Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine are a kind of human payment for walking upright. It is known that other mammals do not suffer from osteochondrosis because their spine is horizontal to the surface of the earth. Vertical loads when walking lead to the gradual destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs and contribute to the displacement of the vertebrae into a dangerous position.
In the chest area, such processes occur less often than in the sacral and cervix, but this does not reduce the risk of this disease. This article discusses in detail the problems of symptoms and treatment for osteochondrosis of the chest region, as well as questions about how to prevent this disease.
Features of thoracic osteochondrosis
The thoracic spine is characterized by poor mobility, which reduces the likelihood of degenerative processes in this area. Nevertheless, cases of this disease are regularly recorded by orthopedists and traumatologists in representatives of different age groups.
Over the past few decades, the incidence of osteochondrosis has increased steadily in civilized countries. Doctors believe the main reasons for this trend are an inactive lifestyle, poor diet, and the general environmental background on the planet.
Women are 2-3 times more likely to suffer from thoracic osteochondrosis than men. This is due to the specifics of female anatomy and physiology. Other influencing factors are: childbirth, walking in heels, general weakness of the muscle-ligament apparatus in women.
In both sexes, osteochondrosis of the chest region causes painful symptoms and reduces the range of motion. The progression of pathology is fraught with compression of the nerve endings, which inevitably affects the state of internal organs. The more advanced cases of the disease are often accompanied by disorders in the work of blood vessels and heart, as well as difficulty breathing.
Anatomically speaking, 12 thoracic vertebrae are connected to the ribs and the sternum to form a strong and inactive frame structure that protects the internal organs from mechanical stress. In the initial stages, the disease almost does not cause severe symptoms, but in the later stages the manifestations of the pathology are so diverse that sometimes it prevents an accurate diagnosis. No wonder that osteochondrosis is often referred to as "chameleon disease".
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the chest are trauma, weakness of the muscular system, physical inactivity, metabolic disorders, excessive stress on the back and genetic predisposition. The disease develops gradually, which, on the one hand, makes it possible to start treatment on time and stop degenerative processes, on the other hand, it prevents the early detection of pathologies.
Disease stages
Doctors classify osteochondrosis of the chest cavity according to stages of development:
Stage 1.The intervertebral discs lose their elastic properties, decrease in size, but do not yet move out of their anatomical position.
Stage 2.The height of the intervertebral discs continues to decrease, and the spine itself loses its stability. Cracks form in the annular space, the intervertebral discs shift and exert pressure on the nerve endings, blood vessels and muscles. The second stage is characterized by severe back pain and neurological symptoms.
Stage 3.Degenerative processes can lead to the development of protrusions and fractures of the annulus fibrosus. In such cases, herniated discs are diagnosed. The discs lose their damping properties and no longer fulfill the correct anatomical functions. The vertebrae themselves suffer from dangerous bone growth - they come together, collapse, and form osteophytes.
In addition to hard tissue, muscles, ligaments and tendons are also affected. Muscles are blocked, convulsive phenomena appear in them. The body tries to immobilize the affected area as much as possible to relieve the pain - this leads to muscle overload and muscle atrophy.
Symptoms of breast osteochondrosis
As already mentioned, thoracic osteochondrosis manifests itself weakly or not at all in the initial stage. As the pathology progresses, periodic pain appears between the shoulder blades: symptoms intensify after physical activity or, conversely, after prolonged rest. Often times, pain bothers patients in the morning after they wake up and subsides within an hour. Sometimes the pain moves along the intercostal nerve and radiates to the chest when you cough, sneeze, or walk.
Typical characters
In 2-3 stages, the most indicative symptom of osteochondrosis of the chest region is constant pain in the interscapular zone. Chest pain is also very typical: sensations resemble an attack of angina pectoris with coronary artery disease or heart failure.
The similarity of symptoms to heart disease is a fairly common cause of misdiagnosis. However, it is quite easy to distinguish pain from degenerative processes in the spine from cardiac symptoms: nitroglycerin and similar drugs that stop angina attacks with osteochondrosis in no way relieve the patient's condition.
Other characteristic symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Stiffness of the trunk muscles when breathing deeply (dorsalgia) - as if the body were being compressed with a tire;
- Dorsago - a sharp pain in the chest (called "thoracic lumbago");
- sensation of goose bumps and numbness in the hands (in the presence of radicular syndrome);
- Intercostal pain when walking and during physical activity (intercostal neuralgia): If the nerve endings are inflamed, the pain becomes constant;
- chest cramps;
- Pain when raising arms, turning upper body and breathing.
