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 the disease 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 pain. We will tell you how to recognize the symptoms of the disease and carry out 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: it has more elements, they are smaller and thinner, and also have long processes. The mobility of this segment of the crest is noticeably less, and the lion's share of the load is taken by the sternum and ribs.
A lump in the throat with osteochondrosis of the GOP appears due to spasm of the muscles of the pharynx and neck.
The physiological curvature of the GOP, directed convexically backwards, also plays an important role. In this case the main pressure falls on the front area of the discs, leaving the far side in relative tranquility. This means that developed bumps and hernias appear on the outside of the ridge, without affecting the spinal cord.
Types of disease
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depend on the observed syndrome. There are two types: neurological and painful.
The first case is characterized by numbness of the upper extremities, crawling, twitching and reflex tension of the back muscles. In particularly severe cases, difficulty breathing, sensation of lump in the throat, heartburn and pressure in the epigastrium occur.
The pain syndrome can be acute and intense (dorsago) or prolonged and mild (dorsalgia), and also manifest itself as intercostal neuralgia.
To describe the destructive effects of osteochondrosis, there is a code according to ICD-10. For children it corresponds to the M42 value. 0; for adults the code M42 is used. 1. If the diagnosis is not confirmed by the results of MRI and X-ray, the patient is assigned the code M54 - dorsalgia.
Dorsago
This term refers to sudden, sharp pain in the sternum. They can be so strong that they make breathing and movement difficult. They are otherwise called chest low back pain.
A dangerous symptom is the appearance of pain in the left front part. If the attack is not caused by thoracic osteochondrosis, it may be a sign of heart disease. In this case, the person needs urgent medical attention, so it will be useful to know some distinctive features of chest pain.
Therefore, with Dorsago, the patient's well-being does not improve after taking "heart" drugs, and the ECG does not show any changes in the rhythm. Also, discomfort increases significantly when coughing, bending the upper body sideways and forward.
Such manifestations of the thoracic form of the disease must be differentiated from other pathologies with similar symptoms. A neurologist does this by performing an ECG, x-ray, CT scan, 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 expression 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 scapula area at night. In the morning, the discomfort disappears on its own after short movements.
The pain intensifies with deep and frequent breathing, bending and turning. With dorsalgia, spasms of the back muscles and deterioration of mobility of the cervicothoracic or lumbothoracic segments are observed.
Factors predisposing to the onset of the disease
The thoracic form of osteochondrosis never appears on its own. It is preceded by unfavorable circumstances, which can exist separately or simultaneously, reinforcing each other.
Provocative factors:
- limited diet, micronutrient deficiency;
- passive lifestyle;
- professional sports;
- back injuries;
- congenital anomalies of the structure of bone structures;
- obesity;
- infectious and inflammatory pathologies that can interrupt the widespread nutrition of the vertebrae (ankylosing spondylitis, spinal tuberculosis);
- flat feet.
When osteochondrosis osteochondrosis is diagnosed in an elderly person, doctors talk about the inevitable aging of the body. But if the disease develops in young patients, especially adolescents, this indicates an incorrect lifestyle and adherence to bad habits.
The thoracic form of the disease develops most often 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, the use of high heels and weakness of the back muscles. The symptoms of the disease increase significantly during menopause, due to the decrease in estrogen production. If you start hormone replacement therapy during this period, you can stop damage to your spine for many years.
Main methods of treatment
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease that leads to deformation of the intervertebral discs and a disorder of the biomechanics of the skeleton as a whole. It is impossible to cure it, since simultaneously with the destruction, many neurological and vertebral disorders develop. Therefore, therapy for osteochondrosis is symptomatic.
The treatment regimen for spinal dystrophy includes several types of medications.
What drugs are used to combat the pathology? First of all, these are NSAIDs in tablets and injections.
Ointments and creams for osteochondrosis of the hip joint are ineffective, since the fibrous disk is hidden behind the thickness of the muscles and it is unlikely that the medicinal composition can penetrate so deeply.
