Thoracic Osteochondrosis: Symptoms and Treatment

Thoracic osteochondrosis (OS) is not only the destruction of the annulus fibrosus and bony elements, but also the weakness of the muscle structure. This form of pathology is uncommon and has specific symptoms that may resemble attacks of angina or gastritis.Therefore, it is important to rule out other causes of back discomfort to identify the disease. We'll tell you how to recognize the symptoms of the disease and get effective treatment.

Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis

Unlike osteochondrosis of the lumbar and cervical spine, osteochondrosis of the hip is rarely diagnosed. This is explained by the anatomy of the chest area: it has more elements, they are smaller and thinner, and they also have long processes. This section of the spine has significantly less mobility, with most of the load being borne by the sternum and ribs.

A lump in the throat of GOP osteochondrosis occurs due to spasm of the pharyngeal and cervical muscles.

The physiological curvature (posterior convexity) of the GOP also plays an important role. In this case, the main pressure falls on the front region of the disc, while the distal part is relatively calm. This means that developed protrusions and hernias occur outside of the ridge line without affecting the spinal cord.

disease type

The symptoms and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis depend directly on the syndrome observed. There are two types: neuropathic and painful.The first condition is characterized by numbness of the upper limbs, crawling, twitching, and reflexive tension in the back muscles. In particularly severe cases, difficulty breathing, a lump in the throat, heartburn, and upper abdominal pressure may occur.

Pain syndromes can be severe (back pain), long-lasting, mild (back pain), or present as intercostal neuralgia.

To describe the devastating effects of osteochondrosis, there is an ICD-10 compliant code. For children it corresponds to the value M42. 0; for adults the code M42. 1 is used. If MRI and X-ray results do not confirm the diagnosis, the patient will receive code M54 - Back Pain.

dosago

This term refers to a sudden, severe pain in the sternum. They can be so intense that they cause difficulty breathing and movement. They are also known as thoracolumbar pain.The dangerous symptom is pain in the front of the left side. If the attack is not caused by osteochondrosis of the chest, it may be a sign of heart disease. In this situation, the patient requires urgent medical attention, so it is useful to know some of the tell-tale signs of chest pain.So, for a patient with back pain, the patient's health did not improve after taking "cardiac" medication, and the electrocardiogram did not show any changes in the heart rhythm. In addition, when coughing, the upper body bends to both sides and forward, and the discomfort increases sharply.This manifestation of the thoracic form of the disease must be distinguished from other diseases with similar symptoms. Neurologists do this by performing electrocardiograms, radiographs, CT and MRI of the spine. In particularly difficult cases, a thoracic surgeon is involved in the diagnosis.

back pain

Back pain is known as back pain. The syndrome is characterized by a long duration of disease, lack of clinical manifestations, and the main symptoms do not extend beyond the chest.

As the condition progresses, patients may experience unpleasant sensations in their shoulder blades at night. In the morning, the discomfort will disappear on its own after a short period of activity.

The pain increases with deep and frequent breathing, bending, and turning. With back pain, back muscle spasm and worsening of mobility in the cervicothoracic or lumbothoracic region may be observed.

Predisposing factors for disease

The thoracic form of osteochondrosis never occurs alone. There will be unfavorable situations before this, and these unfavorable situations can exist alone or at the same time, reinforcing each other.Predisposing factors:

• Limited diet and micronutrient deficiencies;
• passive lifestyle;
• professional sports;
• Back injuries;
• congenital abnormalities of bone structure;
• obesity;
• Infectious and inflammatory diseases that may disrupt the diffusion of nutrients to the vertebrae (ankylosing spondylitis, spinal tuberculosis);
• flatfoot.

When osteochondrosis is diagnosed in older adults, doctors talk about the inevitable aging of the body. But if this disease occurs in young patients, especially teenagers, it indicates an incorrect lifestyle and the formation of bad habits.

This chest disease occurs most often in office workers, students, and schoolchildren who spend long periods of time sitting in a hunched-backed posture. The thoracic type of osteochondrosis is dangerous for the heart muscle.

In women, triggers include pregnancy, wearing high heels, and weak back muscles. Pathological symptoms significantly increase during menopause due to reduced estrogen production. If hormone replacement therapy is started during this period, damage to the spine can be halted for many years.

Main treatments

Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease that causes deformation of the intervertebral discs and biomechanical disturbances of the entire skeleton. It is impossible to cure because many neurological and spinal diseases occur along with the destruction. Therefore, treatment of osteochondrosis is symptomatic.

Treatment options for spinal dystrophy include several types of medications.

What drugs are used to combat pathology? First, these are NSAIDs that come in tablets and injections.

Ointments and creams used to treat osteochondrosis of the hip are ineffective because the fibrous discs are hidden behind the thickness of the muscle and the drug ingredients are unlikely to penetrate so deeply.

