How to recognize and treat thoracic osteochondrosis?

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

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a dystrophic disorder of the cartilage structures. Without prompt and competent treatment, osteochondrosis can lead to various complications and therefore cannot be ignored. Preventive measures will help to avoid such a pathology.

General characteristics of the disease

Osteochondrosis is a fairly common injury to the musculoskeletal system, but it rarely affects the thoracic region 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 is under 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 ligaments, intervertebral discs, joints, which causes their destruction.

With the development of osteochondrosis, first bone structures are affected, and then the pathological process spreads to cartilage structures, muscles and 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 the rupture of the intervertebral disc, which can cause excessive stress or sudden movements.
2. In the second stage, we observe the protrusion of the intervertebral discs. In this case, the disc swells in the intervertebral canal - the protrusion usually does not exceed half a centimeter. At this point, 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 intervertebral hernia.
4. The fourth stage of the disease is called the most severe and the most 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 sex.

The disease often develops against the background of the following factors:

• age - people over 40 are at risk;
• various pathologies of the spine, including curvature of the spine;
• hereditary predisposition;
• trauma resulting in damage to the intervertebral discs;
• chronic stress;
• hypothermia;
• hormonal imbalance, material metabolism;
• impaired circulation of blood in the chest area;
• characteristics of professional activity that create an increased load on the thoracic region.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

The disease can have various symptoms, and sometimes it is atypical. 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, physical exertion, weight lifting. As the pathology progresses, the pain can also be observed at rest and intensify with movement. It can be dull or painful.
• 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.
• Some parts of the body become numb.
• There may be chills and goosebumps.
• The local temperature in the legs decreases.
• Itching and burning may be felt in the lower limbs.
• If the pathology affects the cardiovascular system, leading to dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, this can 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 disturbed, which can lead to a whole range of symptoms: nausea, heartburn, gas, diarrhea, constipation, painful sensations in the'abdomen.

Pain is one of the main signs of chest osteochondrosis, but it can show up in completely different ways. In some cases, back pain is observed - painful sensations appear at the site of the injury and persist for a long time. In other cases, back pain occurs - the pain manifests itself intensely and sharply, manifests itself in paroxysms, straining the muscles and interfering with breathing.

The clinical picture of osteochondrosis depends largely on its stage:

1. In the first stage of the disease, rupture of the intervertebral disc is usually observed. This phenomenon results in severe pain and muscle tension. The sensations are reminiscent of the effect of an electric current whose discharge seems to pass along the spine.
2. In the second stage, protrusion can be observed, which is accompanied by pain in the chest area, which can also affect internal organs.
3. In the third stage of the pathology, pain occurs more often. It becomes more difficult for the patient to breathe, headaches appear. The disease can interfere with the work of the heart slightly.
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 it difficult to breathe. Sometimes the patient can not change the position of the body, the pain during various movements intensifies several times, it can be unbearable. Due to severe pain, the pupils may dilate.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region 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 go away completely, but sudden movements or low body temperature may increase them.

Atypical manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis include the following symptoms:

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

Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by many symptoms which 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 already make a preliminary diagnosis at the stage of the patient's initial examination. Usually a neurologist treats the problem of osteochondrosis. The doctor examines the spine in different positions of the body.

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

In addition, the following measures can also be applied:

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

They also use laboratory diagnostics. These can be general and biochemical blood and urine tests. Such studies are carried out for the purpose of differential diagnosis, revealing the features of the pathology, associated 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 may not even be associated with the thoracic region.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

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

During an exacerbation of the disease, bed rest is necessary. 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 processing. When bed rest is no longer necessary, you can walk, but long walks are prohibited. Walking should be alternated with rest. You also should not sit in the same position for a long time.

