Symptoms and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine

It is rarely possible to diagnose thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine (GO), unlike cervical and lumbar, which are found in every 2-3 patients aged 18 and over. This phenomenon is explained by the special structure of the thoracic part - the presence of a larger number of discs, which in turn have a finer structure. This part of the spine has little mobility, and accordingly, the load on it is not great, because the main "blow" is taken by the sternum together with the ribs.

The main reason why the development of thoracic pathology begins is the increase in the load on the intervertebral discs and, as a result, the violation of metabolic processes, as well as their structure.. . . In the presence of such a disease, the properties of the shock-absorbing disc are lost, the fibrous ring becomes thinner, dries, after this process, nerve endings become inflamed, the person feels constant pain, discomfort, and motor activity decreases. With the rapid course of the disease, it affects the ligaments of the spine and ankle joints.

Now many experts have made it a rule to classify osteochondrosis not by stages of the course, but by degrees, which further differ in the specifics of the symptoms.

If we take into account the general symptoms, then osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is not so pronounced, unlike other types, there is still a characteristic clinical picture. Thus, the patient may complain of the presence of the following signs:

• pain in the thoracic region, often exacerbated by prolonged exposure to one position or night;
• painful sensation between the shoulder blades, while increasing with the raising of the hand or after physical exertion;
• discomfort, pain when trying to breathe deeply, this symptom is also noticed when you exhale;
• when walking, there is pain in the ribs and a feeling of tightness in the chest area.

Such manifestations can accompany a person for several weeks, which should be considered a worsening of the disease.

What other symptoms can be observed with HO? In addition to the main clinical picture, in some cases the following manifestations are possible:

• numbness of the upper extremities, a feeling of "chills" passing through the skin;
• gastrointestinal tract disorders;
• feeling cold in the legs, inability to warm up.

Also, the characteristic signs of such a disease are dorsago - the appearance of sharp pain between the shoulder blades and dorsalgia - a slow pain syndrome that does not have a pronounced picture.

It should be noted that, like any other type of osteochondrosis, chest disease often affects people who lead an inactive lifestyle. Constant sitting at the computer, stooping, heavy physical exertion also become a provoking factor in the development of the disease.

How the disease manifests itself in women and men

The diagnosis is considered to be the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes in the thoracic region in patients - thoracic osteochondrosis. In this disease, the intervertebral discs are destroyed and malnutrition in the structures of the connective tissue. In addition, the process of blood circulation is disturbed, because the chest area is inactive. And the pain syndrome itself occurs due to pinching of nerve endings during the progression of the pathology.

According to statistics, HO is diagnosed in women several times more often than in men, and at the same time at a younger age. The main reason for this phenomenon is the change in hormone levels when entering the menopausal phase. Osteoporosis, which is often found in women at the beginning of menopause, is also a stimulus for the development of the disease.

Therapeutic measures are developed taking into account the clinical picture of the pathology. Severe symptoms do not appear immediately, it often takes a long time to suspect the presence of the disease. Namely, it is possible to make a diagnosis already during the emphasized picture, when the symptoms became obvious. When it comes to severe menstruation, there are two types of symptoms:

1. Development of painful sensations. . . This is the appearance of pain in the thoracic part, between the shoulder blades, which radiates to the area of the solar plexus. Pain syndrome can migrate to the neck area, mimicking cervical osteochondrosis and into the arm. Often women notice pain in the mammary glands, confusing them with breast pathologies. As a rule, feelings of pain are not permanent, they are painful, but at the same time they have no intensity.
2. Blood pressure disorder. . . In breast osteochondrosis, there is a hypertensive syndrome in women, which is characterized by increased pressure and can cause a hypertensive crisis. The peculiarity of normal hypertension may be the presence of minimal effect from the use of drugs that lower blood pressure. In case you have had similar situations, it is necessary to additionally consult a vertebrologist.

