Thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine is rarely observed compared to 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 disease.
The thoracic region is characterized by a special structure: it includes more discs than the lumbar and cervical regions combined, and the 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 sudden movements, as often happens with lumbar or cervical osteochondrosis, is not observed at all until complications associated with suspected cardiovascular diseases or disorders of respiratory function become primary.
The reasons
Osteochondrosis of the chest begins to develop mainly due to a lack of physical activity, that is, with a lack of tension on the muscles, which provokes an increase in tension on the discs located between the vertebrae.
Osteochondrosis of the chest can cause the following conditions:
- The presence of bad habits;
- Scoliosis and uneven posture;
- hereditary factors;
- lack of mobility;
- Frequent heavy physical exertion;
- Received injuries of the spine;
- Great stress and mental strain.
The intervertebral discs of the thoracic vertebrae are equally affected by both an increased level of physical activity and a lack of physical activity.
Symptoms
In the case of the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, its symptoms manifest themselves quite noticeably. Treatment in such circumstances should be started immediately. Symptoms of the disease are:
- The presence of sharp pain in the thoracic spine, which appears after a long stay in one position. Pain also occurs with sudden movements and due to lifting heavy objects.
- There is pressure in both back and chest. Thoracic osteochondrosis causes difficulty breathing - it becomes painful to inhale / exhale deeply.
- In the presence of chondrosis of the chest, there is such a symptom as numbness in certain areas of the body. This is appropriate due to damage to the nerve roots exiting the spinal cord.
- If a person has osteochondrosis of the chest, he cannot sharply turn his body or stretch his arm and raise it. All such actions are very painful.
- Presence of dull pain in the shoulder blades (most often between them).
- The feet are usually cold because their blood supply is insufficient 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 / itching sensation on legs;
- 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 reproductive / reproductive systems;
- Sometimes there is a noticeable lack of oxygen.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, acute and prolonged pain that occurs in attacks is suitable. In case of exacerbation of the disease, the symptoms become extremely bright. At this time, the intervertebral discs are under great stress. In most cases, the patient is shown a hospital regime. 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
There are often such signs of thoracic osteochondrosis as vertebral syndromes, including: dorsalgia and dorsago.
Doraso is called a sharp pain in the chest of the 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. It is often felt when a person gets up from the table after working for a long time in an unchanged body position. The pain in the back is sometimes unbearable. It happens that the possibility of movement in the lumbo-thoracic / cervical region is limited.
As for dorsalgia, the development of this syndrome does not happen 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. The pain increases if you take a deep breath and tilt the body to the side or forward.
Muscle tissue tension occurs and, in addition, there are limitations of movements in the lumbo-thoracic / cervical region. As a rule, the pains become very strong in the evening, and in the morning all painful sensations pass by themselves if you walk for 10 minutes.
What other pain syndromes exist in osteochondrosis of the thoracic region?
Such a disease may also have other pain syndromes that can complicate the correct diagnosis. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis in the esophagus, pharynx and feeling of a "lump in the throat" appear if the disease has involved the upper thoracic segment of the chest. Chondrosis affecting the midthoracic segment causes discomfort under the hypochondrium on the right side.
If the disease affects the lower part of the chest, then there is pain in the abdominal cavity, which is very similar to the sensations that occur in intestinal pathologies.
It should be noted that no relationship between the occurrence of pain in osteochondrosis of the chest with the level of quality of food consumed and the diet of a person can be traced. In addition, the onset of pain has nothing to do with the time of year. But the pain in osteochondrosis of the chest can intensify closer to the night and after heavy physical exertion. In the morning, as usual, all sensations of discomfort disappear or decrease.
Complications
Thoracic osteochondrosis is dangerous because it is difficult to diagnose. For a long time, it has been 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 internal organs.
The most common complication can be called a disease related to the cardiovascular system. Such problems arise due to irritation of the receptors in the chest and cervical region.
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 of thoracic osteochondrosis?
Diagnostic measures
The chest area should begin to be treated after a comprehensive examination of the patient. It includes the following procedures:
- The patient is examined, recording all his observations regarding the course of the disease. If the disease reaches stage 2-3, the skeleton is noticeably deformed. The doctor is obliged to familiarize himself with the patient's medical history in order to exclude / confirm hereditary factors for the development of osteochondrosis of the chest.
- It is necessary to give urine and blood for analysis.
- X-rays 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 disc.
- Discography will allow the outline of the nucleus pulposus to be examined. This procedure uses contrast.
- CT. This examination is used extremely rarely, because during this examination the patient is highly irradiated.
- Electrocardiography. Since the symptoms of thoracic chondrosis are similar to ischemic heart disease, this research method is used to verify this diagnosis.
Breast treatment
Before organizing the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest, it is necessary to understand why this disease appeared in general. In some people, chondrosis appears due to an insufficiently mobile lifestyle, while others have once been injured in the spine, and therefore blood supply processes are disturbed. Thus, the reasons why the development of such a disease as osteochondrosis of the chest became appropriate are a huge number.
