Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine are a kind of charge for a person to walk vertically. It is known that other mammals do not suffer from osteochondrosis, since their vertebral column is located horizontally on the surface of the earth. Vertical loads during walking cause the gradual destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs and facilitates the movement of the spine in a dangerous position.
Such processes occur less frequently in the thoracic region than in the sacral and uterine lining, but this does not reduce the risk of this disease. In this article we will discuss in detail the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest region, as well as items related to the prevention of this disease.
Features of Chest OsteochondrosisThe thoracic spine is characterized by low mobility, which reduces the likelihood of degenerative processes in this area. Nevertheless, cases of this disease are regularly recorded by orthopedists and traumatologists in different age groups.
Osteochondrosis cases have been steadily increasing in civilized countries in recent decades. Doctors believe that the main reasons for this trend are inactive lifestyle, poor diet and the planet in general against the background of the planet.Women suffer from chest osteochondrosis 2-3 times more often than men. This is due to the peculiarities of female anatomy and physiology. Additional impact factors include: childbirth, walking on heels, general weakness of the musculoskeletal system in women.
In both sexes, osteochondrosis of the chest region causes painful symptoms and reduces range of motion. The progression of the pathology is fraught with compression of the nerve endings, which inevitably affects the condition of the internal organs. Advanced cases of the disease are often accompanied by vascular and cardiac disorders, respiratory problems.
Anatomically, the 12 thoracic spine is connected to the ribs and chest in a strong and inactive frame structure that protects the internal organs from mechanical stress. In the initial stage the disease causes almost no severe symptoms, but in the later stages the manifestations of the pathology are so diverse that sometimes it interferes with an accurate diagnosis. Not surprisingly, osteochondrosis is often referred to as ‘chameleon disease’.
The most common causes of chest osteochondrosis are trauma, muscle weakness, physical inactivity, metabolic disorders, spinal overload, and genetic predisposition. The disease develops gradually, which, on the one hand, allows you to start treatment on time and stop the degenerative processes, but on the other hand, it prevents the early detection of pathology.
Stages of the disease
Doctors classify chest osteochondrosis according to developmental stages:
Stage 1.The intervertebral discs lose their elastic properties, shrink in size, but do not yet move from an anatomical position.
Stage 2.The height of the discs decreases further and the spinal column itself loses stability. Cracks form in the annulus, the discs change, and put pressure on the nerve endings, blood vessels, and muscles. The second stage is characterized by severe back pain and neurological symptoms.
Stage 3. In such cases, herniated discs are diagnosed. The discs lose the properties of the pads and cease to perform proper anatomical functions. The spine itself suffers - they collapse, disintegrate and form osteophytes - dangerous bone growths.In addition to hard tissue, muscles, tendons, and tendons are damaged. Muscles are blocked, spasmodic events occur in them. The body tries to immobilize the affected area as much as possible to reduce the pain - this causes swelling in the muscles and muscle atrophy.
Symptoms of Chest Osteochondrosis
As already mentioned, at the onset of the disease, thoracic osteochondrosis is weak or does not manifest at all. With the progression of the pathology, periodic pains arise between the shoulder blades: the symptoms intensify after physical exertion or, conversely, after prolonged rest. Often, the pain bothers patients after waking up in the morning and subsides within an hour. Sometimes the pain moves along the intercostal nerve, radiating to the chest during coughing, wheezing, or running.
Typical signs
In stages 2-3, the most prominent symptom of osteochondrosis of the chest region is persistent excruciating pain in the intracranial zone. Chest pain is also quite typical: the sensations are similar to an angina attack with coronary artery disease or heart failure.
Similarity of symptoms to heart disease is a fairly common cause of misdiagnosis. However, it is quite easy to distinguish the pain of degenerative processes in the spine from the symptoms of the heart: nitroglycerin and similar drugs that relieve angina attacks, with osteochondrosis, in no way alleviate the patient's condition.
Other Typical Symptoms of Chest Osteochondrosis:- Density of the trunk muscles during deep breathing (dorsalgia) - as if the body is stretched with a hoop;
- Dorsago - Acute chest pain (so-called "chest lumbago");
- nausea and numbness of the hands (in the presence of radicular syndrome);
- Intercostal pain during walking and physical activity (intercostal neuralgia): with inflammation of the nerve endings, the pain becomes constant;
- spasms in the back of the chest;
- Pain when lifting arms, turning the body and taking deep breaths.
