A sedentary lifestyle, injuries or excessive physical activity cause diseases of the musculoskeletal system. To avoid complications, it is important to start treatment at an early stage. To do this, you need to know about the causes and symptoms of the pathology.
Description of the disease, what is its danger
Osteochondrosis of the chest is a chronic disease in which dystrophic changes begin in the cartilage located in the intervertebral space. The pathology is expressed in a decrease in the height of the discs and compression of the intercostal nerve endings.
Thoracic osteochondrosis goes through several stages of progression.
The first is characterized by drying of the intervertebral disc, reduced stiffness and elasticity, and the appearance of cracks. The pain is mild and disappears after the person rests for a while.
In the second stage, the disc decreases in height, the niche in the vertebra is filled with the nucleus pulposus, but does not go beyond its borders. Muscles experience constant tension. The person complains of severe pain that subsides after rest.
The third stage is characterized by the exit of the nucleus pulposus beyond the edges, the crack reaches the spinal edge. As a result, an intervertebral hernia is formed. The pain becomes constant.
In the fourth stage, a proliferation of connective tissue is detected, which puts pressure on the nearby vertebrae. To compensate for the reduced layer, bone tissue begins to grow. More and more growths (osteophytes) appear.
Types of thoracic osteochondrosis and complications
Based on the nature of the pain, two types of thoracic osteochondrosis are distinguished:
- dorsago, which is characterized by sharp sharp pain in the form of lumbago, localized in the thoracic spine. The condition is accompanied by muscle tension, movement problems in the neck and chest area;
- dorsalgia, in which the pain increases slowly. Inhalations and rotations of the body, as well as prolonged stay in one position, increase the discomfort. At night, the discomfort worsens and disappears when walking.
In the absence of adequate therapy, the nerve endings are increasingly compressed. As a result, osteochondrosis of the chest can cause complications:
- diseases of the digestive system;
- persistent pain;
- disturbances in heart activity;
- reduced ability to conceive;
- lung dysfunction caused by proliferation of connective tissue.
Why does chest pathology occur?
This part of the spine experiences moderate stress and limited mobility. However, the pathology is common. The disease can be caused by one of the reasons or their combination:
- injuries and damages;
- excessive workload of the department, including in childhood;
- age-related changes associated with reduced nutrition of the disc tissue between the vertebrae;
- endocrinological diseases, especially during menopause;
- age-related calcium absorption disorder;
- overweight;
- problems with blood vessels, atherosclerotic deposits in the vessels of the chest region;
- weak muscle corset.
How does the pathology manifest itself?
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis include pain and increased muscle tone. The pain can be either short-lasting with shooting pain or long-lasting pain. Recoil can be felt in the front of the chest, under the ribs and in the shoulder. The pain intensifies when staying in one position for a long time.
A characteristic sign of the pathology is sensitivity to palpation of the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest are similar to those of other diseases and include:
- discomfort in the heart area, reminiscent of angina pain;
- pain during breathing, shortness of breath, also occurs in pneumonia, tuberculosis, obstructive lung disease;
- pain in the epigastric region, under the ribs, similar to signs of gastrointestinal diseases.
Methods of treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis
If you have complaints, you should contact a neurologist. Therapy includes medication, physical therapy, exercise, and massage.
Doctors prescribe drugs:
- means to eliminate the source of inflammation in the spine;
- drugs to reduce muscle tone and the risk of compression of the sensory roots of the spinal cord;
- neuroprotectants designed to help repair nerve fibers.
The choice and dosage are chosen by the doctor, who will take into account the tolerability of the drug, concomitant pathologies and the patient's weight.
It is important to follow the recommended duration of treatment to avoid relapses. You can buy prescription drugs cheaply in the online store.
Massage should be done carefully using friction techniques. The areas under the shoulder blades and between the ribs should be treated thoroughly. At least 10-15 sessions are needed to achieve an effect.
During physiotherapy, the emphasis is on exercises that strengthen the muscle corset, neck and lower back.
Ointments and gels with anti-inflammatory effects, warming patches and Kuznetsov applicator are prescribed locally.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Osteochondrosis of the chest is a degenerative pathology of the vertebrae and discs. Vlasenko Alexander Adolfovich (neurologist, doctor of manual therapy with 30 years of experience) talks about osteochondrosis of the chest - symptoms, diagnosis and effective methods of treatment.
Why is thoracic osteochondrosis called a "chameleon"?