The stages of the disease directly affect the intensity of the symptoms. For patients in the therapy plan, it is important not to get rid of pain with drugs and unconventional methods (analgesics, antispasmodics, various ointments, compresses and heating pads), but to visit the clinic and find out the cause of the pain from a doctor. Self-treatment for osteochondrosis is rarely effective, and in some cases even makes the disease worse.
Rare symptoms
Osteochondrosis of the chest zone is often disguised as another pathology that causes its symptoms. This makes diagnosis difficult and is often the cause of inadequate treatment.
Atypical manifestations of the disease are very different:
- signs of ischemia, heart attack, heart attack (EKG or other tests should be done for differential diagnosis);
- Pain reminiscent of breast diseases in women: to exclude the presence of neoplasms, you should be examined by a mammologist.
- pain resembling gastritis, colitis, gastric or intestinal ulcer, hepatitis - to exclude these diseases, a diagnosis is prescribed by a gastroenterologist;
- Paroxysmal girdle pain corresponding to renal colic or other diseases of the urinary system.
Urinary disorders and disorders of the reproductive system are also possible. Women have anorgasmia, painful and heavy menstrual periods (menorrhagia), and sometimes infertility. Men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Doctors do not always manage to find the real cause of these pathologies, and therefore the treatment of reproductive diseases does not give a positive dynamic.
Sometimes pressure surges, toothache and headache, sleep disorders and tinnitus are observed in osteochondrosis in the chest area. Psychoemotional disorders are not excluded - irritability, depression, tearfulness, anxiety.
Diagnostics, therapy and prevention
External examinations, palpations, and movement tests are done to identify the disease. It is important to provide detailed information from the patient about the duration of symptoms, their nature and associated manifestations of the disease.
The following procedures are required:
- X-ray of the spine;
- MRI, CT scan and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity (if necessary);
- blood and urine tests;
- myelography;
- EKG (to rule out heart disease).
After the diagnosis, a treatment regimen will be developed. There is no single protocol for treating osteochondrosis: wellness procedures depend on the patient's condition, age, physical condition, and immune system status.
The main goal of treatment is to minimize the consequences of degenerative processes in cartilage tissue and prevent the development of complications. Therapy is usually outpatient, except in particularly severe clinical situations. Usually conservative therapy is practiced.
Medicines
Medicines are prescribed only for severe pain syndrome and inflammatory processes. It is preferable to use drugs in the form of external ointments, less often tablets are prescribed, intramuscular or epidural injections.
The most current types of medicines:
- analgesics;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants and anticonvulsants;
- vitamin complexes;
- steroids.
Experienced therapists will never offer pure drug therapy. Once the pain and inflammation have subsided, the drug is stopped.
Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage
These methods play a leading role in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the thoracic spine. These techniques eliminate pain, strengthen ligaments and muscles, restore blood circulation and metabolic processes, and stimulate them.
Popular physiotherapeutic methods:
- magnetotherapy;
- electro- and phonophoresis;
- laser exposure;
- amplipulse therapy;
- ultrasound treatment;
- paraffin applications;
- Kinesio taping;
- mud therapy;
- balneotherapy;
- hypothermia;
- Hirudotherapy, treatment with bee venom.
The main advantage of physiotherapy is its safety. The procedures can be prescribed at any age with almost any concomitant disease. A separate area of physiotherapy is reflexology (acupuncture). The method is effective, but it requires the presence of a professional specialist.
Physiotherapy is a mandatory stage in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. Gymnastics strengthens the muscular apparatus, restores the normal anatomical position of the vertebral structures, reduces pressure on the nerve endings and prevents the development of protrusions and hernias of the intervertebral discs.
Complex exercises should be carried out regularly and over a long period of time - only in this case they achieve a noticeable therapeutic effect. Ideally, the sessions should be conducted under the guidance of an instructor, as any incorrect movement can cause injury and cause pain.
Massage (manual and hardware effects) has the same therapeutic tasks as exercise therapy: pain reduction, improvement of blood flow, muscle strengthening. In addition to the impact with the hands of a specialist, they practice the use of massage devices, applicators and orthopedic equipment.
Radical treatment
In exceptional cases, osteochondrosis of the breast is resorted to in modern medical facilities - if there is a risk of pinching the spinal cord or dangerous protrusions and hernias. Spinal surgery is always an added risk, so interventions are rarely performed and only performed by experienced surgeons.
Prevention
Disease prevention is much easier than long-term therapy (and sometimes lifelong therapy). Unfortunately, modern medicine can not reverse degenerative processes, but only minimize the consequences of pathology and eliminate acute symptoms.
It is for this reason that the prevention of osteochondrosis should be addressed from childhood. The development of the disease is hindered by: correct posture, balanced diet, correct alternation of physical activity and rest, sleep on a comfortable bed. Timely diagnosis of the disease and strict implementation of the doctor's recommendations play a positive role.