Osteochondrosis - dystrophic and degenerative changes in cartilage and bone tissue. Osteochondrosis of the spine can occur in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. The progression of the disease leads to destruction of the ligaments, the structure of the joints, the intervertebral discs.
Osteochondrosis of the spine in the thoracic region is uncommon. This is due to the peculiarities of its structure. Its mobility is lower than that of the cervical and lumbar regions. Part of the load is taken from the sides and the sternum. The risk of pathology in the difficulty of its diagnosis. The symptoms are similar to other diseases, they are detected quite slowly, which complicates the treatment process.
The causes of the disease
The development of thoracic osteochondrosis is associated with metabolic disorders and increased load on the intervertebral discs. Inside the intervertebral disc is the pulpal nucleus, which is surrounded by the fibrous ring. If damaged, drying and loss of core damping properties occur. As a result of degenerative processes, inflammation and tightening of the nerve fibers of the spinal cord occur.
The causes of osteochondrosis can be:
- heredity;
- intervertebral hernia;
- the presence of osteophytes.
- poor blood supply to the spinal cord due to vascular constriction.
- violation of mineral metabolism (in particular, calcium deficiency).
- curvature of the spine, which creates an uneven load on the discs.
- trauma to the chest area due to fall, bruise, impact.
- strength sports, regular weightlifting.
- passive lifestyle.
Symptoms and sensations with osteochondrosis in the chest
Several factors affect the clinical picture of the pathology:
- the level of damage to the spine.
- the patient's age;
- stage of the pathological process (exacerbation or remission).
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest are characterized by variety and non-specificity, so the disease is often confused with other pathologies.
The main signs of breast osteochondrosis:
- Dorsago - an acute, sudden pain in the chest and back ("lumbar spine"), the patient feels shortness of breath.
- Spinal dorsal disease is a small pain in the affected vertebrae that develops gradually over several weeks. The pain may increase with deep breathing, bending to the side and forward, as well as prolonged stay in a static position.
The feeling of intense pain in the belt and respiratory problems are associated with intercostal neuralgia, in which the nerve roots are compressed. The intensity of the pain usually increases in the afternoon and subsides after a good night's sleep.
Among the neurological symptoms are:
- violation of the sensitivity of the limbs.
- numbness of the heart muscle;
- pulmonary syndrome;
- tingling, burning, numbness of the skin.
- contractions and muscle spasms;
- feeling of a foreign object in the pharynx when the osteochondrosis is located in the upper thoracic region.
Intercostal neuralgia is a concomitant symptom of degenerative-inflammatory pathologies of the spine (osteochondrosis, vertebral displacement, scoliosis). But its appearance looks like signs of various diseases of the peritoneal organs and the thoracic region.
Note!Often, the pain occurs in the upper zones of the chest area, gradually covering it completely, as well as in the shoulder area (reminiscent of angina). Pain in the right hypochondrium occurs with osteochondrosis of the middle thoracic region. They can be diagnosed as pancreatitis or cholecystitis. Gastrointestinal pain occurs with lesions of the lower part of the thoracic spine, which mimic bowel disease.
Stages of disease development
The degree of development of the disease is associated with pathological disorders of the spine, which are characterized by certain clinical symptoms.
There are 4 periods of disease development:
- 1st degree- the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring, after which the fluid of the pulp nucleus penetrates into it. A pain syndrome occurs, located only in the affected area. There may be pain in the area of the heart muscle, muscle cramps.
- 2nd degreeabnormal mobility between the vertebrae occurs, subluxations are observed in the thoracic region. With prolonged static posture or during movement, he feels discomfort and increased pain.
- Grade 3rupture of the fibrous ring, which extends beyond the pulpal nucleus. The formation of intervertebral hernias occurs. This causes severe pain in the belt, reduced mobility and other symptoms.
- 4 points- the pathological processes extend beyond the spine. Degenerative-dystrophic changes involve the paraspinal joints, fibrosis develops.
Diagnostics
X-rays are very informative. The presence of pathology is indicated by:
- uneven disk edges.
- expansion and intensification of uncinate processes.
- reducing the height of the discs, deforming their shape.
- the presence of osteophytes.
An X-ray contrast study is sometimes performed. The contrast agent fills the damaged disc, which makes it possible to determine the degree of neglect of the pathological process. MRI and CT scans are considered no less informative.
Effective treatments
How to treat osteochondrosis of the chest area? The treatment approach must be comprehensive. It is necessary to take into account the stage of development of the disease, the degree of destructive processes, the general condition of the patient.
Pharmacotherapy
In the treatment of osteochondrosis in the breast, various groups of drugs are used.
- NSAIDs and muscle relaxants.
- Glucocorticosteroids. Their therapeutic effect is more intense than that of NSAIDs, but the risk of side effects is higher.
- Chondroprotective. Chondroprotective agents are believed to help regulate damaged cartilage tissue. But their effectiveness has not been definitively confirmed.
- Diuretics are used for a short time to relieve the swelling of strangled nerve fibers during an outbreak of osteochondrosis.
Folk remedies and recipes
It is most often used during the period of remission of the disease and only as an additional method of treatment.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home using traditional medicine:
- Add 30-40 g of chopped celery root with 1 liter of boiling water. Insist 8 hours. Drink 1 teaspoon three times a day.
- Melt in steam 150 grams of pork fat. Add 2 tablespoons of wax to it. Heat for 15 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of ammonia. Rub the problem areas twice a day. Store in a cool place.
Massage and exercise therapy
One of the most effective treatments for osteochondrosis is massage. Helps to eliminate muscle spasm, improve blood supply to the problem area and normalize the functional state of the spine. With the onset of the disease, vibrating massage is recommended. After the clinical manifestations subside, you can take a classic massage course.
Massage is not recommended for grade 3 thoracic osteochondrosis when there is an intervertebral hernia. This can make the patient's condition worse.
The goal of physiotherapy and exercise for osteochondrosis is to improve the mobility of the intervertebral joints, to strengthen the muscular body. Exercise therapy allows you to relieve muscle spasms, remove stiffness in the spine. Classes should be held daily under the supervision of an experienced instructor. Their design is done separately for each patient.
Power possibilities
The main principles of proper nutrition in the treatment of osteochondrosis in the breast:
- large amount of protein in the diet.
- exclusion of fats and fried foods.
- the food must be boiled or cooked.
Salt should be excluded from the diet or significantly reduced. Avoid carbonated and caffeinated beverages. It is better to replace them with herbal decoctions, natural juices. To enhance the composition of cartilage tissue, it is useful to introduce into the diet jellies, jellies, jellies, containing chondroitin. To get enough calcium for bone health, you need to eat dairy products. Adherence to proper nutrition prevents the development of the pathological process.
Prevention measures
To prevent the development and exacerbation of destructive processes in the thoracic spine, it is recommended to take preventive measures as early as possible and to monitor them regularly.
Recommendations:
- do special back exercises every day.
- give up addictions.
- eat right and balanced.
- weight normalization;
- with sedentary work 10 minutes every hour you need to warm up.
- swimming, water aerobics;
Chest osteochondrosis is not very common compared to cervical and lumbar. But it is no less dangerous in its consequences for the body. It is quite difficult to detect in the early stages due to the similarity of the symptoms with other pathologies. Therefore, it is important to constantly monitor the health of the spine, to take all measures to prevent pathological catastrophe.