Thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine is rarely observed compared to the prevalence of diseases such as lumbar and cervical chondrosis. Chest osteochondrosis has certain symptoms and, like any other disease, requires appropriate therapy.
The thoracic region is characterized by a special structure: it generally contains more discs than the lumbar and neck regions, 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 varying degrees of pain during heavy loads or with sudden movements, as is often the case with lumbar or cervical osteochondrosis, is not usually observed as complications related to the development of cardiovascular diseases or respiratory dysfunction. to be the main
The reasons
Basically, chest osteochondrosis begins to develop due to physical inactivity, that is, lack of stress in the muscles, which leads to increased stress on the discs located between the vertebrae.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can cause the following conditions:
- Having bad habits;
- Scoliosis and uneven posture;
- hereditary factors;
- lack of mobility;
- Frequent heavy physical activity;
- Received spinal injuries;
- Great stress and mental strain.
The intervertebral discs of the thoracic vertebrae are equally affected by both the increased level of physical activity and physical inactivity.
Symptoms
In the case of the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, its symptoms are quite noticeable. In such cases, treatment should be started immediately. Symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- The presence of sharp pain in the thoracic spine, which occurs after staying in one position for a long time. Pain also appears during sudden movements and due to lifting heavy objects.
- There is pressure in both the back and the chest. Thoracic osteochondrosis causes difficulty in breathing - deep breathing / exhalation becomes painful.
- In the presence of chondrosis of the thoracic spine, there is a symptom such as numbness of certain parts of the body. This is due to damage to the nerve roots coming from the spinal cord.
- If a person has osteochondrosis of the chest, he cannot turn the body sharply or extend and raise the arm. All such movements are very painful.
- The presence of dull pain in the shoulder blades (mostly between them).
- The feet are usually cold because there is not enough blood supply to them due to the disturbance of some bodily functions.
- There is a cold and "eyelid" condition.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are determined by the level of neglect of the disease. In addition, such a disease can cause disturbances in the work of other systems in the human body. Therefore, osteochondrosis sometimes manifests itself in such symptoms:
- Appearance of intercostal neuralgia;
- Burning sensation / itching in the legs;
- Bloating, constipation or diarrhea, nausea/heartburn;
- Due to the dysfunction of blood vessels, the skin begins to peel, the nails become thin and brittle;
- There are difficulties in the work of the reproductive / reproductive systems;
- Sometimes there is a noticeable lack of oxygen.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, acute and long-lasting pain appears in attacks. In case of exacerbation of the disease, the symptoms are extremely bright. At this time, the intervertebral discs are subjected to severe stress. In most cases, the patient is shown a hospital regimen. In addition, a person has symptoms:
- pancreatitis;
- urolithiasis;
- cholecystitis.
It should be noted that osteochondrosis of the chest does not cause either a decrease or an increase in body temperature.
Dorsago and dorsalgia
Often, thoracic osteochondrosis has symptoms like vertebral syndromes, including: dorsalgia and dorsago.
Doraso is called a sharp pain in the thoracic 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. Often, a person feels when he gets up from the table after working for a long time in a fixed body position. Dorsago pain is sometimes unbearable. It happens that the ability to move in the lumbothoracic / cervical region is limited.
As for dorsalgia, the development of this syndrome does not occur immediately, it takes several weeks. Dorsalgia is characterized by mild pain and discomfort in the affected part of the spine. The pain increases if you take a deep breath and bend the body to the sides or forward.
Muscle tissue tension occurs and, in addition, there are limitations in movements in the lumbothoracic / cervical regions. As a rule, the pains are very strong in the evening, and if you go for a walk for 10 minutes in the morning, all painful sensations disappear by themselves.
What other pain syndromes are present in osteochondrosis of the thoracic region?
In such a disease, there may be other pain syndromes that can complicate the correct diagnosis. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis in the esophagus and pharynx and a feeling of "tumor in the throat" appear if the disease has exceeded the upper thoracic segment of the chest. Chondrosis affecting the middle thoracic segment causes discomfort under the hypochondrium on the right side.
If the disease affects the lower thoracic region, pain is observed in the abdominal cavity, which is very similar to the sensations that occur with intestinal pathologies.
