Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine (OS) is not only the destruction of fibrous rings and bone elements, but also the weakness of muscle structures. This form of pathology is rare and presents specific symptoms that may resemble an attack of angina or gastritis.
It is therefore important to differentiate the disease by excluding other causes of back pain. We will tell you how to recognize the symptoms of an illness and implement effective therapy.
Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the hip, 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 crest is noticeably lower and the lion's share of the load is borne 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 physiological curvature of the GOP, directed convexly backward, also plays an important role. In this case, the main pressure falls on the front area of \u200b\u200bthe discs, leaving the distant part in relative peace. This means that developed protrusions and herniations appear outside the ridge, 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 painful.
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 breathing occurs, a feeling of a lump in the throat, heartburn and pressure in the epigastrium appear.
The pain syndrome can be acute and intense (back pain) or persistent and mild (back pain), and also manifests itself as intercostal neuralgia.
To describe the destructive effects of osteochondrosis, there is a code according to ICD-10. For children, this corresponds to the M42 value. 0 ; for adults, code M42. 1 is used. If the diagnosis is not confirmed by the results of MRI and x-rays, the patient is given the code M54 - back pain.
Dorsago
This term refers to sudden, sharp pain in the sternum. They can be so strong that they make breathing and movement difficult. They are otherwise called thoracic lumbago.
A dangerous symptom is the appearance of pain in the left side forward. If the attack is not caused by thoracic osteochondrosis, it may be a sign of cardiac pathology. In this case, the person needs urgent medical attention, so it will be helpful to know some of the distinctive features of chest pain.
So, with dorsago, the patient's well-being does not improve after taking "cardiac" drugs, and the ECG does not show any changes in rhythm. In addition, discomfort increases sharply when coughing, bending the upper body to the sides and forward.
Such manifestations of the thoracic form of the disease must be differentiated from other pathologies with similar symptoms. To do this, a neurologist performs an ECG, X-ray, CT scan and MRI of the spine. In particularly difficult cases, a thoracic surgeon participates in the diagnosis.
Back pain
Back pain is called back pain. The peculiarity of this syndrome is the duration of its evolution and the lack of expression of the clinical picture, while the main symptoms do not extend beyond the chest.
The disease develops gradually, tormenting the patient with unpleasant sensations in the shoulder blade at night. In the morning, the discomfort disappears on its own after short movements.
The pain intensifies with deep, frequent breathing, bending and turning. With back pain, spasms of the back muscles and deterioration of mobility of the cervicothoracic or lumbar-thoracic segments are observed.
Predisposing factors for the onset of the disease
The thoracic form of osteochondrosis never appears on its own. It is preceded by unfavorable circumstances, which can exist either separately or simultaneously, reinforcing each other.
Provoking factors:
- limited diet, micronutrient deficiency;
- passive lifestyle;
- professional sports;
- back injuries;
- congenital anomalies of the structure of bone structures;
- obesity;
- infectious and inflammatory pathologies that can disrupt the diffuse nutrition of the vertebrae (ankylosing spondylitis, spinal tuberculosis);
- flat foot.
When osteochondrosis of osteochondrosis is diagnosed in an elderly person, doctors talk about the inevitable aging of the body. But if the disease develops in young patients, especially adolescents, this 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 their backs bent. Thoracic type osteochondrosis is dangerous for the heart muscle.
In women, predisposing factors for the onset of the disease are pregnancy, wearing high heels and weak back muscles. Symptoms of the pathology increase noticeably during menopause, due to a decrease in estrogen production. If hormone replacement therapy is started during this time, damage to the spine can be halted for many years.
Main treatment methods
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease that leads to deformation of the intervertebral discs and a disorder of the biomechanics of the skeleton as a whole. It is impossible to cure it, because simultaneously with the destruction many neurological and spinal disorders develop. Therefore, treatment of osteochondrosis is symptomatic.
The treatment regimen for spinal dystrophy includes several types of medications.
What drugs are used to combat pathology? First of all, these are NSAIDs in the form of tablets and injections.
Ointments and creams for osteochondrosis of the hip joint are ineffective, since the fibrous disc is hidden behind the thickness of the muscles and the medicinal composition is unlikely to be able to penetrate so deeply.
If NSAIDs are contraindicated or do not have the desired effect, glucocorticoids are used, including in the form of paravertebral blockades. To reduce pain and inflammation, ultraphonophoresis with analgesics, magnetic therapy and UHF are prescribed. Muscle spasms are relieved by muscle relaxants.
