How to recognize and treat thoracic osteochondrosis?

Chest osteochondrosis is rare but can cause many complications. It is important to make an in-depth 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.

Chest osteochondrosis is a degenerative disorder in cartilage 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 damage to the musculoskeletal system, but rarely affects the chest area 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 is 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 left untreated, the pathology changes the structure of the ligaments, intervertebral discs, joints, causing their destruction.

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

Classification

The 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 a rupture of the intervertebral disc, which can cause excessive stress or sudden movement.
2. In the second stage, the protrusion of the intervertebral discs is observed. In this case, the disc swells in the intervertebral canal - the protrusion is usually no more than half a centimeter. At this stage, instability of the spine 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 spread creates pressure on the spinal cord and nerve endings.

Causes

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 leading to damage to the intervertebral discs;
• chronic stress;
• hypothermia;
• hormonal imbalance, metabolism of the material;
• impaired blood circulation in the chest area;
• characteristics of professional activity that create increased weight on the chest area.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

The disease can have different symptoms and sometimes manifests itself atypically. Most often the pathology is expressed by the following signs:

• Pain. This symptom is the main one. Painful sensations usually occur when the body is in one position for a long time, exercise, lifting weights. As the pathology progresses, the pain may be observed at rest, intensified by each movement. It can be boring or painful.
• Crush in the middle of the back. In this case, it is more difficult for a person to breathe. Pain is felt on deep inhalation or exhalation.
• Parts of the body tingle.
• There may be chills and tingling.
• The 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 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 osteochondrosis of the breast, but it can manifest itself in completely different ways. In some cases, dorsalgia is observed - painful sensations occur at the site of the lesion and last a long time. In other cases, back pain occurs - the pain is intense and sharp, occurs in paroxysms, restricts muscles and impairs 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 through the spine.
2. In the second stage, a bulge may be observed, which is accompanied by pain in the chest area, which can also affect the internal organs.
3. In the third stage of the pathology, the pain appears more often. It becomes more difficult for the patient to breathe, headaches appear. The disease can slightly disrupt the heart.
4. In the fourth stage, due to compression of the nerve roots, intercostal neuralgia may develop. In this case, acute chest pain occurs. It initially affects only one area, but then spreads to the chest. This makes it difficult to breathe. The patient sometimes cannot change the position of the body, the pain with different movements is intensified many times, it can be unbearable. Due to severe pain, the pupils may dilate.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest 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 completely, but sudden movements or low body temperature can increase them.

Atypical manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis include the following symptoms:

• Painful sensations in the heart. Such a manifestation raises the suspicion of heart attack or angina pectoris. Sometimes this symptom lasts for several weeks.
• Concentration of abdominal pain leading to severe discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract. This symptom increases with physical activity.
• Acute spastic pain in the upper abdomen. This symptom is characteristic of gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis.
• In women, exacerbation of the disease can provoke pulling pain in the mammary glands. In this case, there is a suspicion of a malignant neoplasm.
• Disorders of the genitourinary system.
• If the pathological changes are concentrated in the upper chest area, then the pain may 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. Osteochondrosis of the chest is accompanied by many symptoms 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 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 different positions on the body.

To confirm the diagnosis and identify the characteristics of the pathology, they resort to instrumental diagnosis. The main examination is an X-ray examination.

In addition, the following measures may be applied:

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

They also resort to laboratory diagnostics. It can consist of general and biochemical tests of blood and urine. Such studies are conducted for the purpose of differential diagnosis, identification of the characteristics of the pathology, related complications.

Diagnosis 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 are not even related to the thoracic region.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

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

Bed rest is required during an exacerbation of the disease. Mobility should be limited as much as possible. Often the pain syndrome is so severe that the patient calls an ambulance. The treatment in this case is performed in a hospital setting.

Limit movement during treatment. When bed rest is no longer necessary, you can walk, but long walks are forbidden. Walks should be alternated with rest. You also do not have to sit in one position for a long time.

