Thoracic osteochondrosis is a rather dangerous pathology, which is explained by the difficult process of its diagnosis, so it is often possible to identify the disease only in an advanced stage. Initially, osteochondrosis of the chest was considered a disease of the elderly, but recently there has been a certain trend towards a significant "rejuvenation" of this disease, so it is important to know the main symptoms and treatment in order to improve the clinical picture. picture of the disease. The difficulty in diagnosis is due to the fact that the vertebrae located in the thoracic region are the least susceptible to stress and injury. However, limited mobility is not a guarantee of safety, so the appearance of pathologies in this department is also very common. Statisticsshows that this disease is not directly related to the aging process and gender.
Specificity of the disease
This disease is characterized by pathological processes that lead to negative changes in the tissue structure. As a result, destruction of the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc and consequent protrusion of the nucleus pulposus may occur. This condition is dangerous because there is a risk of compression of the spinal cord and further damage to the person. The progression of the disease in childhood can lead to premature aging of the musculoskeletal system even before its final formation. That is why the timely diagnosis of the pathology in the early stages, when the destruction of the vertebrae and adjacent tissues has not yet occurred, is extremely important.
Clinical symptoms
This disease manifests itself in completely different ways, depending on the stage. Therefore, we will highlight the general symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest:
- pain. It can occur not only when performing any actions, but also when staying in static positions for a long time.
- Stiffness of movement, preventing free rotation of the body.
- Difficulty breathing, caused by a feeling of strong pressure in the middle of the back.
- Problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs.
Very often, the disease manifests itself as pain on the left side of the chest, which can be interpreted as symptoms of heart pathologies. This complicates the diagnosis, but the specialist evaluates the totality of all the patient's complaints, which allows a correct interpretation of all the existing symptoms. Knowing what symptoms there are for osteochondrosis of the chest, you can immediately seek qualified help. We advise you to be more attentive to the signals your body is giving you.
When making a diagnosis, it is important to know how osteochondrosis of the chest manifests itself, because this disease is insidious, so it is easy to confuse it with other diseases. Based on the nature of the pain, we can distinguish the main types of osteochondrosis. One condition is characterized by long-lasting pain in the damaged area of the spine, and the second is characterized by the appearance of acute attacks that literally impede a person's movements, complicating his respiratory functions.
Causes of the disease
The following causes of osteochondrosis of the chest can be identified:
- Pathological processes that negatively affect the structure of the discs. In particular, there is a certain genetic predisposition to this disease.
- Lack of activity related to the performance of work functions and leisure activities.
- Scoliosis, which causes increased stress on certain areas of the spine.
- Mechanical damage to the chest.
- Strength training involving heavy lifting.
- Regular stressful situations.
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Lack of calcium.
- Hormonal disorders.
Classification of the disease
Intervertebral osteochondrosis develops in stages, each of which is characterized by its own negative manifestations:
- First degree.The initial stage is characterized by a condition when moisture loss occurs in the intervertebral disc. Elasticity decreases, low-intensity pain appears, which completely disappears when a person takes a comfortable position.
- Second major.Disc moisture loss continues. As a result, it becomes smaller and cracks appear, some of which are quite deep. The muscle corset tries to adapt, trying to maintain the stability of the spine, which leads to spasms and quite severe pain in the back, chest and limbs.
- Third degree.At this stage, a breakthrough of the nucleus pulposus to the outside is observed. Basically, it's an intervertebral hernia where the pain lasts all day. A person is forced to change his type of activity to one in which the unpleasant sensations will not be so intense.
- Fourth degree.Extended osteochondrosis of the chest is dangerous, because at the site of damage, a serious restructuring of all tissues begins. There is a natural replacement of the annulus fibrosus tissue with bone, resulting in severe stiffness of movements. The appearance of osteophytes and deformation of the spine is also observed.