When the disease is advanced, they resort to traction. 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 treatment

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

• Drug treatment is usually based on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which relieve pain and eliminate inflammation. These 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.
• For severe pain, use glucocorticosteroids. The drugs are generally used for intramuscular injections or applications through physiotherapy.
• For severe pain, pain relievers are also used.
• In case of unbearable pain, they resort to drug blockages. Blockages are carried out strictly according to the indications in a hospital environment.
• Topical irritants can help reduce pain. They can be made from natural ingredients - chili pepper extract, bee or snake venom.
• To restore blood circulation to 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 drugs involve a long therapeutic course that takes several months.

Only a doctor can prescribe the drugs needed in a particular case. It is necessary to determine the duration and schedule of taking each drug, taking into account the compatibility of various drug substances.

Physiotherapy and massage

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

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 thoracic osteochondrosis. In the treatment of such a pathology, the following techniques may be involved:

• Classic.In this case, the massage consists of light caresses, kneading, pinching, rubbing. Such treatment should be a course. A course can consist of up to 15 sessions, each of which lasts no more than 20 minutes.
• Spot.The impact can be exerted on painful points or acupuncture. The movements are performed with the fingertips in a circle with a gradual increase in the pressing force.
• Canned.Using cans allows you to create a vacuum, which increases blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. Cupping massage increases muscle tone, eliminates pathological reflexes, accelerates 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 the tissues.

Catching gymnastics

Physiotherapy exercises have an excellent effect in cases of thoracic osteochondrosis. This should be done under the supervision of a specialist, but some exercises can be done at home:

• Warm-up before catch-up gymnastics. For this you can take a shower and warm up a bit. It consists of hand shaking, rotations, body turns.
• Lie on the floor on your stomach. Put both hands behind your head, keeping your elbows wide apart. Slowly lift your shoulders and body. Pull the right elbow first, then the left. Do 5 repetitions.
• In the same starting position, put your hands behind your back and squeeze them in the lock. While performing a torso flexion, raise your arms without opening them. In the extreme, you need to linger for a few seconds, smoothly returning to its original position.
• Get on the ground and put your hands behind your shoulders. Lift 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 your arms extended at your sides.
• Sit on a chair and place both hands on your belt. Move the shoulder girdle, gently lifting it and lowering it to its original position. At the extreme point, you need to linger for a few seconds. Do 5 repetitions.
• 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 the exhale, return to the starting position and tilt the body forward.
• Get on the floor and put your hands with a gymnastic stick on your shoulders. Then tilt the body left and right. This exercise is contraindicated in scoliosis.
• Sit on a chair with a backrest, lean on it, and lean back.

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

Prognosis, complications

Subject to prompt detection and competent treatment of thoracic 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 as it swells in the intervertebral canal;
• intervertebral hernia - unlike protrusion, it involves rupture of the fibrous ring;
• stenosis of the intervertebral canal, vertebral artery;
• radiculopathy - a symptom complex that occurs when the roots of the spinal cord are damaged;
kyphosis
• - commonly referred to as a bump and involves the curvature of the spine with the direction of the bulge backwards (sagittal plane);
pneumosclerosis
• ;
shingles
• ;
• malignant neoplasms;
• sexual dysfunction.

Prevention

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

Adherence to the following preventive measures will help to avoid breast osteochondrosis:

• Maintain normal body weight.
• Moderate physical activity. It is necessary to exercise regularly or to exercise at least daily. The set of exercises should include elements to strengthen the back muscles.
• Avoid injury, physical overload.
• Maintain correct posture, if necessary, correct it.
• Avoid emotional overload, stress.
• Good nutrition.
• Elimination of bad habits.
• Correct organization of the sleeping area. It is important to correctly select the firmness of the mattress, orienting it towards your individual characteristics.
• Organize the workplace properly. If the work is sedentary, you need to take care of a high-back chair. It is necessary to take breaks and warm up during them.
• Timely medical examinations.
• Complete and rapid treatment of any pathology.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can lead to various complications that negatively affect the quality of life. At the first signs of pathology, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will diagnose and prescribe competent treatment. All regulations must be strictly observed.