Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine (OS) means not only the destruction of the fibrous rings and bone elements, but also the weakness of the muscle structures. This form of pathology is uncommon and has specific symptoms that may resemble an attack of angina or gastritis.
That is why it is so important to distinguish the disease by excluding other causes of back pain. We will tell you how to recognize the symptoms of the disease and carry out effective therapy.
Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the hip joint, unlike lumbar and cervical osteochondrosis, is rarely diagnosed. This is explained by the anatomy of the thoracic region: it contains more elements, they are smaller and thinner, and they also have long processes. The mobility of this segment of the spine is noticeably lower, and the lion's share of the load is taken by the sternum and ribs.
A lump in the throat with osteochondrosis of the GOP appears due to spasm of the muscles of the pharynx and neck.
The convex-back physiological curvature of the GOP also plays an important role. In this case, the main pressure falls on the front part of the discs, so that the far part remains in relative peace. This means that formed protrusions and hernias appear outside the spine without affecting the spinal cord.
Types of diseases
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depend on the observed syndrome. There are two types: neurological and pain.
The first case is characterized by numbness of the upper limbs, crawling, twitching and reflex tension of the back muscles. In particularly severe cases, difficulty in breathing occurs, feeling of a lump in the throat, heartburn, pressure in the epigastrium.
The pain syndrome can be sharp and intense (dorsago) or long-lasting and mild (dorsalgia) and can manifest as intercostal neuralgia.
There is a code to describe the destructive effects of osteochondrosis according to ICD-10. For children, M42. It corresponds to a value of 0, for adults it is M42. 1 code is used. If the diagnosis is not confirmed by MRI and X-ray results, the patient receives code M54 - dorsalgia.
Dorsago
This term refers to a sharp, sudden pain in the sternum. They can be so severe that they make breathing and movement difficult. They are otherwise known as thoracic lumbago.
A dangerous symptom is the occurrence of pain in the front on the left side. If the attack is not triggered by thoracic osteochondrosis, it may be a sign of heart pathology. In this case, the person needs urgent medical attention, so it will be useful to know some of the characteristic features of chest pain.
Thus, in the case of dorsago, the patient's well-being does not improve after taking "heart" drugs, and the ECG does not show changes in the rhythm. In addition, the discomfort increases sharply when coughing, bending the upper body to the side and forward.
Such manifestations of the thoracic form of the disease must be distinguished from other pathologies with similar symptoms. The neurologist does this by performing EKG, radiography, CT and MRI on the spine. In particularly difficult cases, a thoracic surgeon is also involved in the diagnosis.
Dorsalgia
Dorsalgia is called back pain. The peculiarity of this syndrome is the duration of its course and the lack of expression of the clinical picture, while the main symptoms do not spread beyond the chest.
The disease develops gradually and torments the patient with unpleasant sensations in the shoulder blade area at night. In the morning, the discomfort goes away by itself after short movements.
The pain increases with deep and frequent breathing, bending and turning. In the case of dorsalgia, spasms of the back muscles and deterioration of the mobility of the cervicothoracic or lumbar-thoracic segments are observed.
Predisposing factors for the development of the disease
The thoracic form of osteochondrosis never appears on its own. Unfavorable circumstances precede it, which can exist either separately or simultaneously, reinforcing each other.
Provocative factors:
- limited diet, micronutrient deficiency;
- passive lifestyle;
- professional sports;
- back injuries;
- congenital abnormalities of the structure of bone structures;
- obesity;
- infectious and inflammatory pathologies that can interfere with the diffuse nutrition of the vertebrae (ankylopoetic spondylitis, spinal tuberculosis);
- crow's feet.
When an elderly person is diagnosed with osteochondrosis, doctors talk about the inevitable aging of the body. But if the disease develops in young patients, especially teenagers, it indicates an incorrect lifestyle and adherence to bad habits.
The thoracic form of the disease most often develops in office workers, students and schoolchildren, who spend a lot of time in a sitting position with a bent back. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic type is dangerous for the heart muscle.
Predisposing factors for the development of the disease in women are pregnancy, wearing high heels and weak back muscles. Symptoms of the pathology noticeably increase during menopause - due to a decrease in estrogen production. If hormone replacement therapy is started during this period, damage to the spine can be stopped for many years.
The main methods of treatment
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease that leads to deformation of the intervertebral discs and disorders of the biomechanics of the skeleton as a whole. It is impossible to cure, as many neurological and vertebral diseases develop simultaneously with the destruction. Therefore, the therapy of osteochondrosis is symptomatic.
The treatment regimen for spinal dystrophy includes several medications.
What drugs are used to combat the pathology? First of all, these are NSAIDs in tablets and injections.
Ointments and creams for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the hip joint are ineffective, since the fibrous disc is hidden behind the thickness of the muscles, and it is unlikely that the drug penetrates so deeply.