The thoracic spine has a peculiarity - the ribs are attached to it. Thanks to this, it is less mobile than the neck and waist. Therefore, osteochondrosis in the chest region develops less often, according to the principle: "less mobility - less wear". But it develops less often - this does not mean that it occurs more easily. And it really is. We are talking aboutpain in the chest. Since the area of pain in the chest coincides with the area of the heart, the symptoms are often confused with angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. It is not for nothing that they say about thoracic osteochondrosis that it is a "chameleon". After all, he can pretend not only to have a heart disease, but also a disease of the lungs, liver, stomach, gall bladder or pancreas. And here you can not make a mistake and ignore a heart attack or another serious disease, for example, pathology of the mammary glands in women. Such mistakes are costly, even if everything works out in the end. After all, this can "put" a person under great stress. That is why it is very important to find an experienced and knowledgeable doctor who will understand everything and distinguish the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis from other pathologies. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are usuallydivided into two categories - radicular and reflex.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Manifestations of osteochondrosis will depend on the location and severity of the lesion in the motion segment of the spine. In the initial stage, patients complain of dull, aching pain in the back, discomfort, slight limitation of movements in the spine, periodic numbness of the hands or feet, headache and fatigue. By starting treatment and changing your lifestyle during this period, the result will not be late and recovery will come quickly.
With severe damage to the intervertebral disc, there is severe pain, constant numbness and/or weakness in the arm or leg (depending on the level of damage). These signs may indicate the destruction of the intervertebral disc and the presence of a hernia, and it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor and start treatment.
In the most severe cases, the pain syndrome can be extremely severe, possible dysfunction of the pelvic organs, severe weakness and numbness in the arm or leg. If these signs are present, urgent hospitalization in a hospital is necessary to solve the problem with surgical treatment.
With cervical osteochondrosis, pain occurs in the neck, it can radiate to the shoulder, arm or head, numbness or weakness in the arm, headache, dizziness.
With osteochondrosis of the chest, the pain appears in the chest, radiates to the sternum or shoulder blade, intensifies with breathing and movement, sometimes there is a feeling of lack of air. Patients often confuse this condition with heart pain.
When the lumbosacral spine is affected, the pain is localized in the lower back, increases with movement, radiates to the leg or perineum, numbness or weakness in the leg may appear.
You must remember that our body is one whole, and the division of osteochondrosis into cervical, thoracic and lumbar is arbitrary. As a rule, the disease develops in the entire spine, but it manifests itself in the part that experiences the greatest load.
Radicular symptoms
They occur due to the impact on the nerves leaving the spine.
Spinal nerves
Many nerves exit the spine. These are called spinal nerves. Each such nerve gradually branches out and follows a specific area of the body with clearly defined boundaries. This area is called the zone of segmental innervation. Each vertebra, disc, nerve and area is numbered, strictly corresponding to each other. If a nerve is exposed, the symptoms will appear in the area of segmental innervation corresponding to that nerve, not anywhere - at random.
Radicular symptoms include:
- Decrease or loss of reflexes;
- Impaired sensitivity;
- Muscle weakness;
- Radicular pain.
Innervation zones of the thoracic segments
Osteochondrosis D1-D2- Causes pain in the shoulder, collarbone and armpits.
Osteochondrosis D3-D6- causes pain of a throbbing nature in the upper part of the chest. It simulates pain in the heart, an attack of angina. In women, it causes pain in the mammary glands.
Osteochondrosis D7-D8- causes lower back pain at the level of the solar plexus. Simulates pain in the stomach, liver, gall bladder or pancreas. Decreases upper abdominal reflexes.
Osteochondrosis D9-D10- causes pain in hypochondrium and upper abdomen. Sometimes it mimics the so-called "sharp" abdomen - a sharp pain in the abdomen. Decreases average abdominal reflexes.
Osteochondrosis D11-D12- causes pain in the groin area. Simulates pain in women's diseases, appendicitis and intestinal diseases. Decreases lower abdominal reflexes.
Reflex symptoms
Unlike radicular symptoms, reflex symptoms do not have clear boundaries. They can be: difficulty breathing, lack of air, pain when inhaling and exhaling, chills and "goosebumps" on the skin, intercostal neuralgia, chest pain. Dyspepsia is often observed - the appetite worsens, nausea, heartburn, bloating and bowel dysfunction appear. Due to the pain, sleep is disturbed, insomnia occurs and the feeling of sleeplessness appears. It is difficult to move, especially in the morning. The coordination of movements is disturbed - this is reflected in the gait. General weakness, weakness. Sexual disorders. irritability. Fatigue quickly. Various pains appear. Pressing pain in chest area. Pain between shoulder blades. Pain in hypochondrium. Pain when raising arms. Pain when bending over or trying to stand up. Pain between shoulder blades. In general, pain in osteochondrosis of the chest is usually divided into two types.
