Thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine is observed infrequently, when compared with the prevalence of diseases such as chondrosis of the lower back and neck. Osteochondrosis of the chest has certain signs and requires appropriate therapy, like any other ailment.
The thoracic region is characterized by a special structure: it includes more discs than the lumbar and cervical regions in total, and its discs are smaller and very thin. The mobility of this department is very low, and most of the loads fall on the sternum and ribs.
The appearance of pain of varying degrees during heavy loads or with sudden movements, as is often the case in the case of lumbar or cervical osteochondrosis, is not observed at all, while complications related to suspicions of the development of cardiovascular diseases or respiratory function disorders become paramount.
The reasons
Predominantly, osteochondrosis of the chest begins to develop due to physical inactivity, that is, with a lack of stress on the muscles, which provokes an increase in stress on the discs located between the vertebrae.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can cause the following conditions:
- The presence of bad habits;
- Scoliosis and uneven posture;
- hereditary factors;
- lack of mobility;
- Frequent heavy physical activity;
- Received spinal injuries;
- Great stress and mental strain.
The intervertebral discs of the thoracic vertebrae are equally affected by both an increased level of physical activity and physical inactivity.
Symptoms
In the case of the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, its symptoms manifest themselves quite noticeably. Treatment under such circumstances should be started immediately. The symptoms of the disease are:
- The presence of acute pain in the thoracic spine, which occurs after a long stay in one position. Pain also appears in the case of sudden movements and due to lifting objects that have a lot of weight.
- There is pressure in both the back and chest. Thoracic osteochondrosis causes difficulty in breathing - it becomes painful to inhale / exhale deeply.
- In the presence of chondrosis of the thoracic spine, there is such a symptom as numbness of certain areas on the body. This is appropriate due to damage to the nerve roots emerging from the spinal cord.
- If a person has osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, then he is not able to sharply turn the body, or stretch out his arm and raise it up. All such actions are very painful.
- The presence of dull pain in the shoulder blades (most often between them).
- The feet are usually cold, because there is insufficient blood supply to them due to a violation of some body functions.
- There is a state of chills and "goosebumps".
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest are determined by the level of neglect of the disease. In addition, such a disease can lead to a breakdown in the functioning of other systems in the human body. Therefore, osteochondrosis sometimes also manifests itself in such symptoms:
- The appearance of intercostal neuralgia;
- Burning sensation / itching on the feet;
- Bloating, constipation or diarrhea, nausea/heartburn;
- Due to a violation of the function of blood vessels, the skin begins to peel off, and the nails become thin and brittle;
- There are difficulties in the work of the reproductive / reproductive systems;
- Sometimes there is a noticeable lack of oxygen.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, acute and prolonged pain is appropriate, which appears in attacks. In the event of an exacerbation of the disease, the symptoms become extremely bright. At this time, the intervertebral discs are subjected to heavy stress. In most cases, the patient is shown a hospital regimen. In addition, a person has symptoms:
- pancreatitis;
- Urolithiasis;
- cholecystitis.
It is important to note that osteochondrosis of the chest does not cause either a decrease or an increase in body temperature.
Dorsago and dorsalgia
Often there are such signs of thoracic osteochondrosis as vertebral syndromes, including: dorsalgia and dorsago.
Doraso is called acute pain in the thoracic spine that occurs suddenly. As a rule, such a pathology is faced by those who have to stay in the same position for a long time, for example, sitting. Often it makes itself felt while a person rises from the table after working for a long time in an unchanged body position. Dorsago pain is sometimes unbearable. It happens that the possibility of movement in the lumbothoracic / cervical region is limited.
As for dorsalgia, the development of this syndrome does not occur immediately, it takes several weeks. Dorsalgia is characterized by the presence of mild pain and discomfort in that part of the spine that is damaged. Pain increases if you take deep breaths and tilt the body to the sides or forward.
Muscle tissue tension occurs, and in addition, there are restrictions on movements in the lumbothoracic / cervical regions. As a rule, the pains become very strong in the evening, and in the morning all the painful sensations go away by themselves if you take a walk for 10 minutes.
What other pain syndromes exist in osteochondrosis of the thoracic region?
Such an ailment may also have other pain syndromes that can complicate the correct diagnosis. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis in the region of the esophagus, pharynx and a feeling of "lump in the throat" appear if the disease has overtaken the upper thoracic segment of the chest. Chondrosis affecting the mid-thoracic segment causes discomfort under the hypochondrium on the right side.