If NSAIDs are contraindicated or do not achieve the desired effect, glucocorticosteroids are used, including paravertebral blocks. To reduce pain and inflammation, ultraphonophoresis is prescribed with painkillers, magnetic therapy and UHF. Myalgia is alleviated with muscle relaxants.
It is not a drug treatment
The most effective way to fight against thoracic osteochondrosis is massage. It helps to relax tense muscles, relieves back discomfort, and partly restores the biomechanics of the spine. You can do the procedure yourself if you buy a suitable massager for your home.
Traction (stretching) of the spine helps to reduce the load on the damaged discs. With this procedure, the pinched nerve roots can be relieved and the patient's condition can be significantly improved. It is noticeable that the patient feels relief after the first treatment.
At home, it is recommended to stretch the spine with specially selected exercises. Of course, traction works faster in the case of osteochondrosis, but movement therapy has many advantages: it relaxes and strengthens the back muscles, reduces the load on the discs, improves the patient's general well-being, and improves the mood.
There are many interesting and effective complexes for the thoracic spine. Very good exercises that do not require sports training and are available to anyone. We recommend that you start training with the simplest movements, gradually increasing the complexity of the exercises.
Recently, a basic complex of universal movements that restores the functioning of all body systems has gained great popularity. Gymnastics is well complemented by swimming in the pool and hydromassage.
Measures aimed at exacerbation of osteochondrosis
Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs as a chronic pathology, and the frequency of relapses directly depends on the degree of damage to the discs and the patient's lifestyle.
During an exacerbation, when the nerve fibers are pinched, the patient needs complete rest and anti-inflammatory medication. It is also recommended to take pain relievers and vitamin and mineral complexes with high calcium and B vitamins.
In the relapse of osteochondrosis, folk remedies are very effective. Non-traditional treatment includes various ointments and salves made on the basis of camphor alcohol and essential oils of pine, juniper and thuja.
Infusions and decoctions of herbs help to cope with relapse. Poultices made from fresh burdock and cabbage leaves, body lotions made from linden flowers, birch buds or celery root have a good anti-inflammatory effect.
In case of acute back pain, traditional healers recommend placing a mustard patch on the area of the affected vertebrae. It is difficult to say how effective and safe this method is, but for many it really helps to get rid of painful symptoms.
There are many good reviews about this method of treatment of exacerbation, for example, acupuncture. The procedure performed by a highly qualified specialist perfectly relieves pain, calms and relaxes, and stimulates the body's defenses. It helps both in the initial stages of the disease and in severely advanced forms.
GOP consequences of osteochondrosis
If degenerative changes in the spine are not treated immediately, they progress rapidly and lead to serious disorders in the body. The most common complications of osteochondrosis are:
- disturbances in the activity of the gastrointestinal tract;
- diseases of the lungs and bronchi;
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- deterioration of blood circulation in the limbs.
The formation of protrusion and herniation of the intervertebral discs causes compression of nerve fibers, arteries and the spinal cord.
As a result of the deterioration of blood circulation, the patient may develop paralysis of the limbs, and the functioning of the brain may deteriorate. Often the appearance of neurological disorders: Brown-Séquard and Personage-Turner syndrome, Adamkiewicz reaction, anterior spinal cord infarction.
Complications of osteochondrosis of GOP include VSD (complex of vegetative-vascular disorders).
Why is this type of osteochondrosis dangerous?
The main danger of dystrophy of the thoracic spine is incorrect diagnosis and the prescription of inappropriate treatment. While the patient is taking heart or stomach medication, the destruction of the discs progresses more and more, leading to protrusion and herniation.
The danger of the disease is also great in terms of the possible development of heart pathologies - advanced osteochondrosis of the heart is often the cause of arrhythmia, cardiovascular insufficiency and heart attack.
Breathing problems may occur during an acute attack of thoracic spine. Long-term restriction of airflow leads to destructive bronchitis, asthma and lung diseases. The resulting hernias cause deterioration of the function of the stomach, pancreas, kidney and liver.
Women with thoracic osteochondrosis are faced with a disorder of the reproductive system - they cannot conceive a child for years, without suspecting that the cause of infertility lies in spinal dystrophy. Men also suffer from chest disease - potency deteriorates, muscle tone decreases, arm strength is lost, and possible deferment from military service.
Preventive measures
It is not difficult to avoid spinal problems. The most important thing is to get used to daily physical activity. A little exercise early in the morning and a few active breaks during the work day can have huge benefits.
It's good to swim, if you are overweight, definitely lose weight, but without excessive zeal. The diet should be balanced and contain enough calories. You can also take chondroprotectors.
In order to prevent spinal diseases, it is advisable to visit a qualified masseuse, do yoga or stretch.
Conclusion
Even with osteochondrosis of the chest region, you can fully live, forgetting about the disease for many years. The most important thing is to remember to do regular physical activity. As soon as we reduce activity, the body ages quickly and suffers from all kinds of diseases, including spinal dystrophy. Knowing this, it is not difficult to prevent pathology or to slow down the destruction that has already begun.