The human spine is in the literal sense of the word its support. It is designed in such a way that it can withstand heavy loads. In the case when a different kind of negative influence is exerted on the body, thoracic osteochondrosis develops.
Osteochondrosis is a disease in which the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity, elasticity and strength, in other words, their dystrophic and degenerative changes occur. The basis is the violation of metabolic processes in the tissues of the discs. In addition, there is a change in the structure of the vertebrae themselves.
The eligibility of using the term "osteochondrosis of the spine" is now disputed, as well as writing off all back pain to this problem.
In the international classification of diseases of the 10th revision of the nosological unit "osteochondrosis" is not, but the term still exists among doctors.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the thoracic spine do not develop so often, they can mimic the symptoms of somatic diseases.
If pain occurs in the left side of the chest, even if it increases with inspiration, associated with movement, electrocardiography is mandatory to exclude acute coronary syndrome.
What is the disease
Thoracic osteochondrosis is the most rare form of unnatural changes in the spine. The fact is that, in contrast to the lumbar and cervical regions, the thoracic region of the spine is supported and strengthened by the ribs.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is less common than other forms of this condition, since the thoracic spine is reinforced with ribs.
Symptoms are often similar to those of cardiac disease, as well as diseases of the pleura.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of X-ray, CT, MRI. Treatment is selected to relieve symptoms and prevent further degradation of the cartilage of the spine.
Even significant loads cause minimal damage to the vertebrae in this area. However, the main danger for the vertebrae in this area is a prolonged sedentary state.
Such osteochondrosis provokes a change both in the vertebrae themselves and in nearby organs. The onset of the disease is generally mild, without sharp pain. At the same time, it is extremely difficult to identify osteochondrosis in the thoracic region because of its peculiarity to impersonate other diseases.
Quite often, this pathology can be confused with:
- angina pectoris;
- diseasesGastrointestinal tract(gastritis, ulcer, colitis);
- diseaseshearts;
- inflammationappendix;
- renalcolic.
With a comprehensive examination, it soon turns out that the symptoms of other diseases are not confirmed, while there are clear signs of one of the degrees of osteochondrosis.
The prevalence of the disease
The risk group includes workers of any kind of activity. Most often, chest osteochondrosis (GO) occurs in people over 55 years old, but among young people, you can also see the first signs of the development of the disease. In the sample surveyed by doctors, 38% were men and 62% were women.
The initial stage of HO occurs in 71% of the surveyed. Osteochondrosis is the most common cause of disability in the working population. There are 33 to 165 cases per 100 workers per year. Those. in many cases, within a year, one person has multiple relapses, each time requiring a sick leave.
Degrees
The development of thoracic osteochondrosis goes through several stages:
- Dehydration of tissuesdisks,because of what they lose flexibility and elasticity. At this stage, the disks are gradually flattened and modified, they are still able to withstand the load, but the person already feels unpleasant sensations.
- Cracking dehydratedfibrousdisc rings. When the position of the body changes, pronounced painful sensations are felt.
- The gapthe outer shell of the disc, the nucleus pulposus comes out, forming a hernia, which touches the nerve roots extending from the spine, in such a situation there is a sharp pain.
- Convergenceadjacent vertebrae, their displacement, flattening and growth.
Osteochondrosis is divided into several degrees:
- Disease1 degreediagnosed with a rupture of the intervertebral disc, when a sharp pain occurs in the sternum, comparable to an electric shock, while the muscles are extremely tense.
- 2nd degreecharacterized by the appearance of disc protrusion, when part of it begins to press on the nerve roots, but the nucleus pulposus is still intact and does not come out. This degree of osteochondrosis proceeds in a constant alternation of exacerbations and remissions.
- At3 degreespains are permanent, since the nerve endings are subject to incessant irritation. At this stage, there is numbness of the limbs, severe headaches, arrhythmia, insomnia, increased nervousness due to general poor health.
- At4 degreesirreversible transformations are observed in the vertebrae, after their convergence and modification, the spine loses its mobility in this place.
Depending on the degree and stage of the disease, symptoms and other factors, a suitable method of treatment is selected.
