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 has specific symptoms that may resemble an attack of angina or gastritis.
Therefore, it is so important to differentiate the disease by excluding other causes of back discomfort. We will tell you how to recognize the symptoms of the disease and implement effective therapy.
Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the hip joint, unlike lumbar and cervical osteochondrosis, is rarely diagnosed. This is explained by the anatomy of the thoracic region: there are more elements, they are smaller and thinner, and they also have long processes. The mobility of this segment of the ridge is significantly lower, and the lion's share of the load is taken by the sternum and ribs.
A lump in the throat with osteochondrosis GOP appears due to spasm of the muscles of the pharynx and neck.
An important role is also played by the physiological curvature of the GOP, directed convexly backwards. In this case, the main pressure falls on the front part of the discs, leaving the further part in relative peace. This means that developed protrusions and hernias 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 pain.
The first case is characterized by numbness of the upper extremities, crawling, twitching and reflex tension of the muscles on the back. In particularly severe cases, difficulty breathing, feeling of a lump in the throat, heartburn, and pressure in the epigastrium occur.
The pain syndrome can be sharp and intense (dorsago) or long-lasting and mild (dorsalgia), and it also manifests as intercostal neuralgia.
To describe the destructive effects of osteochondrosis, there is a code according to ICD-10. For children, it corresponds to the value of M42. 0, for adults the code M42 is used. 1. If the diagnosis is not confirmed by MRI and X-rays, the code M54 - dorsalgia is assigned to the patient.
Dorsago
This term refers to sharp, sudden pain in the sternum. They can be so strong that they make breathing and movement difficult. They are otherwise called lumbago of the chest.
A dangerous symptom is the appearance of pain in the left side in front. 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 help, so it will be useful to know some of the characteristic features of chest pain.
So, with dorsag, the patient's condition does not improve after taking "heart" drugs, and the ECG does not show any changes in the rhythm. In addition, the discomfort increases sharply when coughing, bending the upper body to the side and forward.
Such manifestations of the chest form of the disease must be distinguished from other pathologies with similar symptoms. A neurologist does this by doing an EKG, X-ray, CT and MRI of the spine. In particularly difficult cases, a thoracic surgeon is involved in the diagnosis.
Dorsalgia
Dorsalgia is called back pain. The peculiarity of this syndrome is the duration of its course and the lack of expressiveness 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 area of the shoulder blades at night. In the morning, the discomfort disappears by itself after short movements.
The pain increases with deep and frequent breathing, bending and turning. With dorsalgia, spasms of the back muscles and deterioration of the 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 alone. It is preceded by unfavorable circumstances, which may exist separately or simultaneously, reinforcing each other.
Provoking factors:
- limited diet, lack of micronutrients;
- 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 feet.
When an elderly person is diagnosed with osteochondrosis, doctors talk about the inevitable aging of the body. But if the disease develops in young patients, especially teenagers, it indicates a wrong 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 a bent back. The thoracic type of 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 noticeably increase during menopause - due to a decrease in estrogen production. If hormone replacement therapy is started during this period, damage to the spine can be stopped for many years.
Main methods of treatment
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease that leads to deformation of the intervertebral discs and disruption of the biomechanics of the skeleton as a whole. It is impossible to cure it, because many neurological and vertebral disorders develop simultaneously with its destruction. Therefore, the therapy of osteochondrosis is symptomatic.
The treatment regimen for spinal dystrophy includes several types of medication.
What drugs are used in the fight against pathology? First of all, these are NSAIDs in tablets and injections.
Ointments and creams for osteochondrosis of the hip joint are ineffective, because the fibrous disc is hidden behind the thickness of the muscle and it is unlikely that the medicinal composition will be able to penetrate so deeply.
If NSAIDs are contraindicated or do not have the desired effect, glucocorticosteroids are used, including in the form of paravertebral blocks. Ultraphonophoresis with analgesics, magnetic therapy and UHF are prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation. Muscle spasms are relieved by muscle relaxants.