It should be noted that any relationship between the appearance of pain in chest osteochondrosis and the quality level of consumed food and human diet cannot be traced. In addition, the appearance of pain has nothing to do with the time of year. However, the pain in osteochondrosis of the thoracic region may intensify at night and after heavy physical exertion. In the morning, as usual, any feeling of discomfort disappears or decreases.
Complications
Thoracic osteochondrosis is dangerous because it is difficult to diagnose. For a long time, it is possible to treat angina pectoris or respiratory diseases without suspecting the existence of this unpleasant disease.
If we continue to talk about the complications caused by osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, over time, this disease can develop and cause the appearance of various problems that affect the internal organs.
The most common complication can be called a disease related to the cardiovascular system. Such problems arise due to irritation of receptors in the thoracic and cervical regions.
Sometimes observed:
- Disorders in the work of the duodenum;
- Disorders in the digestive system;
- There is a pathology such as dyskinesia of the gallbladder.
Is there a need to prove the importance of timely treatment for thoracic osteochondrosis?
Diagnostic measures
Thoracic area should be treated after a thorough examination of the patient. It includes the following procedures:
- The patient is examined, all observations related to the course of the disease are recorded. If the disease reaches 2-3 stages, the skeleton is noticeably deformed. In order to exclude / confirm hereditary factors for the development of thoracic osteochondrosis, the doctor is obliged to take the patient's medical history.
- It is necessary to pass 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 provide an opportunity to review the contours of the nucleus pulposus. This procedure uses contrast.
- CT scan. This study is used very rarely, because during this study the patient is exposed to a lot of radiation.
- Electrocardiography. Since the symptoms of thoracic chondrosis are similar to ischemic heart disease, this research method is used to check this diagnosis.
Chest treatment
Before organizing the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, it is necessary to understand why this disease appears in principle. In some people, chondrosis appeared due to an insufficiently active lifestyle, while others once suffered an injury to the spine, and because of this, blood supply processes were disturbed. Thus, the reasons for the development of a disease such as osteochondrosis of the thoracic region are very large.
In any case, effective therapy for chondrosis of the chest does not consist only in the use of drugs with an analgesic effect, designed to neutralize pain in case of exacerbation of the disease. In addition, it is required to determine the original cause of the disease. The treatment of this disease requires a serious attitude.
Also, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region with the help of drugs should be combined with physiotherapy, reminding that small loads are useful.
Drug treatment
To treat during exacerbation of the disease, it is necessary to observe bed rest, take drugs characterized by analgesic effect and other drugs that are effective in combating this disease.
Relief of the pain syndrome is achieved with drugs in the early stages of the disease. Medicines in the form of tablets and painkiller injections relieve moderate pain. Painkillers are prescribed together with anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that restore cartilage tissue.
The choice of drugs required for the recovery of bone tissue is carried out individually. The doctor must take into account the characteristics of the organism and the course of the disease in each individual case. Thus, drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest involves taking these drugs:
- Analgesics to relieve acute pain in the thoracic region cause malfunctions in the respiratory system and cause a lot of discomfort during movement.
- Tablets that relieve muscle spasm.
- Preparations with large amounts of B vitamins.
- Medicines of natural origin for the preservation of fluid in intervertebral discs that have spread to osteochondrosis.
Effective Exercises
People facing the problem of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region should do exercises that have a positive effect on the spine. A well-designed list of simple tasks will relieve acute pain. By the way, with a disease such as chondrosis, breathing exercises will also give their results and reduce the number of attacks. The following exercises are recommended:
- Plank is a good exercise for this disease, while it is recommended to do this exercise for no more than 1. 5 minutes with a gradual increase in the load on the thoracic spine.
- Hanging on the horizontal bar should be as often as possible, then time should be added to the training period.
- In the "plank" position, in turn, you should press your knees to your chest and hold in this position for a few seconds. Such a preventive measure is useful for joints and reduces stress in the thoracic region in osteochondrosis.
It is best to use exercise therapy and other physiotherapy methods for the treatment of pathology, and at the same time it is under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital. Such exercises do not cause any discomfort, because the patient performs simple and effective manipulations to get rid of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. Such therapy is one of the important elements for disease prevention in people at risk.