If NSAIDs are contraindicated or do not have the desired effect, corticosteroids are used, including in the form of paravertebral blocks. To reduce pain and inflammation, phonophoresis analgesics, magnet therapy, and ultrahigh frequency therapy are used. Muscle spasms can be relieved with muscle relaxants.

non-pharmacological treatment

The most effective way to treat osteochondrosis of the chest is massage. It helps relax tense muscles, relieve back discomfort, and partially restore the biomechanics of the spine. You can perform this procedure yourself by purchasing a massager that fits your home.

Traction (stretching) of the spine helps relieve the load on damaged discs. With this procedure, compressed nerve roots can be relieved and the patient's condition significantly improved. It is noteworthy that the patient feels relieved after the first treatment.

At home, it is recommended to use specially selected exercises to stretch the spine. Of course, in osteochondrosis, traction works faster, but exercise therapy has many advantages: it relaxes and strengthens the back muscles, relieves the load on the intervertebral discs, improves the patient's overall health and boosts mood.There are many interesting and effective complexes designed specifically for the thoracic spine. Great exercises that require no athletic training and can be performed by anyone. It is recommended to start training with the simplest movements and gradually increase the complexity of the exercises.Recently, a basic complex containing universal movements that restore the functions of all body systems has gained popularity. Gymnastics complements pool swimming and hydromassage.

Treatment measures for worsening osteochondrosis

Thoracic osteochondrosis is a chronic pathology, and the frequency of recurrence depends directly on the degree of disc damage and the patient's lifestyle.During an exacerbation of the condition, the nerve fibers become pinched, and the patient needs complete rest and treatment with anti-inflammatory medications. Painkillers, vitamin and mineral complexes, which are high in calcium and B vitamins, are also recommended.For the recurrence of osteochondrosis, folk remedies are very effective. Non-traditional treatments include a variety of ointments and liniments based on camphor alcohol, fir, juniper and thuja essential oils.

Herbal infusions and decoctions will help cope with relapses. A dressing made of fresh burdock and cabbage leaves, a decoction of linden flowers, birch sprouts or celery root has a good anti-inflammatory effect.

For acute back pain, traditional healers recommend applying mustard paste to the affected vertebrae area. It's hard to say how effective and safe this method is, but for many people it does help get rid of painful symptoms.There are many good reviews about this method of treating exacerbations, such as acupuncture. Performed by highly qualified experts, this procedure provides perfect pain relief, calming and relaxation, and stimulates the body's defenses. It is helpful both in the early stages of the disease and in the severe and advanced stages.

Consequences of Osteochondrosis GOP

If degenerative changes in the spine are left untreated, they can progress rapidly and lead to serious illness in the body. The most common complications of osteochondrosis are:

• Disturbance of gastrointestinal motility;
• Lung and bronchial diseases;
• Pathology of the cardiovascular system;
• Deterioration of blood circulation in extremities.

The development of disc herniation and herniation causes compression of nerve fibers, arteries, and spinal cord.As circulation deteriorates, patients may develop quadriplegia and brain function may deteriorate. Neurological disorders often occur: Brown-Séquard and Personage-Turner syndromes, Adamkiewicz reaction, anterior spinal artery infarction.

Complications of GOP osteochondrosis include VSD (vegetative vascular disorder syndrome).

Why is this type of osteochondrosis dangerous?

The main dangers of thoracic dystrophy are incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatment. When patients take heart or stomach medications, the disc can become increasingly damaged, leading to herniation and hernia.The disease is also dangerous and may lead to cardiac pathology - advanced cardiac osteochondrosis is often the cause of cardiac arrhythmias, cardiovascular failure and myocardial infarction.During an acute episode of back pain, breathing problems may occur. Long-term airflow limitation can lead to devastating bronchitis, asthma, and lung disease. The resulting hernia can cause worsening of the function of the stomach, pancreas, kidneys, and liver.Women with osteochondrosis of the chest face problems of the reproductive system - they are unable to conceive for many years without even suspecting that the cause of infertility is spinal dystrophy. Men also suffer from chest problems - reduced ability, reduced muscle tone, loss of arm strength and the possibility of delayed enlistment.

Precaution

Avoiding spinal problems is not difficult. The most important thing is to get yourself used to daily physical activity. A little exercise in the early morning and a few active breaks during the workday will pay huge dividends.It's good to go swimming, if you are overweight, by all means lose weight, but don't be overzealous. Eat a balanced diet with sufficient calories. Additionally, you can take chondroprotectants.In order to prevent spinal diseases, it is recommended to find a qualified masseur and do yoga or stretching exercises.

in conclusion

Even with thoracic osteochondrosis, you can live a fulfilling life and forget about the disease for many years. The most important thing to remember is to engage in regular physical activity. Once we reduce our activity, our bodies begin to age rapidly and develop various diseases, including spinal dystrophy. Knowing this, it is not difficult to prevent pathology or slow down the damage that has already begun.