Treatment without drugs
The most effective method of combating thoracic osteochondrosis is massage. It helps relax tense muscles, relieve back discomfort and partially restore the biomechanics of the spine. You can perform the procedure yourself by purchasing a suitable massager for your home.
Traction (stretching) of the spine helps reduce the load on the damaged discs. With this procedure, it is possible to relieve pinched nerve roots and significantly improve the patient's condition. It is noticed that the patient already feels relief after the first session.
At home, it is recommended to stretch the spine using specially selected exercises. Of course, traction works faster in the case of osteochondrosis, but exercise therapy has a number of advantages: it relaxes and strengthens the back muscles, reduces the load on the discs, improves the general condition of the patient and raises the mood.
There are many interesting and effective complexes designed for the thoracic spine. Very good exercises that do not require sports training and are available to everyone. It is recommended to start training with the simplest movements, gradually increasing the complexity of the exercises.
Recently, the basic complex, which contains universal movements that restore the functionality of all body systems, has gained great popularity. Gymnastics is well complemented by swimming in the pool and hydromassage.
Action for aggravation of osteochondrosis
Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs as a chronic pathology and the frequency of recurrence directly depends on the degree of disc damage and the patient's lifestyle.
During an exacerbation, during which nerve fibers are pinched, the patient needs complete rest and treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also recommended to take analgesics, vitamin-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 resolve relapses. A good anti-inflammatory effect is provided by poultices made from fresh burdock and cabbage leaves, lotions with a decoction of linden flowers, birch buds or celery roots.
For acute back pain, traditional healers recommend putting mustard plasters on the area of the affected vertebrae. It is difficult to say how effective and safe this method is, but it really helps many people to get rid of painful symptoms.
There are many good reviews about this method of dealing with exacerbation, such as acupuncture. The procedure, performed by a highly qualified specialist, perfectly relieves pain, calms and relaxes, and stimulates the body's defenses. It helps both in the initial stage of the disease and in severe advanced forms.
Consequences of osteochondrosis GOP
If degenerative changes on the spine are not treated in a timely manner, they progress quickly and lead to serious disorders in the body. The most common complications of osteochondrosis are:
- disorders in the activity of the gastrointestinal tract;
- lung and bronchial diseases;
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- deterioration of blood circulation in the extremities.
The development of protrusion and herniation of intervertebral discs causes compression of nerve fibers, arteries and spinal cord.
As a result of the deterioration of blood circulation, the patient may develop paralysis of the limbs, and the functionality of the brain may deteriorate. Neurological disorders often appear: Brown-Séquard and Personage-Turner syndrome, Adamkiewicz reaction, infarction of the anterior spinal artery.
Complications of GOP osteochondrosis include VSD (complex of vegetative-vascular disorders).
Why is this type of osteochondrosis dangerous?
The main danger of thoracic spine dystrophy is misdiagnosis and prescribing inappropriate treatment. As the patient takes heart or stomach pills, the destruction of the discs progresses further, leading to protrusion and herniation.
The danger of the disease is also great in terms of the possible development of heart pathologies - advanced osteochondrosis of the heart often becomes the cause of arrhythmia, cardiovascular failure and myocardial infarction.
During an acute attack of dorsag, breathing problems may occur. Long-term airflow limitation leads to destructive bronchitis, asthma and lung diseases. The resulting hernias cause deterioration of the work of the stomach, pancreas, kidneys and liver.
Women suffering from thoracic osteochondrosis are faced with a disorder of the reproductive system - they cannot conceive a child for years without suspecting that the cause of infertility is spinal dystrophy. Men also suffer from chest disease - potency deteriorates, muscle tone decreases, strength in hands is lost, and a possible postponement of military recruitment is possible.
Preventive measures
It is not difficult to avoid back 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 work day will bring huge benefits.
It is good to go swimming, if you are overweight, be sure to lose weight, but without excessive zeal. The diet should be balanced and contain enough calories. In addition, you can take chondroprotectors.
In order to prevent diseases of the spine, it is recommended to find a qualified massage therapist, do yoga or stretching.
Conclusion
Even with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, you can live to the fullest, 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 quickly and get 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.