Causes
Osteochondrosis occurs for a number of reasons, but the most common:
- Excessiveweightbody. The spinal column is unable to constantly support too much weight.
- Wrongnutrition.Due to the small consumption of foods containing calcium and the simultaneous consumption of food, which provokes its leaching from the body, bone tissue is destroyed. The vertebrae gradually wear out. In addition, if the diet lacks a sufficient amount of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, intervertebral discs suffer, which lack these important micronutrients.
- Smoking.The use of tobacco disrupts metabolic processes in the body, and this has a significant effect on the state of the intervertebral discs.
- Violationposture.A systematic violation of the normal position of the spine leads to scoliosis, which, in turn, provokes osteochondrosis.
- SedentaryLifestyle. Sedentary work and lack of any physical activity lead to the fact that the muscles of the body lose their tone. They relax and cannot fully support the spine, causing it to bend.
- Increased physicalload.Most often they happen to professional athletes, however, in everyday conditions there are such situations. If a powerful effect is exerted on the spine, then it is possible to change the position of the vertebrae, the formation of protrusion and hernia.
- Geneticpredisposition. Quite often, similar pathological disorders in the vertebrae and discs are found in close relatives.
- Agechanges. Over the years, the body stops synthesizing glycosaminoglycans and other important compounds that give elasticity to the intervertebral discs. Bone tissue becomes porous and fragile, which means that the vertebrae are prone to deformation.
- Traumaback. Even a slight injury to the spine does not pass without leaving a trace and gives rise to transformations in the vertebrae.
In addition, hormonal disorders in the body, hypothermia and infectious diseases can become an impetus for the development of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms
Since thoracic osteochondrosis is similar in symptomatology to many other diseases, it is rather difficult to distinguish its signs. However, doctors agree that the obvious symptoms of osteochondrosis can be considered:
- pain betweenribs;
- pain in the upperlimbs,accompanied by a feeling of tingling and numbness;
- pain in deepbreathing;
- pain when tryingto raisehand;
- inability to commit by the corpus of the bodyinclinein one direction or another;
- convulsionsin the muscles;
- pallorskin due to improper functioning of nerve endings;
- sensationlumbagoin back.
Pain attacks increase at night, with a decrease in body temperature, when turning the body.
Since pain can radiate to the anterior upper sternum, it is often confused with pain in the heart.
| Vertebra no. | What parts of the body is associated with | What causes |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Trachea, esophagus | Cough, asthma, arrhythmia |
| D2 | Palms, wrists, hands | Pain in the chest, palms and arms |
| D3 | Chest, pleura, lungs, bronchi | Pneumonia, pleurisy, asthma, bronchitis |
| D4 | Bile duct and bladder | Jaundice, gallstones |
| D5 | Solar plexus | Jaundice, poor blood clotting |
| D6 | Liver | Ulcers, gastritis, digestive problems, liver dysfunction |
| D7 | 12 duodenum, pancreas | Stool, digestive disorders, ulcers and diabetes |
| D8 | Diaphragm, spleen | Weakened immune system, allergies |
| D9 | Adrenal glands | Weakness, fatigue, kidney problems |
| D10 | Kidney | Infertility, digestive problems, diseases of the female genital organs |
| D11 | Ureters | Kidney disease, urinary problems |
| D12 | Fallopian tubes, inguinal rings, colon and small intestine | Infertility, diseases of the genital organs, problems with stool and digestion |
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, 2 common syndromes can be observed - dorsago and dorsalgia.
Dorsago is a syndrome accompanied by severe, sharp and sudden pain in the sternum. The usual inhalation, exhalation and attempts to turn the body in one direction or another are accompanied by painful sensations. This syndrome often occurs in people who must spend a long time in one position, leaning forward.