In addition to the above, other signs of degenerative-dystrophic disorders in the thoracic spine should be distinguished:

• Pain on the left side of the thoracic region,not associated with heart damage. . . In medical terminology, this phenomenon is called cardialgia. It is not difficult to diagnose, because the development of such a symptom cannot be stopped by the use of cardiac drugs.
• Digestive system dysfunction. . . Often, with the onset of osteochondrosis progression, problems with internal organs begin, more often with the gastrointestinal tract. The most striking example is the formation of heartburn, increased acidity and a feeling of constant bloating (bloating). Among other things, there may be problems with digestion - nausea after eating, weight, bloating. Against the background of all the above, the work of the stool is also disturbed - frequent constipation or diarrhea.
• Respiratory disorders. . . Since the dystrophic process takes place in the thoracic region, cases of injuries to the respiratory system are not uncommon. All this is accompanied by unreasonable dizziness, general weakness, shortness of breath and other signs that may indirectly resemble cardiac pathology or pressure problems (arterial / intracranial).

As for therapy, it largely depends on the signs of the pathological process. Pain medications, including NSAIDs in the form of ointments or gels, are prescribed to relieve pain. During the period of exacerbation, muscle relaxants are more effective, reduce smooth muscle spasm, relax muscles, alleviate pain syndrome, and reviews of their use are positive. When the pain becomes completely unbearable, a blockade with painkillers is applied.

Thoracic treatment

How exactly GO will manifest depends on the pathological changes that occur in the intervertebral discs. It is common to distinguish four stages of the course of degenerative-dystrophic disorders in the chest:

• First. . . The symptoms are not particularly pronounced, however, the process of dehydration of the thoracic spine discs has already begun. As a result, they lose elasticity, begin to take on a flatter appearance, but at the same time can still withstand certain loads. Occasionally, painful feelings of the painful type are disturbed, but they are not mild and often do not require taking pain medication.
• Others. . . At this stage, negative changes have affected the annulus fibrosus, various types of damage are observed - cracks, loss of stability. There are changes in the pain syndrome, it becomes more intrusive, more tangible, it intensifies with increasing motor activity - bending, turning.
• Third. . . On X-rays, the rupture of the annulus fibrosus is clearly visible and a hernia begins to form. Feelings of pain become clearer, from a whining character can become sharper, intensified by movements, and even at rest.
• Fourth. . . Spondyloarthritis is actively developing, on the background of convergence of the vertebrae and disc erasure. As a result, the connective tissue of the fibrous annulus is replaced by bone tissue, which significantly limits motor ability.

The clinical picture of thoracic osteochondrosis is such that it is more likely to be diagnosed with this disorder:

• Pain. . . Almost always, its localization is in one particular place, often on the left. After a while, it spreads all over the chest area, breathing is difficult, it becomes difficult to climb stairs or exercise.
• Increased pain. . . Strengthening occurs when turning or leaning, in general, with any physical activity, the same is observed when trying to take a deep breath.
• Muscle spasm. . . Muscle spasm is added to these symptoms, the contraction falls mainly on the upper back. In rare cases, such a symptom is present in the lumbar region.

Separately, it is worth mentioning intercostal neuralgia, which tends to last for several weeks and then disappear on its own. During this time, the person is accompanied by chest discomfort, increased movement, discomfort when trying to take a deep breath. Women may get the impression that they have problems with the mammary glands, which is why they will think about their treatment, and in men the feeling of a foreign object behind the sternum.

It should also be noted that the overall clinical picture described above intensifies at night or after hypothermia. The next morning, as a rule, it becomes easier, but before the evening, everything repeats itself.

How to treat, what methods exist, what to take? As for therapeutic measures, they should be started as soon as possible. It is often possible in the first stages without the use of medication, but only with regular gymnastics - exercise therapy.

Later stages of pathology, at 2 stages, include the use of drugs. This includes different groups of drugs, and the most popular are shown in the table below.