Dorsalgia- moderately strong, long-lasting pain in the back and chest with periods of increasing and decreasing.
Dorsago- acutely painful "lumbago" in this area.
- Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest depend on the stage of osteochondrosis.
- They get worse when you bend over or try to stand up.
- Symptoms often appear after 35-45 years.
- They occur approximately 3 times more often in women than in men.
You have, of course, noticed that the radicular symptoms are quite clearly defined, while the reflex symptoms are very vague and non-specific. And as you know, anything that does not have clear definitions serves as a convenient cover for professional helplessness. This applies, among other things, to reflex symptoms and such a favorite concept among doctors as "age-related changes". Surely many of you are familiar with the situation when the doctor explains the problem as "reflex" or "age-related"processes. Most people at such moments rightly believe that the doctor simply cannot understand what is happening and tries to cover his incompetence in the fog of these "magic words".
At one time there was a popular phrase: "Every catastrophe has a name, a surname and a position". So every disease has its own unique symptoms. And it is the duty of the doctor to know them clearly. And then there will be no need to throw fog and blame forall osteochondrosis of the chest. Now you understand how important it is to find an experienced and knowledgeable doctor. Both the correct diagnosis and good treatment results will depend on this.
Stages of the disease
| scene | Changes | Symptoms |
| First | Dehydration of the discs, which leads to a loss of elasticity. Their height decreases, but their width increases - the intervertebral disc gradually flattens. | The pain occurs directly in the damaged ring. It can be a pull or a shoot. |
| Second | Annulus fibrosus begins to disintegrate. The nerve roots are compressed, causing pain. | There is pain when moving. Discomfort appears when maintaining a posture for a long time. |
| third | The annulus fibrosus tears, resulting in a herniated disc. Scoliosis or pathological kyphosis develops. | There is pain when moving. Discomfort appears when maintaining a posture for a long time. |
| Fourth | There is friction of the vertebrae against each other, which provokes displacement of the intervertebral joints. The tissue around the vertebrae becomes inflamed. Cartilage tissue is replaced by bone tissue, which reduces motor functions. Fibrosis occurs. | There is pain when moving. Discomfort appears when maintaining a posture for a long time. |
Stages of exacerbation and remission can be observed. The latter is often seen at stage 4.
Degrees of disease
This is a more modern classification of symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, which is used by specialists.
| Degrees | Changes and symptoms |
| First | Intervertebral disc rupture caused by sudden movement or strain. Sharp pain, similar to the passage of an electric current down the spine. Muscle stretching. |
| Second | It is characterized by instability of the spine. Pain on movement. Protrusion. |
| third | The pain becomes constant. Loss of sensitivity. Change in gait. Severe headaches. Difficulty breathing. tachycardia. |
| Fourth | The spine is unstable: the vertebrae slide and twist. Osteophytes grow, compress the spinal nerves and put pressure on the spinal cord. |
Thoracic osteochondrosis can cause serious diseases that will be difficult to treat.
Diagnosis is the key to proper treatment
Today, there are a number of modern methods for hardware diagnosis of osteochondrosis. The most accurate of them are MRI and CT. But the main method is still the clinical diagnosis - this is when an experienced doctor compares data from at least three sources - from the patient's complaints, MRI results and symptoms identified during the examination. This allows you to make a diagnosis as accurately as possible and create an effective individual treatment program.
Who to contact, methods for researching osteochondrosis
As a rule, with pain in the spine, patients turn to a neurologist who, based on complaints and a neurological examination, can make a preliminary diagnosis, prescribe additional research methods (x-ray of the spine, MRI, CT, general urinalysis). , general blood test) and developing a treatment regimen.
Treatment
Treatment should be comprehensive, aimed at:
- elimination of the pain syndrome;
- elimination of impaired function of the spinal roots;
- prevention of the progression of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the structures of the spine.
During the acute period, with severe paindrug treatment is prescribed: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, vitamins of group B, chondroprotectors or blockade is done.
Physiotherapyis the main method of conservative treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Exercise therapy is aimed at forming, correcting and strengthening the muscle corset; increased range of motion in the spine and joints; development of motor stereotype and correct posture; reducing the load on the spine.
With regular exercise therapy, joint exercises, yoga or swimming, blood supply and tissue nutrition are improved, metabolism is normalized, intervertebral space is increased, which leads to recovery.