Non-drug treatment
The most effective method to combat thoracic osteochondrosis is massage. It helps relax tense muscles, relieve back pain and partially restore the biomechanics of the spine. You can perform the procedure yourself by purchasing a massager suitable for your home.
Traction (stretching) of the spine helps reduce the load on damaged discs. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to relieve pinched nerve roots and significantly improve the patient's condition. We notice that the patient feels relief from the first session.
At home, it is recommended to stretch the spine using specially selected exercises. Of course, traction acts faster in osteochondrosis, but exercise therapy has many advantages: it relaxes and strengthens the back muscles, reduces the load on the discs, improves the general well-being of the patientand boosts morale.
There are many interesting and effective complexes designed for the thoracic spine. Very good exercises that do not require sports training and are accessible to everyone. It is recommended to start training with the simplest movements, gradually increasing the complexity of the exercises.
Recently, a basic complex containing universal movements that restore the functionality of all body systems has gained popularity. Gymnastics is well complemented by swimming in the pool and hydromassage.
Actions for exacerbation of osteochondrosis
Thoracic osteochondrosis presents itself as a chronic pathology and the frequency of relapses directly depends on the degree of disc damage and the patient's lifestyle.
During an exacerbation during which the nerve fibers are pinched, the patient needs complete rest and treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also recommended to take pain relievers, vitamin and mineral complexes with a high content of calcium and B vitamins.
For relapses of osteochondrosis, folk remedies are very effective. Non-traditional treatment includes various ointments and rubs prepared on the basis of camphor alcohol, essential oils of fir, juniper and thuja.
Infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs will help to cope with relapses. Compresses made from fresh leaves of burdock and cabbage, lotions with decoctions of linden flowers, birch buds or celeriac give a good anti-inflammatory result.
In case of acute back pain, traditional healers recommend placing mustard plasters 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 treating exacerbations, like acupuncture. The procedure, carried out by a highly qualified specialist, perfectly relieves pain, calms and relaxes, and stimulates the body's defenses. Helps both in the initial stage of the disease and in very advanced forms.
Consequences of osteochondrosis GOP
If degenerative changes in the spine are not treated promptly, 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 extremities.
The development of protrusion and herniation of the intervertebral discs causes compression of the nerve fibers, arteries and spinal cord.
Due to impaired blood circulation, the patient may develop paralysis of the limbs and the functionality of the brain may deteriorate. Frequent appearance of neurological disorders: Brown-Séquard and Personage-Turner syndromes, Adamkiewicz reaction, infarction of the anterior spinal artery.
Complications of osteochondrosis of the GOP include VSD (vegetative-vascular disorder complex).
Why is this type of osteochondrosis dangerous?
The main danger of thoracic spine dystrophy is incorrect diagnosis and prescribing inappropriate treatment. As the patient takes heart or stomach pills, the destruction of the discs progresses more and more, leading to protrusions and herniations.
The danger of the disease is also great in terms of the possible development of cardiac pathologies - advanced cardiac osteochondrosis often becomes the cause of arrhythmias, cardiovascular failure and myocardial infarction.
During an acute attack of dorsago, breathing problems may occur. Long-term restriction of airflow leads to destructive bronchitis, asthma and lung disease. The resulting hernias lead to deterioration in the functioning of the stomach, pancreas, kidneys and liver.
Women suffering from thoracic osteochondrosis face a disorder in the reproductive system - they cannot conceive a child for years, without even suspecting that the cause of infertility lies in spinal dystrophy. Men also suffer from chest diseases - potency deteriorates, muscle tone decreases, arm strength is lost and possible postponement of conscription into the army.
Preventive measures
It is not difficult to avoid spinal problems. The main thing is to get used to daily physical activity. A little exercise early in the morning and a few active breaks during the workday will bring huge benefits.
It's good to go swimming, if you are overweight, be sure to lose weight, but without excessive zeal. The diet must be balanced and sufficient in calories. Additionally, you can take chondroprotectors.
In order to prevent spinal diseases, it is recommended to find a qualified massage therapist, do yoga or stretching.
Conclusion
Even with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, you can live fully, forgetting about the disease for many years. The main thing is to remember about regular physical activity. As soon as we reduce our activity, the body begins to age rapidly and contract all kinds of diseases, including spinal dystrophy. Knowing this, it is not difficult to prevent pathology or slow down the destruction that has already begun.