A group of drugs	The main effect of the drug
Painkillers, analgesics	They alleviate the pain syndrome, reduce its manifestation.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)	Remove inflammation, relieve pain, swelling.
Chondroprotectors	They increase the production of intra-articular secretion, slow down the process of cartilage destruction and reduce the manifestation of the inflammatory process.
Muscle relaxants	They reduce the tone of skeletal muscles, have a relaxing effect and help to effectively deal with back pain.
Sedatives, sedatives	For more effective therapy, because severe pain can cause stress, which worsens the effect of treatment.

In addition to essential medicines, a course of vitamin medicines is also recommended.

In case the overall clinical picture worsens, the main goal of therapy will be to alleviate the symptoms. For more pronounced and faster action, analgesics in the form of injections are prescribed, as well as the steroid type.

After eliminating the exacerbation and achieving stability, it is necessary to start basic therapy. A fairly wide range of medications can be prescribed, as only a complex effect on the disease can give positive results.

The main drugs are described in the table above, and then in more detail about them. Therefore, the basic treatment will include the appointment of such drugs:

• Chondroprotectors.They are used in the form of tablets and for local therapy, in the form of ointments or gels. It is impossible to exclude the use of such drugs, they are the basis for complete therapy. Their action is aimed at inhibiting the process of destruction of cartilage tissue and further progression of dystrophic changes. In addition, they increase the regenerative capacity of cartilage. However, it is impossible to completely get rid of the pathology with the help of such a medicine, it should not be considered a cure for panacea.
• Vasodilator. . . They are necessary to improve blood circulation and, accordingly, nutrition in the affected area. Most often, a fairly effective drug is prescribed that improves blood microcirculation, helps to cope with pain that occurs at rest.
• Local therapy. . . For the best effect, ointments or gels are prescribed. Thus, good results can be achieved only with the help of a complex effect, so when prescribing NSAIDs and chondroprotectors, it is common to additionally recommend fats of the same pharmacological groups. Creams based on bee or snake venom are also popular, they have a pronounced analgesic effect and are a good addition to the main therapy.
• Vitamins. . . B vitamins are especially prescribed. They have analgesic properties, help cope with inflammatory processes and damage nerve endings.
• Without error, with the effect of the drug, a course of physiotherapy, therapeutic massage, exercise therapy is prescribed.

What other therapies should be included in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis? An experienced professional will warmly recommend the following techniques:

• magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, therapeutic mud;
• complex of physiotherapeutic exercises;
• acupuncture, acupressure.

It is also recommended to adhere to a certain diet, you should exclude the use of alcohol, spicy foods, reduce the use of salt.

Special attention should be paid to therapeutic exercises, perform them daily, and preferably several times a day. Keep in mind that the set of exercises is developed individually by a doctor - orthopedist or traumatologist. Physical education is performed in the absence of exacerbation, when there is no pronounced pain, in the case of acute pain syndrome, it is necessary to adhere to maximum rest.

Sports with osteochondrosis are not the last thing. With this pathology, it is important to regularly perform all the prescribed exercises that will strengthen the muscles and positively affect the outcome of treatment.

Traditional medicine should also be mentioned. You can find many recipes based on natural ingredients on the Internet. It is not recommended to get pregnant with folk remedies as an independent method, due to the fact that their effectiveness will be minimal, and in many cases zero. However, in addition to the main therapy, folk remedies can be recommended. The following homemade recipes are known:

• Ingredients for the first: 3 tablespoons rye flour, 1 tablespoon turpentine and a teaspoon of iodine and garlic. Mix everything well and use as an ointment in the evening.
• For others: 5 tablets of metamizole sodium and 5 ml of camphor alcohol. Bring the tablets to a powder state, then pour over the alcohol and apply overnight in the form of applications.

A needle applicator is considered another alternative therapy. Its action is aimed at reducing the pain syndrome through needle massage.

In the case when all the described methods of therapy did not give the desired result or it turned out that they were not long-lasting, the issue of prescribing surgery is resolved. Surgery is necessary when it is not possible to eliminate the pain syndrome, the degenerative-dystrophic process continues to develop, and at the same time negative changes in the work of internal organs are observed. If your doctor still recommends that you have surgery, then you should not refuse immediately. Timely intervention will allow you to get rid of such a problem, completely restore the work of the organs and exclude further development of complications.