Listen to your body, if you find symptoms of osteochondrosis or your lifestyle includes prolonged sitting in front of the computer, driving a car or insufficient physical activity, seek help from a specialist without waiting for exacerbations.
As you understand, osteochondrosis is a real "entanglement" of symptoms, which, untangling, the doctor will free you from pain and sorrow. But it is not possible to eliminate changes in the vertebrae and discs. Therefore, the words "treatment of osteochondrosis" must be understood correctly. If you are interested in eliminating pain and other suffering, then yes, it is entirely possible. And if you conduct an academic discussion on the topic of returning the vertebrae and discs to their original appearance, "like a newborn child", then no, the past cannot be returned. You need to be realistic and then you will not come across frauds.
What method of treatment is considered basic?
Gentle manual therapy is the main type of treatment for osteochondrosis of the chest. It's like an antibiotic for pneumonia - you can't live without it. The remaining types—massage, medication, physical therapy, and exercise therapy—are ancillary.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy methods relieve swelling and inflammation, improve blood flow to the affected area, reduce or stop pain.
Magnetic laser, magnetic therapy, SMT with novocaine, ultrasound with hydrocortisone, etc.
Balneotherapy: Mud applications, ozokerite applications on affected areas, radon baths.
Exercise therapy and massage
Physical therapy is the main method of treating osteochondrosis. Gymnastics is performed regularly for 10-15 minutes several times a day. To increase efficiency, a course of massage is prescribed. The procedures help relax muscles, reduce pressure on the vertebrae, improve metabolic processes and blood flow. Exercise therapy can be done independently at home, also in a clinic (individual and group classes). The massage is performed by a qualified specialist in a clinic.
How does gentle manual therapy work?
The nutrition of the discs is directly related to the muscles around the spine. In addition, the back muscles themselves are one of the main causes of pain in osteochondrosis of the chest. Gentle manual therapy is a special method that allows you to return the muscles to their natural physiology, eliminate spasms, muscle tension and improve the nutrition of the discs.
The intervertebral discs are the only part of the body that does not have blood vessels and is nourished by the proper functioning of the muscles.
In addition, when performing manual therapy, the chiropractor:
- will relieve the load from the affected vertebrae and discs and distribute it correctly;
- relaxes muscles and helps them return to normal;
- relieves the patient from braces;
- disk power improvement;
- will restore the motor functions of the body;
- normalizes blood circulation.
Manual impact mobilizes the body's internal forces and activates self-healing mechanisms.
Acupuncture
The technique consists in impacting biologically active points on the body with thin needles. The procedure reduces the manifestation of pain and inflammatory processes. Acupuncture is not painful and mild discomfort may occur.
Treatment of pathology in women
In practice, it is impossible to completely get rid of the already progressing thoracic osteochondrosis, but it is quite possible to slow down or even stop the formation of a pathological degenerative-dystrophic process in the tissues of the spinal motor segments with the help of the means and methods of modern medicine. . The optimal therapeutic effect can be achieved only with an integrated approach to the treatment of this pathology with the help of drugs, various physical therapy techniques and targeted training therapy (physical therapy) techniques.
Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest in women do not differ much from those in men. In the acute period of osteochondrosis of the thoracic segment of the spine, the patient needs intensive treatment of exacerbation, during which various drugs and physical procedures are used to eliminate, first of all, the pain syndrome and, in parallel, othernegative manifestations of the disease.
During remission, the patient should be prescribed supportive treatment, which is mainly based on taking drugs that restore the osteochondral structure and physiotherapy. In particularly severe cases, surgical intervention is sometimes used to stabilize the position of the spine.
What to do in case of an exacerbation?
During an exacerbation, severe pain appears, radiating to the intercostal spaces. At this stage, it is necessary to maintain bed rest and reduce the mobility of the spine. Symptoms are eliminated with analgesics prescribed by the attending physician.
The treatment is absolutely safe.
Prevention
To prevent the disease and slow down the degenerative processes, it is recommended:
- weight regulation;
- cycling, running, swimming, yoga and other sports;
- daily walks;
- taking vitamin complexes and chondroprotectors;
- reducing strain on the back;
- timely treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
To avoid relapses, create comfortable conditions for sleep and work. Watch your weight and eat right. Keep up your physical activity. But the most important thing is not to neglect your health and do not skimp on it. Don't let things go your way. After recovery, try to do at least one maintenance session of gentle manual therapy once every three to six months - this will reduce risk factors. Remember, advanced osteochondrosis leads to complications - protrusion and disc herniation. Remember: your health comes first!