Period of exacerbation
The manifestation of osteochondrosis of the chest in the acute stage is characterized by the appearance of paroxysmal pain, which is extremely difficult to alleviate with available means. Self-medication at this stage is unacceptable, so you should immediately consult a doctor or call an emergency service to relieve the pain. Only a neurologist can correctly interpret your complaints and prescribe appropriate further examination and treatment. During an exacerbation, it is extremely important to relieve the patient's condition. Exacerbation of the disease can be caused by various factors, including stressful situations, hypothermia and activities associated with intense stress. In this condition, there is a significant deterioration in the patient's well-being, breathing can become difficult and mobility can be limited. In some cases, hospital admission may be required.
Basic diagnostic methods
Signs of osteochondrosis of the chest are the appearance of pain in various places, stiffness of movements and difficulty breathing. The difficulty of diagnosis lies in the fact that a huge number of diseases of a different nature fit this description. In particular, there is such a concept - "gastrological syndrome", which is characterized by the appearance of pain in the epigastrium, which can be misinterpreted as a manifestation of gastritis or other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Only modern diagnostic methods will allow tomake an accurate diagnosis, on the basis of which the neurologist will prescribe appropriate therapy. It all begins with a detailed interview with the patient, establishing existing complaints and concomitant diseases. After taking an anamnesis, the doctor proceeds directly to the examination itself with special tests. After that, the patient must passthe necessary laboratory tests, as well as X-rays and MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging allows you to study the condition of the spine in more detail, identify existing pathologies, the size and location of the hernia (if any).
How is the treatment process going?
It is extremely important to know what to do with osteochondrosis of the chest. After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes an individual treatment regimen for the patient. It is necessary to take into account age and the presence of concomitant diseases, as well as allergies to certain drugs. At the first stage, the treatment is carried out with the help of various drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and antispasmodics. The main goal of this stage is to alleviate the patient's condition, reduce pain and spasms of muscle tissue. In particularly severe cases, when immediate relief of acute pain is required, anesthetic blocks are used. Local means in the form of ointments and gels can also be used, but their effectiveness is somewhat lower due to the difficulty of delivering active substances to the lesions. In general, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest is an integrated approach that combines the use of several techniques. Only such therapy can give not a one-time positive result, but an improvement of the clinical picture over time.
Physiotherapy
Therapeutic exercise is performed after pain relief. It is extremely important that all movements are performed slowly, avoiding sudden movements to prevent worsening of the condition. Remember that if the exercises cause you pain, you should stop immediately and consult a doctor.
Massage procedures
Muscle spasms, hypertension, pain - this is how the disease manifests itself. To eliminate these symptoms, massage can be used, which should be performed by a qualified specialist. These procedures can be used not only for therapeutic purposes, but also as a good preventive measure.
Prevention
The consequences of osteochondrosis of the chest will not be so strong if you strictly follow certain medical recommendations. If a specialist has prescribed you bed rest, then under no circumstances should you neglect this, otherwise your condition may worsen. A person must limit himself in physical activity, so he will have to refuse to go to the gym or work with weights. An important component of primary prevention is the timely identification of persons during medical examinations who have initial signs of osteochondrosis of the chest. Another, no less important point is proper nutrition, which includes avoiding certain foods. It is necessary to limit the consumption of salt, so smoked meat, various spicy spices and pickles will have to be removed from the diet.
It is very important to use chondroprotective drugs that slow down the progression of osteochondrosis of the chest, nourish and improve metabolic processes in cartilage tissue.
Osteochondrosis of the chest can be treated. To make this possible, you must strictly follow your doctor's recommendations, as well as adhere to the established treatment regimen. The initial osteochondrosis of the chest is best treated, so it is extremely important to be more attentive to your body, reacting to the smallest symptoms of the disease. To avoid a possible relapse, you should follow preventive measures and monitor your posture, which is especially important in sedentary work. Contact only qualified doctors, because only they can prescribe a competent treatment regimen and further recovery.