If the disease affects the lower thoracic region, then pain is observed in the abdominal cavity, which is very similar to the sensations that occur with intestinal pathologies.
It should be noted that any relationship between the appearance of pain in osteochondrosis of the chest with the level of quality of food consumed and the human diet is not traceable. In addition, the appearance of pain has nothing to do with the time of year. But pain in osteochondrosis of the thoracic region can intensify closer to the night and after heavy physical exertion. In the morning, as usual, any sensations of discomfort disappear or decrease.
Complications
Thoracic osteochondrosis is dangerous because it is difficult to diagnose. For a long time, it is possible to treat angina pectoris or respiratory diseases without suspecting the presence of this unpleasant disease.
If we continue to talk about the complications caused by osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, then over time, developing, this disease can cause the appearance of various problems affecting the internal organs.
The most common complication can be called an ailment associated with the cardiovascular system. Such problems arise due to receptor irritation in the thoracic and cervical regions.
Sometimes observed:
- Disorders in the function of the duodenum;
- Disorders in the digestive tract;
- There is such a pathology as dyskinesia of the gallbladder.
Is there a need to prove the importance of timely initiation of treatment for thoracic osteochondrosis?
Diagnostic measures
The thoracic region should begin to be treated after a comprehensive examination of the patient. It involves the following procedures:
- The patient is examined, and all his observations regarding the course of the disease are recorded. If the disease reaches stage 2-3, the skeleton is noticeably deformed. The physician is obliged to take up the patient's medical history in order to exclude / confirm hereditary factors for the development of osteochondrosis of the chest.
- It is necessary to pass urine and blood for analysis.
- X-ray can be used to determine:
- Presence and size of osteophytes;
- Determine the height/contours of the intervertebral discs.
- Size/location of hernias;
- The presence of changes in the shape of the disk.
- Discography will provide an opportunity to consider the outlines of the nucleus pulposus. This procedure uses contrast.
- CT scan. This study is used extremely rarely, since during this study the patient is heavily irradiated.
- Electrocardiography. Since the symptoms of thoracic chondrosis are similar to ischemic heart disease, this research method is used to verify this diagnosis.
Chest treatment
Before organizing the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest, it is necessary to understand why this disease appeared in principle. In some people, chondrosis appeared due to an insufficiently mobile lifestyle, while others were once injured in the spine and because of this, the blood supply processes were disturbed. Thus, the reasons why the development of such a disease as osteochondrosis of the thoracic region became appropriate are a huge number.
In any case, effective therapy for chest chondrosis consists not only in the use of medications that have an analgesic effect, designed to neutralize pain in the event of an exacerbation of the disease. In addition, it is required to identify the original cause of the disease. Serious attitude to the treatment of this disease is required.
Also, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region with the help of drugs should be combined with physiotherapy, remembering that minor loads are beneficial.
Treatment with medication
To treat the disease during its exacerbation, it is necessary to adhere to bed rest, take drugs characterized by analgesic effect and other drugs that are effective in combating this disease.
Relief of the pain syndrome is achieved by drugs at the initial stages of the development of the disease. Tableted medicines and painkiller injections eliminate pain of moderate strength. Painkillers are prescribed together with drugs that relieve inflammation, with drugs that restore cartilage tissue.
The selection of medications, the intake of which is required for the regeneration of bone tissue, is carried out on an individual basis. The doctor needs to take into account the characteristics of the organism and the course of the disease in the patient in each individual case. Thus, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest through medications involves taking these medications:
- Analgesics to eliminate acute pain in the thoracic region, causing malfunctions in the respiratory system and causing a lot of discomfort during movement.
- Tablets that relieve muscle spasm.
- Preparations containing a large amount of B vitamins.
- Medicines of natural origin to preserve fluid in the intervertebral discs, which have spread to osteochondrosis.
Effective Exercises
People who are faced with the problem of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region need to perform exercises that have a positive effect on the spine. A well-composed list of simple tasks will remove acute pain. By the way, breathing training with such an ailment as chondrosis will also give its results and reduce the number of attacks. The following exercises are recommended:
- The plank is a good workout in the case of this disease, while it is advisable to do this exercise for no more than 1. 5 minutes with a gradual increase in the load on the thoracic spine.
- Hanging on the horizontal bar should be as often as possible, followed by the addition of time to the duration of the exercise.
- In the "plank" position, in turn, you need to press your knees to your chest and hold them in this position for several seconds. Such a preventive measure is useful for the joints and reduces stress on the thoracic region in osteochondrosis.