Manual therapy
The help of a chiropractor in the form of massage for osteochondrosis of any part of the spine leads to greater efficiency and significantly improves the patient's well-being. Such treatment:
- Prevents pain during dorsalgia;
- Reduces tension in muscle tissue.
In addition, manual therapy is an excellent chance to normalize the systemic circulation in the intercostal space, determine the appropriate tissue nutrition and stimulate better blood oxygen saturation.
In the case of pectalgia (which is also one of the types of pain syndrome), this type of therapy is also used, but only as prescribed by the doctor.
Massages
Massage is a good treatment for osteochondrosis, even in the hospital, even at home. This procedure:
- Causes the elimination of hypertonicity of the back muscles;
- It helps to strengthen the bodies of the intervertebral discs.
If massage is part of the general therapy against osteochondrosis, the diagnosis of the patient can significantly bring the moment of complete recovery closer if it is acute osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. Various therapeutic massages, as a rule, together with therapeutic physical activity are recommended at the same time as a chiropractic treatment.
What to do if thoracic osteochondrosis is inflamed?
Exacerbation of osteochondrosis can be caused by physical exertion (sports, hard work), hypothermia, severe stress or fatigue, lifting heavy objects.
In case of exacerbation of chondrosis, a person feels unbearable pain, which is unrealistic to eliminate on his own at home with the help of painkillers. Therefore, in such cases, it is necessary to call an ambulance.
If the pain is not so strong and can be tolerated, then the use of painkillers is undesirable, because it will complicate the task of doctors to make an appropriate diagnosis. You cannot self-treat osteochondrosis of the thoracic region - it is dangerous for health.
Often, chondrosis passes into an acute stage:
- stressful situations;
- Great physical strength;
- Hypothermia.
To eliminate the process of exacerbation of osteochondrosis as soon as possible, you should listen to these recommendations:
- The patient should observe bed rest (avoid any movement as much as possible);
- It is best to do a comprehensive diet and eat right;
- The postures adopted by the patient should not cause pain;
- There is a need to take medication: painkillers and drugs that eliminate muscle spasm;
- It is no longer necessary to carry out physiotherapeutic manipulations;
- Exercise therapy is of great importance in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. Of course, all exercises should be done with extreme caution.
Prevention
To prevent diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis of various departments), you should follow the following recommendations:
- Do not sit in one place: enter the pool, organize morning runs, warm up your muscles;
- If you are in one position during work activities (for example, you work in an office), then always try to align your back and relax your shoulders;
- Work while sitting should only be in a chair that supports the spine;
- Buy an orthopedic pillow and mattress - so the spine will take the correct position during sleep;
- Do not carry too much weight and, if necessary, try not to lift them suddenly;
- Pump the abdominal muscles;
- Your shoes should not be uncomfortable to wear;
- Organize your diet in such a way that it contains as many useful micronutrients as possible and is enriched.
No one is protected from the appearance of a disease such as osteochondrosis of the chest. If you suddenly notice the presence of the first manifestations of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor - after all, it is easier to prevent osteochondrosis than to treat it after a long time.
If you follow all the above recommendations, the probability of encountering this disease is minimal.
Additional tips
It is clear that in order to avoid any problems related to the spine, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations of a healthy lifestyle.
If your work is sedentary, then it is worth taking a break every hour and, if possible, warming up. Swimming is very effective in preventing osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. A balanced diet is no more.
For prevention, it is worth doing morning exercises every day and doing sports in your free time.
In fact, thoracic osteochondrosis does not pose any danger, but if left untreated, it can cause serious complications. In order to prevent other problems related to the spine in the future, it is important to organize the treatment of osteochondrosis in time, because all the systems and organs in our body are interconnected - remember this.
Every person wants to live without pain, not to limit himself to anything due to the presence of any disease. Therefore, 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 breast, responded to the disease in time and started treatment, have already forgotten what osteochondrosis is and what symptoms it has. Do not delay!
And better yet, to prevent this disease from occurring. Just lead an active lifestyle!