The stages of the disease directly affect the intensity of the symptoms. For patients with a therapeutic plan, it is important not to relieve pain with medications and non-traditional methods (analgesics, antispasmodics, various ointments, compresses, and warmers), but to visit a clinic and doctor to find out the cause of the pain. Osteochondrosis self-care is rarely effective and in some cases even aggravates the course of the disease.
Rare symptoms
Osteochondrosis of the chest area is often disguised as other pathologies causing their symptoms. This complicates the diagnosis and often becomes the cause of inadequate treatment.
The atypical manifestations ofdisease are very diverse:
Signs of ischemia, heart attack, myocardial infarction (ECG or other tests should be performed for a differential diagnosis);Urinary disorders and disorders of the reproductive system are also possible. Women have anorgasmia, painful and heavy menstruation (menorrhagia) and sometimes infertility. Men have erectile dysfunction. Doctors are not always able to find the real cause of these pathologies and therefore the treatment of reproductive diseases does not provide positive dynamics.
Occasionally marked by osteochondrosis in the chest region, marked by pressure surges, toothache and headache, sleep disturbance, tinnitus. Psycho-emotional disorders are not excluded - irritability, depression, tears, anxiety.
Diagnosis, therapy and prevention
Examination of the disease is carried out by external examination, palpation and range of motion. It is important to find out in detail from the patient about the duration of symptoms, their nature and the accompanying manifestations of the disease.
The following procedures are prescribed:
- X-ray of the spine;
- MRI, CT and ultrasound of the abdomen (if necessary);
- Blood and urine tests;
- myelography;
- ECG (exclusion of heart pathologies).
The treatment regimen develops after diagnosis. There is no single protocol for treating osteochondrosis: Health procedures depend on the patient's condition, age, physical condition, and immune system status.
The main goal of treatment is to reduce the consequences of degenerative processes in cartilage tissue and prevent the development of complications. Therapy is usually outpatient, except in particularly severe clinical situations. Mainly conservative therapy is performed.
Medications
Medications are prescribed only in cases of severe pain syndrome and inflammatory processes. It is preferable to use the drug in the form of external ointments, less often prescribed tablets, intramuscular or epidural injections.
Most Topical Drug Types:
- Analgesics;
- anti-inflammatory agents;
- muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
- vitamin complexes;
- Steroids.
Experienced therapists will never offer you drug-based therapy. After pain and inflammation are reduced, the medication is stopped.
Physiotherapy, Exercise Therapy, Massage
These methods play a leading role in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the thoracic spine. This technique relieves pain, strengthens yoga and muscles, restores and stimulates blood circulation, metabolic processes.
Popular physiotherapy methods:
- magnetotherapy;
- Electrical and phonophoresis;
- laser exposure;
- Amplipulse therapy;
- ultrasound treatment;
- paraffin programs;
- Casting of Kinesio;
- mud therapy;
- balneotherapy;
- hypothermia;
- Hirudotherapy, treatment with bee venom.
physiotherapy is its safety. Procedures can be scheduled at any age, with almost any comorbid disease. A separate field of physiotherapy is reflexology (acupuncture). The method is effective but requires the presence of a professional specialist.
Physiotherapy is a mandatory step in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. Gymnastics strengthens the musculoskeletal system, restores the normal anatomical condition of the spinal structures, reduces the pressure on the nerve endings and prevents the development of rashes and hernias of the intervertebral discs.
Complex exercises should be performed regularly and for a long time - only in this case they will have a noticeable therapeutic effect. Ideally, sessions should be conducted under the guidance of an instructor as any incorrect movement can cause injury and cause pain.
Massage (manual and technique effects) has the same therapeutic tasks as exercise therapy: relieving pain, improving blood flow, strengthening muscles. In addition to the manual influence of a specialist, they practically use massagers, applicators, orthopedic devices.
Radical treatment
Modern medical facilities resort to breast osteochondrosis surgery in exceptional cases - when there is a real risk of spinal cord injury or there are dangerous rashes and hernias. Spinal surgery is always an additional risk, so interventions are rarely performed and performed only by experienced surgeons.
Prevention
Prevention of the disease is much easier than long-term (and sometimes lifelong) therapy. Unfortunately, modern medicine can not reverse the degenerative processes; It can only reduce the consequences of pathology and eliminate acute symptoms.
For this reason, prevention of osteochondrosis should be addressed from childhood. Prevents the development of the disease: correct posture, balanced diet, proper alternation of physical activity and rest, sleep in a comfortable bed. Timely diagnosis of the disease and strict implementation of the doctor's recommendations play a positive role.