If NSAIDs are contraindicated or do not have the desired effect, glucocorticosteroids are used, including in the form of paravertebral blocks. To reduce pain and inflammation, ultraphonophoresis with analgesics, magnetic therapy and UHF are prescribed. Muscle spasms are relieved with muscle relaxants.
Non-pharmacological treatment
The most effective method of combating thoracic osteochondrosis is massage. It helps to relax tense muscles, relieve back discomfort and partially restore the biomechanics of the spine. You can carry out the procedure yourself by purchasing a massager suitable for your home.
Traction (stretching) of the spine helps reduce the load on damaged discs. With this procedure it is possible to relieve pinched nerve roots and significantly improve the patient's condition. It is noted that the patient feels relief after the first session.
At home, it is recommended to stretch the spine using specially selected exercises. Of course, in the case of osteochondrosis, traction works faster, but physical therapy has numerous advantages: it relaxes and strengthens the back muscles, reduces the load on the discs, improves the patient's general well-being and lifts 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 accessible to anyone. It is recommended to start training with the simplest movements, gradually increasing the complexity of the exercises.
Recently, a basic complex containing 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.
Actions for exacerbation of osteochondrosis
Thoracic osteochondrosis presents itself as a chronic pathology and the frequency of relapses directly depends on the degree of damage to the discs and the patient's lifestyle.
During an exacerbation, during which pinching of nerve fibers occurs, the patient requires complete rest and treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also recommended to take analgesics, vitamin and 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 rubbings prepared on the basis of camphor alcohol, essential oils of fir, juniper and thuja.
Infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs will help to cope with relapses. A good anti-inflammatory result gives compresses based on fresh burdock and cabbage leaves, lotions with decoction of linden flowers, birch buds or celery root.
For acute back pain, traditional healers recommend placing mustard plasters on the area of the affected vertebrae. It is difficult to say how effective and safe this method is, but for many it really helps to get rid of painful symptoms.
There are many positive reviews about this method of dealing with exacerbation, like 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 phase of the disease and in severely advanced forms.
Consequences of GOP osteochondrosis
If degenerative changes in the spine are not treated timely, they progress rapidly and lead to serious disorders in the body. The most common complications of osteochondrosis are:
- disturbances in the activity of the gastrointestinal tract;
- diseases of the lungs and bronchi;
- 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.
Due to deterioration of blood circulation, the patient may develop paralysis of the limbs, and brain function may deteriorate. Often appearance of neurological disorders: Brown-Séquard and Personage-Turner syndromes, 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 making an incorrect diagnosis and prescribing inappropriate treatment. As the patient takes heart or stomach pills, the destruction of the discs progresses more and more, leading to protrusion and herniations.
The danger of the disease is also great in terms of the possible development of cardiac pathologies: advanced cardiac osteochondrosis often becomes the cause of arrhythmia, cardiovascular failure and myocardial infarction.
Breathing problems may occur during an acute dorsago attack. Long-term restriction of airflow leads to destructive bronchitis, asthma and lung disease. The resulting hernias cause a deterioration in the functioning 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 even suspecting that the cause of infertility lies in spinal dystrophy. Men also suffer from chest diseases: potency deteriorates, muscle tone decreases, strength in the arms is lost, and a possible deferral from conscription into the army is possible.
Preventive measures
It is not difficult to avoid spinal problems. The main thing is to get used to daily physical activity. A little exercise in the early morning and some active breaks during the working day will bring enormous benefits.
It's okay to go swimming, if you are overweight be sure to lose weight, but without excessive zeal. The diet should be balanced and sufficient in calories. Additionally, you can take chondroprotectors.
To prevent spinal diseases, it is recommended to contact a qualified masseur, practice 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 regular physical activity. As soon as we reduce activity, the body begins to age rapidly and acquire all kinds of ailments, including spinal dystrophy. Knowing this, it is not difficult to prevent pathology or slow down the destruction that has already begun.