How to recognize and treat thoracic osteochondrosis?

Thoracic osteochondrosis is rare but can cause many complications. It is important to conduct a thorough diagnosis to make an accurate diagnosis. Treatment must be prompt and thorough. Preventive measures will help prevent the development of such a disease.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a degenerative disease of the cartilage structures. Without timely and competent treatment, osteochondrosis can cause various complications, so it cannot be ignored. Preventive measures will help to avoid such a pathology.

General characteristics of the disease

Osteochondrosis is a fairly common lesion of 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 experiences less stress.

This feature is also 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 the ligaments, intervertebral discs, joints, causing their destruction.

With the development of osteochondrosis, bone structures are first affected, then the pathological process spreads to cartilage structures, muscles, connective tissue. At a young age, such pathological changes provoke premature aging of the body.

Classification

The pathology is characterized by a gradual progression, therefore, there are four phases (degrees), each of which is characterized by certain clinical manifestations and complications:

1. The first stage usually involves rupture of the intervertebral disc, which can cause excessive stress or sudden movements.
2. In the second phase, the protrusion of the intervertebral discs is observed. In this case, the disc swells in the intervertebral canal: the protrusion usually does not exceed half a centimeter. At this stage, 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 an intervertebral hernia.
4. The fourth stage of the disease is called the most serious and 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 occurrence is not related to gender.

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

• age - people who are over the age of 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 blood circulation in the thoracic region;
• 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 is sometimes 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, pain can be observed even at rest, intensified due to any movement. It can be dull or sore.
• Squeeze in the middle of the back. In this case, it is more difficult for a person to breathe. Pain is felt when you inhale deeply or exhale.
• Parts of the body become numb.
• There may be chills and goosebumps.
• The local temperature in the legs decreases.
• You may feel itching and burning in the lower limbs.
• If the disease affects the cardiovascular system, causing it to malfunction, this can be accompanied by peeling of the skin, thinning of the nails and increased fragility of the nails.
• With the progression of osteochondrosis, the work of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, which can lead to a whole range of symptoms: nausea, heartburn, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, painful sensations in the abdomen.

Pain is one of the main symptoms of breast osteochondrosis, but it can manifest itself in completely different ways. In some cases, back pain is observed - painful sensations arise at the injury site and continue for a long time. In other cases, back pain occurs: the pain manifests itself intensely and sharply, manifests itself in paroxysms, limits the muscles and disturbs breathing.

The clinical picture of osteochondrosis largely depends on its stage:

1. In the first stage of the disease, a rupture of the intervertebral disc is usually observed. This phenomenon is expressed by severe pain and muscle tension. The sensations are reminiscent of the effect of an electric current, the discharge of which seems to pass along the spine.
2. In the second stage, protrusion can be observed, which is accompanied by pain in the thoracic region, 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 slightly disrupt the work of the heart.
4. In the fourth stage, due to the compression of the nerve roots, intercostal neuralgia can develop. In this case, severe pain in the chest occurs. It affects only one area at first, but then spreads throughout the chest. This makes breathing difficult. The patient sometimes cannot change the position of the body, the pain during various movements intensifies many times, it can be unbearable. Due to the severe pain, the pupils can 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, symptoms become less intense or disappear entirely, but sudden movements or low body temperature can increase them.

Atypical manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis include the following symptoms:

• Painful sensations in the heart region. Such a manifestation raises suspicions of a heart attack or angina pectoris. Sometimes this symptom lasts for several weeks.
• Concentration of pain in the abdomen, resulting in severe discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract. This symptom increases with physical activity.
• Acute spastic pain in the upper abdomen. This symptom is characteristic of gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis.
• In women, an exacerbation of the disease can cause excruciating 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 thoracic region, pain can affect the esophagus or pharynx. Patients in this case complain of the sensation of a foreign object in the throat.

Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by many symptoms characteristic of other pathologies as well. A qualified specialist will be able to understand all the nuances of the clinical picture.

Diagnostics

The doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis already in the phase of the initial examination of the patient. Usually a neurologist deals with the problem of osteochondrosis. The doctor examines the spine in various positions of the body.

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

In addition, the following measures can also be applied:

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

They also resort to laboratory diagnostics. It may consist of general and biochemical blood and urine tests. Such studies are carried out with the aim of differential diagnosis, identifying the characteristics of the pathology, associated complications.

Diagnostics are needed 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. It includes not only the use of drugs, but also various methods of physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises, massage.

During an exacerbation of the disease, bed rest is required. Mobility should be limited as much as possible. Often the pain syndrome is so strong that the patient calls an ambulance. The treatment in this case is carried out in a hospital setting.

