressure on the chest region. Sleeping on your stomach can cause neck pain.