Dorsalgia - unlike dorsago, it develops imperceptibly, for about a month. It is characterized by throbbing pain and chest discomfort. The pain increases in the dark, with deep breathing and an uncomfortable position of the body.
| Where does it hurt? | How does it manifest |
|---|---|
| Breast | Constriction is felt in the back and chest, it becomes difficult to breathe, pains are felt when breathing and bending, sometimes felt in the region of the heart and left sternum |
| Neck | Hands go numb, voice hoarse, breathing is hard, head hurts, dizzy, vision and hearing are falling |
| Small of the back | Cold feet syndrome, spasms of the lower extremities, increased sweating, abnormalities in the genitourinary system, lower back pain - dull or acute |
Specific and rare symptoms of breast osteochondrosis:
- sensationlumpin the throat, pain in the larynx and esophagus, occur if the disease affects the upper chest;
- symptomspancreatitis,cholecystitis occurs when the middle thoracic region is affected;
- pathologyintestinesis able to simulate the defeat of the lower thoracic region;
- intercostalneuralgia,arising from the infringement of the roots of the intercostal nerve, the pain in this case is of a shingles in nature. It is easy to confuse neuralgia with many diseases of the internal organs;
- pulmonarysyndrome - expressed by symptoms of hypoxia and congestion in the lungs.
During the course of the disease, both several and almost all symptoms can be observed simultaneously, and they change depending on the stage of chest osteochondrosis.
| Factor | Osteochondrosis | Myocardial infarction | Angina pectoris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intensity | Less often strong, more often mild pain | Strong to Unbearable | Weak |
| Duration | Long: a day or more | Several hours or days | 1 to 15 minutes |
| Location | Left sternum, back, area between shoulder blades | Neck, behind the breastbone | Neck, behind the breastbone |
Diagnostics
The main methods for diagnosing thoracic osteochondrosis are:
- X-ray.In the images obtained with its help, there are usually the following signs: an altered shape of the vertebral body; the presence of bone growths; reduced height of intervertebral discs; uneven contours of the plates; thinning of the spinal canal; degenerative processes in the structure of the spine.
- Computertomography. It is necessary in difficult cases to obtain a full-fledged 3D model of the spinal column.
- Neurophysiologicalexamination. Tendon reflexes are assessed, as well as muscle nerve conduction (electroneuromyography).
- Studybloodto determine the level of calcium in it.
Since chest osteochondrosis is quite difficult to diagnose, you should know its primary symptoms in order to consult a doctor in time.
First aid for exacerbation
If it becomes necessary to get rid of an attack in a short time, experts recommend adhering to a number of recommendations.
First of all, the area in which the pain syndrome manifests itself needs to be warmed. For this, it is better to use special medicinal ointments. Doctors strongly advise against using herbal decoctions, since there is a possibility of a serious burn. A woolen shawl or scarf works best for a warming compress.
Next, you need to take a body position that will not provoke the manifestation of unpleasant sensations. It is advisable to lie on a hard surface such as the floor.
At the time of an exacerbation, a tight bandage should be applied to the chest.
Taking a medication with an analgesic effect will help to stop or reduce the severity of the attack.
If, after 60 minutes, the state of health does not improve, you need to call an ambulance. When the doctor arrives, he needs to be told about the use of pain relievers.
Treatment
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis includes a set of the following procedures:
- Anti-inflammatorynon-steroidal medicines - help suppress inflammation and relieve pain. Hormonal preparations are added if necessary.
- Muscle relaxants- relax muscles that are in tension.
- Sedativesdrugs - to reduce anxiety and irritability caused by constant pain.
- Diureticdrugs to relieve swelling.
- Medicinesto stimulate blood circulation.
- Chondroprotectors.Medicines prescribed to accelerate the regeneration of cartilage tissues - insufficient evidence base, the effect is individual.
- Acupuncture.Specialists of acupuncture are able to relieve pain in osteochondrosis by affecting specific areas of the body.
- Physiotherapy.
- Manualtherapy. An experienced chiropractor is able to improve blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm and stop the development of osteochondrosis.
- Massage.It is allowed to use this method of treatment in the absence of a herniated disc.
- Ultrasonictherapy.
- Electromagnetictherapy.
- Mud therapy.
- Stretching.Thanks to this method, the muscles and the spine are stretched up to 1. 5 mm. This, in turn, leads to decompression of nerve endings, while the inflammatory process is eliminated, pain disappears and local blood circulation increases.
If standard treatment does not work or a herniated disc has formed, surgery is rarely required.