Restrict movements during treatment. When bed rest is no longer needed, you can walk, but long walks are prohibited. Walking should be alternated with rest. Also, you shouldn't sit in one position for a long time.

In advanced disease, traction is used. 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 therapy

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

• The basis of drug therapy is usually non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which relieve pain and eliminate inflammation. Such medicines 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 multiple forms of drugs from the same group. The therapeutic course usually lasts 1-2 weeks.
• In case of severe pain, use glucocorticosteroids. The drugs are usually used for intramuscular injections or applications via physiotherapy.
• Analgesics are also used for severe pain.
• In case of unbearable pain, they resort to drug blocks. The blocks are performed strictly according to directions in a hospital setting.
• Topical irritants can help reduce pain. They can be based on natural ingredients: chili 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 necessary drugs in a particular case. It is necessary to determine the duration and schedule of taking each drug, take into account the compatibility of various medicinal substances.

Physiotherapy and massage

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

• electrophoresis or phonophoresis with drugs, including anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs;
• magnetic therapy;
• darsonvalization;
• paraffin applications;
• ozokeritotherapy;
• balneotherapy;
• ultrasound;
• mud therapy;
• UHF therapy.

Particular attention should be paid to massage for osteochondrosis of the chest. The following techniques may be involved in the treatment of such a pathology:

• Classic.In this case, the massage consists of light stroking, kneading, pinching, rubbing. Such treatment should be a course. A course can include up to 15 sessions, each lasting no more than 20 minutes.
• Spot.The impact can be done on painful points or acupuncture points. The movements are performed with the fingertips in a circle with a gradual increase in the pressing force.
• In box.The use of cans allows you to create a vacuum, which increases blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. Cupping massage increases muscle tone, eliminates pathological reflexes and accelerates the microcirculation of various fluids in the body.
• Segmental.This massage is performed to improve the blood supply to the affected area, stimulate lymphatic drainage and oxygenate the tissues.

Corrective gymnastics

Physiotherapy exercises provide excellent effect in case of thoracic osteochondrosis. It should be done under the supervision of a specialist, but some exercises can be done at home:

• Warm up before corrective gymnastics. To this end, you can take a shower and do some warm-up. It consists of gestures, rotations, turns of the body.
• Lie on the floor, on your stomach. Put both hands behind your head, spreading your elbows. Slowly raise your shoulders and body. Raise 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. Doing a torso flexion, raise your arms without opening them. At the extreme point, you need to linger for a few seconds, smoothly return to its original position.
• Step onto the floor and put your hands behind your shoulders. Raise your shoulders alternately, moving your head in the same direction.
• Lie down on a hard surface, face down. Stretch your arms forward as you lift your body. Do several repetitions, then do the same body lifts, but with your arms extended along your body.
• Sit on a chair and place both hands on the belt. Move the shoulder girdle, gently lifting 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. You need to sit down and raise your arms as you inhale, holding a stick in them. As you exhale, return to the starting position and tilt your body forward.
• Get down on the ground and put your hands with a gymnastic stick on your shoulders. Then tilt your body left and right. This exercise is contraindicated in scoliosis.
• Sit in a chair with a back, lean on it and lean back.

All exercises should be performed smoothly and slowly. Abrupt movements are excluded. If an exercise is painful, you should stop and rest. If the pain persists, the exercise should be stopped and a doctor should be consulted.

Prognosis, complications

With timely 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 when it swells in the intervertebral canal;
• intervertebral hernia - unlike protrusion, it involves the 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 - popularly called hump and implies the curvature of the spine with the direction of the bulge (sagittal plane);
• pneumosclerosis;
• shingles;
• malignant neoplasms;
• sexual dysfunction.

Prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to stop and treat pathological changes that have already occurred.

Observance of the following preventive measures will help avoid breast osteochondrosis:

• Maintain a normal body weight.
• Moderate physical activity. You need to exercise regularly or exercise at least daily. It is imperative to include elements for strengthening the back muscles in the series of exercises.
• Avoid injury, physical overload.
• Maintain correct posture, if necessary, by correcting it.
• Avoid emotional overload, stress.
• Proper nutrition.
• Elimination of bad habits.
• Correct organization of the bed. It is important to correctly select the firmness of the mattress, orienting it to your individual characteristics.
• Organize your workplace properly. If the work is sedentary, you should take care of a chair with a high back. It is necessary to take breaks and warm up during them.
• Timely medical examinations.
• Complete and timely treatment of any pathology.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can lead to various complications that adversely affect the quality of life. It is necessary at the first signs of pathology to consult a doctor who will diagnose and prescribe competent treatment. All regulations must be strictly followed.