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 drugs for osteochondrosis of the breast are used to relieve pain, muscle tension and improve blood supply. The following medications may be prescribed for these purposes:

• 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, solution for injection. Therapy may involve the simultaneous use of several forms of drugs from the same group. The therapeutic course usually lasts 1-2 weeks.
• Use glucocorticosteroids for severe pain. The drugs are usually used for intramuscular injections or physiotherapy applications.
• Analgesics are also used for severe pain.
• In case of unbearable pain, they resort to drug blockade. The blockades are performed strictly according to the indications in a hospital setting.
• 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 to the affected area.
• Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle tension.
• After stopping the exacerbation of the disease are often prescribed drugs to activate metabolic processes, restore cartilage structures. This effect is provided by chondroprotectors. These drugs include a long course of therapy that takes several months.

Only a doctor can prescribe the medication needed in a given case. It is necessary to determine the duration and schedule of administration of each drug, to take into account the compatibility of different drugs.

Physiotherapy and massage

In the case of osteochondrosis of the chest, physiotherapy methods allow you to get rid of pain, restore mobility. The 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.

Particular attention should be paid to massage for thoracic osteochondrosis. 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. A course can include up to 15 sessions, each lasting no more than 20 minutes.
• Point.The effect can be on painful or acupuncture points. The movements are performed with the fingertips in a circle with a gradual increase in the force of pressure.
• Canned food.Using cans allows you to create a vacuum that increases blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. Blended massage increases muscle tone, eliminates pathological reflexes and accelerates the microcirculation of various fluids in the body.
• Segmented.This massage is performed to improve the blood supply to the affected area, stimulate lymphatic drainage and tissue oxygenation.

Therapeutic gymnastics

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

• Warm up before corrective gymnastics. To do this, you can take a shower and do a little warm-up. It consists of waving, rotating, rotating the body.
• Lie on the floor on your stomach. Place both hands behind your head while opening 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 lock them in the lock. Bending your torso, lift your arms up without opening them. At the end point, you should hold for a few seconds, gradually returning to its original position.
• Get on the floor and put your hands behind your shoulders. Raise your shoulders sequentially, moving your head in the same direction.
• Lie on a hard surface, on your stomach. Extend your arms forward as you lift your body. Do a few repetitions, then do the same body lifts, but with your arms outstretched.
• Sit in a chair and put both hands on your belt. Move the shoulder girdle by gently raising and lowering it to its original position. At the end point, you should hold for a few seconds. Do 5 reps.
• This exercise should be done with a gymnastic stick. You need to sit up and raise your arms as you inhale, holding a stick in them. When exhaling, return to the starting position and lean your body forward.
• Get on the floor and put your hands on your shoulders with a gymnastic stick. Then tilt your body left and right. This exercise is contraindicated in scoliosis.
• Sit in a chair with a backrest, lean on it and lean back.

All exercises should be done smoothly and slowly. Abrupt movements are excluded. If an exercise is painful, you should stop doing it and rest a bit. If the pain persists, the exercise should be completed and a doctor sought.

Prognosis, complications

With timely detection and competent treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, the prognosis is favorable. If the disease is ignored, life expectancy is reduced by about 7%.

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

• protrusion of the intervertebral disc when it swells in the intervertebral canal;
• intervertebral hernia - unlike protrusion, it involves rupture of the annular fibrosis;
• 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 humpback and suggests curvature of the spine with 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 the pathological changes that have already occurred.

Following the following preventative measures will help avoid osteochondrosis of the breast:

• Maintain a normal body weight.
• Moderate physical activity. You need to exercise regularly or exercise at least every day. It is imperative to include elements to strengthen the muscles of the back in the set of exercises.
• Avoid injuries, physical overload.
• Maintain the correct posture, if necessary, make its correction.
• Avoid emotional overload, stress.
• Proper nutrition.
• Eliminate bad habits.
• Proper organization of the sleeping area. It is important to choose the right firmness of the mattress, orienting it to your individual characteristics.
• Organize your workplace properly. If the work is stuck, then you need to 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 competent treatment. All regulations must be strictly observed.