The diet should include dishes that are natural chondroprotectors - jellied meat, jellies, puddings, strong broths cooked from lamb and beef.
All doctors say swimming is essential to maintain spinal health. This type of activity allows you to evenly distribute the load throughout the body, helps to align the spine, strengthen the back muscles and generally improve the body's health. However, it is worth remembering that in the presence of a hernia, such a method of recovery is excluded while an exacerbation is taking place.
Physiotherapy
If chest osteochondrosis of the 1st degree is diagnosed, regular exercise will allow you to cope with the problem without resorting to medications. In addition, in order to achieve a positive result, it is recommended to perform gymnastics for at least 4 months.
To treat the disease, it is recommended to do the following exercises daily:
- tilt the body forward, while alternately bending the lower limbs;
- perform bends to the sides by taking turns raising your hands;
- simultaneously raise the upper and lower limbs in a prone position;
- tilt the body forward, reaching with your hands to the foot located on the opposite side.
Each of the exercises is repeated 10 times. It is allowed to do 3 approaches.
Experts give another set of exercises:
- Take a standing position. Raise your arms as you inhale, and lower them as you exhale.
- Sit on a chair with a back. Inhale and pull your shoulders back so that the shoulder blades are as close to each other as possible. Bend the lower back slightly.
- Get on all fours. Raise the right leg and left arm from the floor, straighten and take away. In this position, you need to linger for 15 seconds. After that, take the starting position and do the same on opposite limbs.
- Perform the exercise "cat". To do this, you also need to take a position, standing on all fours, bend in the lower back and bend upward.
Each must be done 15-20 times. If during any exercise painful sensations appear, it is better not to do it.
After the muscle corset becomes stronger, the specialist will recommend moving on to more complex exercises.
It must be remembered that during the period of exacerbation of the disease, the load should be minimal, but you should not completely abandon classes.
Consequences and complications
Complications with the occurrence of thoracic osteochondrosis are not uncommon, since at first the disease is latent and asymptomatic, it can be recognized when it has progressed significantly. The following complications are distinguished:
- constrictionspinal canal;
- overgrowthbone tissue of the vertebrae;
- spondyloarthrosis(thoracoarthrosis, dorsarthrosis);
- inflammationnerve roots of the spinal column;
- vegetative-vasculardystonia.
The nature and severity of complications depend on the timeliness and correctness of treatment. At the same time, at a younger age, it is more often possible to avoid the consequences.
Prevention methods
As such, there is no separate prevention of osteochondrosis; it is necessary to take care of the spine as a whole in order to prevent any changes in it. Therefore, you should adhere to the following rules:
- To not allowinjuryspine. Athletes need to carefully calibrate the load and use sports belts and corsets to support the spine. People whose work involves physical activity need to strengthen their back muscles to support the spinal column.
- Perform a complex of specialgymnasticexercise. It is necessary to normalize blood circulation in the spine so that the intervertebral discs do not suffer from a lack of the necessary trace elements. When sedentary work, you need to get up at least once an hour and do a little warm-up.
- At the slightest signs typical of diseases of the spine (tingling, numbness, lumbago), you need to apply forconsultationto a neurologist.
It is necessary to take care of the health of the spine, adhere to moderate physical activity, avoid bad habits, eat a balanced diet, and drink more fluids. All this will help prevent changes in the vertebrae and discs between them and maintain the spine in working order for a long time.
Answers to common questions
Which doctor is treating?
At the first symptoms of the manifestation of pathology, you need to contact a vertebrologist or neurologist. To prescribe a complex treatment, you will additionally need a consultation with a traumatologist (if the cause of the disease is a bruise, trauma, fractures), an osteopath (determines the area of the spinal lesion), a rheumatologist (inflammation in the connective tissue).
How long does an exacerbation last?
The duration of the acute phase can be from 3 to 14 days. In the absence of therapeutic measures, relapses can be repeated constantly, provoking a gradual damage to new areas.
What position to sleep in?
Experts recommend taking a lateral position in the embryo position. It is also allowed to sleep on your back, but in this case, the internal organs can put pressure on the thoracic region. Sleeping on your stomach can cause soreness in your neck.