For the treatment of pathology, it is best to use exercise therapy and other methods of physiotherapy and at the same time is in a hospital under medical supervision. Such exercises do not cause any inconvenience, since the patient performs simple and effective manipulations in order to get rid of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. Such therapy is one of the important elements for the prevention of the disease in people who are at risk.
Manual therapy
The help of a chiropractor in the form of massages for osteochondrosis of any part of the spine causes greater efficiency and significantly improves the patient's well-being. Such treatment:
- Prevents pain during dorsalgia;
- Reduces tension in muscle tissue.
In addition, manual therapy is a great chance to normalize the systemic circulation in the intercostal space, to determine the appropriate tissue nourishment and stimulate better blood oxygenation.
In the case of pectalgia (this is also one of the types of pain syndrome), such therapy is also used, but only as prescribed by the doctor.
Massages
Massage is a good therapy for osteochondrosis, even in a hospital, even at home. This procedure:
- Causes the elimination of hypertonicity of the back muscles;
- Helps to strengthen the bodies of the intervertebral discs.
If massage is part of a general therapy against osteochondrosis, then it can significantly bring the moment of complete recovery closer, if the patient's diagnosis is acute osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. Various therapeutic massages, as a rule, are recommended simultaneously with treatment by a chiropractor in combination with therapeutic physical activity.
What to do if thoracic osteochondrosis is inflamed?
Exacerbation of osteochondrosis can provoke physical overload (sports, hard work), hypothermia, severe stress or fatigue, lifting heavy objects.
In the event of an exacerbation of chondrosis, a person feels unbearable pain, which is unrealistic to remove at home on their own with the help of painkillers. For this reason, in such cases it is necessary to call an ambulance.
If the pain is not so strong and can be endured, then the use of painkillers is undesirable, as this will complicate the task of physicians in making an appropriate diagnosis. With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, you can not self-medicate - it is dangerous to health.
Often chondrosis goes into an acute stage after:
- stressful situations;
- Great physical exertion;
- Hypothermia.
In order to eliminate the process of exacerbation of osteochondrosis as quickly as possible, you should listen to these recommendations:
- The patient should adhere to bed rest (as far as possible, avoid any movement);
- It is best to make a comprehensive diet and eat right;
- The postures that the patient takes should not provoke the appearance of pain in him;
- There is a need to take medications: painkillers and muscle spasm-eliminating drugs;
- It will not be superfluous to carry out physiotherapeutic manipulations;
- Exercise therapy is of great importance in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. Of course, all exercises must be performed with extreme caution.
Prevention
In order to prevent the occurrence of diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis of different departments), you should heed the following tips:
- Do not sit still: sign up for a pool, arrange morning jogs, warm up your muscles;
- If during work activity (for example, you work in an office), you are in one position, then try to always align your back and relax your shoulders;
- Work while sitting should be exclusively on a chair that supports the spine;
- Buy an orthopedic pillow and mattress - so, during sleep, the spine will take the correct position;
- Do not carry a lot of weights, and if necessary, then try not to lift them abruptly;
- Pump your abdominal muscles;
- Your shoes should not cause discomfort while wearing;
- Make up your diet in such a way that it includes as many useful microelements as possible and is fortified.
No one is protected from the appearance of such an ailment as osteochondrosis of the chest. If you suddenly notice the presence of the first manifestations of the disease, then you should immediately visit a doctor - after all, it is easier to prevent osteochondrosis than to treat it for a long time later.
If you follow all of the above recommendations, then the likelihood of encountering this disease is minimal.
Additional Tips
It is clear that in order to avoid any problems with the spine, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations related to a healthy lifestyle.
If your work is sedentary, then every hour it is worth organizing a break, and, if possible, warming up. Very effective in the prevention of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is swimming. A balanced diet will not be superfluous.
It is worth daily for the purpose of prevention to do exercises in the morning and play sports in your free time.
In essence, thoracic osteochondrosis does not pose any danger, but it provides serious complications if you do not treat it. It is important to organize the treatment of osteochondrosis in a timely manner in order to avoid other problems with the spine in the future, because in our body all systems and organs are interconnected - remember this.
Each person wants to live without pain, not to limit himself in anything due to the presence of any diseases. Therefore, it is important to identify osteochondrosis in time and treat it if this problem still took you by surprise.
Many people who have encountered osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, who have responded to the disease at the right time and, having taken up its treatment, have already forgotten what osteochondrosis is and what symptoms it has. Don't procrastinate either!
And even better, to prevent the occurrence of this disease. Just lead an active lifestyle!