The operation usually involves two phases. The first is aimed at eliminating the cause - decompression, which eliminates the pain syndrome. The second phase is the subsequent stabilization of the spine.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is a serious pathology that can not only disrupt the work of the musculoskeletal system, but also negatively affect the systems and organs.

It is important to monitor your own health, take preventative measures, monitor your diet and be smart in terms of physical activity. Regular exercise is an effective prevention of osteochondrosis, but do not forget that every load should be moderate.

Cervicothoracic treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region is not considered an independent pathology. In this case, we are talking about a set of disorders that occur in the intervertebral discs and are capable of affecting muscle tissue, but also nearby organs.

Cervicothoracic osteochondrosis is far from uncommon, more than 20% of diagnoses are attributed to this disease. The disease is very insidious, the diversity of the clinical picture in many cases leads the doctor to suspect other diseases that are not related to the spine. For example, a doctor may suggest the presence of angina pectoris, recommend taking a drug, which in the end simply will not give any results, and worst of all, will negatively affect the state of the cardiac system. That is why it is very important to distinguish osteochondrosis from pathologies of internal organs. Thus, dystrophic disorders in the cervicothoracic region are characterized by the following signs:

• frequent headaches;
• loss of strength, accompanied by dizziness;
• aching pains in the neck, which extend to the shoulders, shoulders, a state of muscle stiffness;
• compression of the intercostal nerve root, i. e. pain syndrome, as well as its exacerbation;
• blood pressure disorders, there may be a drop from hypertension to hypotension, more common in women;
• decreased visual acuity, hearing problems (hearing loss);
• in men, a decrease in potency with nervous overload on the background of the disease.

The important thing is the formulation of the correct diagnosis, a number of diagnostic measures will be needed here, which will include: X-ray examination, ultrasound, MRI, CT.

Comprehensive treatment is mandatory and should include:

• medicines;
• various physiotherapy techniques;
• physiotherapy;
• non-traditional therapy (acupressure, acupuncture).

It is also important to take care of measures that do not use drugs, for example: reduce physical activity, which includes minimizing the load, changing the mattress and buying an orthopedic pillow.

Atypical symptoms, sensations and pain

In addition to the typical pain that manifests in osteochondrosis of the chest, there are many atypical pain that can not be associated with diseases of the spine. However, you should be aware of them:

• Heart pain. . . Heart pain often occurs with such pathology, imitating heart attacks. One of the characteristics is their duration. Unlike real heart pain, in osteochondrosis, the pain is prolonged, it can torment for several weeks. In addition, the use of traditional medicines does not reduce the occurrence of pain. Here it is worth thinking about the presence of other pathology that is not related to the heart.
• Imitationmammary gland pathology. . . This clinical picture relates directly to patients. Often thoracic osteochondrosis leads to thinking about breast disease, because a woman can observe for a long time pain in the thoracic region, which spreads to the glands. Identify the true cause of such a symptom, or at least rule out problems with the mammary glands, is possible only after examination by a mammologist.
• Pain in the abdominal cavity. . . This symptom suggests the presence of gastritis and other diseases of the digestive system. By mistake, a gastroenterologist can diagnose pancreatitis or cholecystitis. Such diagnoses can be refuted or confirmed with the help of a detailed examination.
• In addition to these signs, the patient may feel pronouncedchest discomfortdescribed to have a foreign object. It is often difficult to take a deep breath or exhale, a feeling that it is impossible to take a deep breath, difficulty breathing with little physical activity.

The process of treating degenerative-dystrophic disorders is not easy, it requires a long time, the effort of the patient and the qualifications of the attending physician.

Be sure to consult your doctor before treating the disease. This will help to take into account individual tolerance, confirm the diagnosis, make sure that the treatment is correct and exclude negative drug interactions. If you use prescriptions without consulting your doctor, then it is entirely at your own risk. All information is provided for informational purposes only and is not medical assistance. All responsibility for the application is on you.