In any case, effective therapy for thoracic chondrosis consists not only in the use of drugs that have an analgesic effect, designed to neutralize pain in case of exacerbation of the disease. In addition, it is necessary to identify the initial cause of the disease. A serious attitude to the treatment of this disease is necessary.
Also, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest with the help of drugs should be combined with physiotherapy, remembering that small loads are useful.
Drug treatment
To treat the disease during its exacerbation, it is necessary to adhere to bed rest, take drugs characterized by an analgesic effect and other drugs that are effective in the fight against this disease.
Alleviation of the pain syndrome is achieved with drugs in the initial stages of the development of the disease. Tableted drugs and pain-relieving injections relieve pain with moderate strength. Painkillers are prescribed together with drugs that relieve inflammation, with drugs that restore cartilage tissue.
The choice of drugs, the intake of which is necessary for the regeneration of bone tissue, is carried out on an individual basis. The doctor must take into account the characteristics of the organism and the course of the disease in each individual case. Thus, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest with drugs includes taking the following drugs:
- Analgesics to eliminate acute pain in the chest area, 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 intervertebral discs that have spread to osteochondrosis.
Effective exercises
People who face the problem of osteochondrosis of the chest should perform exercises that have a positive effect on the spine. A well-written list of simple tasks will eliminate acute pain. By the way, breathing training with such a disease as chondrosis will also give its results and reduce the number of attacks. The following exercises are recommended:
- The plank is a good exercise in case of this disease, and it is recommended to do this exercise for no more than 1. 5 minutes with a gradual increase in the load on the chest.
- Hanging on the horizontal bar should be as often as possible, followed by adding time to the duration of the exercise.
- In the "board" position, in turn, you need to press your knees to your chest and hold them in this position for a few seconds. Such a preventive measure is useful for the joints and reduces the load on the chest in case of osteochondrosis.
For the treatment of pathology, it is best to use exercise therapy and other methods of physical therapy, and at the same time it is in a hospital under medical supervision. Such exercises do not cause inconvenience, since the patient performs simple and effective manipulations to get rid of osteochondrosis of the chest. Such therapy is one of the important elements of disease prevention in people who are at risk.
Manual therapy
The help of chiropractic in the form of massages for osteochondrosis of any part of the spine leads to greater efficiency and significantly improves the patient's well-being. Such treatment:
- Prevents back pain;
- Reduces tension in muscle tissue.
In addition, manual therapy is a great chance to normalize the systemic blood circulation in the intercostal space, to determine the proper nutrition of the tissues and to stimulate better saturation of the blood with oxygen.
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:
- It causes the hypertonus of the back muscles to be removed;
- It helps to strengthen the intervertebral disc bodies.
If massage is part of the 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 chest. Various therapeutic massages, as a rule, are recommended at the same time as 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 case of exacerbation of chondrosis, a person experiences unbearable pain, which is unrealistic to remove at home on your 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 it will complicate the task of doctors to make a correct diagnosis. With osteochondrosis of the chest, you cannot self-medicate - this 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 the following recommendations:
- The patient should observe bed rest (as far as possible, avoid any movement);
- It is best to do a complete diet and eat properly;
- The positions that the patient takes should not provoke the appearance of pain in him;
- It is necessary to take medicines: pain relievers and medicines to remove muscle spasms;
- It will not be superfluous to carry out physiotherapeutic manipulations;
- Exercise therapy is of great importance in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest. Of course, all exercises must be performed with extreme care.
Prevention
To prevent the occurrence of diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis of various departments), you should follow the following tips:
- Don't stand still: sign up for a pool, organize morning jogs, warm up your muscles;
- If during work (for example, you work in an office) you are in one position, then try to always align your back and relax your shoulders;
- Sitting work 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 weight and, if necessary, try not to lift it suddenly;
- Pump up the abdominal muscles;
- Your shoes should not cause discomfort during wear;
- Compose your diet in such a way that it includes as many useful trace elements as possible and is enriched.
No one is protected from the occurrence of such a disease 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 a long time later.
If you follow all the above recommendations, then the probability of encountering this disease is minimal.
Additional tips
It is clear that in order to avoid problems with the spine, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations related to a healthy lifestyle.
If your work is stuck, then every hour it is worth arranging a break and, if possible, a warm-up. Swimming is very effective for the prevention of osteochondrosis of the chest. A balanced diet will not be superfluous.
It is worth doing daily exercises in the morning and doing sports in your free time for the purpose of prevention.
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.
Every person wants to live without pain, not to be limited in anything due to the presence of any diseases. That is why it is important to identify osteochondrosis in time and treat it if this problem still surprises you.
Many people who have encountered osteochondrosis of the chest, who reacted to the disease in time and after taking up its treatment, have already forgotten what osteochondrosis is and what symptoms it has. Don't delay either!
And even better to prevent the occurrence of this disease. Just lead an active lifestyle!