Thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine is rarely observed compared to the prevalence of diseases such as chondrosis of the lower back and neck. Breast osteochondrosis has certain signs and, like any other disease, requires adequate therapy.
The thoracic region is characterized by a special structure: it contains more intervertebral discs than the lumbar and cervical regions combined, and its intervertebral discs are smaller and very thin. The mobility of this department is very low, and most of the loads fall on the sternum and ribs.
The appearance of pain of varying degrees with heavy loads or with sudden movements, as is often the case with lumbar or cervical osteochondrosis, is not observed at all, while complications associated with the suspicion of developing cardiovascular diseases or disordersof respiratory function are outstanding.
The reasons
Predominantly, breast osteochondrosis begins to develop due to physical inactivity, that is, with a lack of muscle loading, which leads to increased stress on the intervertebral discs located between the vertebrae.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can cause the following diseases:
- The presence of bad habits;
- scoliosis and uneven posture;
- hereditary factors;
- lack of mobility;
- Frequent heavy physical activity;
- Received spinal injuries;
- Great stress and psychological strain.
The intervertebral discs of the thoracic vertebrae are equally affected by increased physical activity as by physical inactivity.
symptoms
With the development of osteochondrosis of the chest region, its symptoms are clearly manifested. In such circumstances, treatment should be started immediately. The symptoms of the disease are:
- The presence of acute pain in the thoracic spine, which occurs after a long stay in one position. Pain also occurs with sudden movements and when lifting heavy objects.
- There is pressure in the back and chest. Thoracic osteochondrosis causes difficulty breathing - it becomes painful to breathe in / out deeply.
- With chondrosis of the thoracic spine, such a symptom as numbness of certain areas of the body appears. This is appropriate due to damage to the nerve roots exiting the spinal cord.
- If a person has osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, he cannot sharply turn the body or stretch and raise his arm. All these actions are very painful.
- The presence of dull pain in the shoulder blades (most often between them).
- Feet are usually cold because they don't have enough blood flow due to a violation of some bodily function.
- There is a state of chills and "goosebumps".
Symptoms of breast osteochondrosis are determined by the degree of neglect of the disease. In addition, such a disease can lead to a breakdown in the functioning of other systems in the human body. Therefore, sometimes osteochondrosis is also manifested by such symptoms:
- The appearance of intercostal neuralgia;
- burning/itching on feet;
- gas, constipation or diarrhea, nausea/heartburn;
- Due to a violation of the functioning of blood vessels, the skin begins to peel off, and the nails become thin and brittle;
- There are difficulties in the work of the reproductive / reproductive systems;
- Sometimes there is a noticeable lack of oxygen.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, acute and persistent pain, which occurs in attacks, is appropriate. In case of exacerbation of the disease, the symptoms become extremely bright. At this time, the intervertebral discs are under a lot of stress. In most cases, the patient is shown a hospital regime. In addition, a person has symptoms:
- pancreatitis;
- urolithiasis;
- cholecystitis.
It is important to note that breast osteochondrosis does not cause either a decrease or an increase in body temperature.
Dorsago and dorsalgia
Often there are such signs of thoracic osteochondrosis as vertebral syndromes, including: dorsalgia and dorsago.
Doraso is called acute pain in the thoracic spine that comes on suddenly. Such a pathology, as a rule, faces those who have to stay in the same position for a long time, for example, when sitting. It is often noticeable when, after a long period of work, a person gets up from the table in an unchanged posture. Dorsago pain is sometimes unbearable. It happens that the possibility of movement in the lumbothoracic/cervical area is limited.
With dorsalgia, the development of this syndrome does not occur immediately, it takes several weeks. Dorsalgia is characterized by mild pain and discomfort in the damaged part of the spine. The pain increases when you take a deep breath and tilt your body to the side or forward.
Muscle tissue becomes tense and movement is restricted in the lumbothoracic/cervical area. As a rule, the pain becomes very strong in the evening, and in the morning all painful sensations go away on their own if you walk for 10 minutes.
What other pain syndromes are there with osteochondrosis of the chest region?
Such a disease can also have other pain syndromes, which can complicate the correct diagnosis. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis in the region of the esophagus, pharynx and a feeling of "lump in the throat" appear when the disease has overtaken the upper segment of the chest. Chondrosis affecting the middle segment of the thorax causes discomfort under the hypochondrium on the right side.
When the disease affects the lower chest, pain in the abdominal cavity is observed, which is very similar to the sensations that occur with intestinal pathologies.
It should be noted that a connection between the occurrence of pain in osteochondrosis of the chest and the quality level of the food consumed and human nutrition is incomprehensible. In addition, the appearance of pain has nothing to do with the season. However, pain in osteochondrosis of the chest region can intensify closer to the night and after heavy physical exertion. In the morning, as usual, all unpleasant sensations disappear or decrease.
complications
Thoracic osteochondrosis is dangerous because it is difficult to diagnose. For a long time it is possible to treat angina or respiratory diseases without suspecting the presence of this unpleasant disease.
If we continue to talk about the complications caused by osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, over time this disease can cause the appearance of various problems affecting the internal organs.
The most common complication can be called a disease of the cardiovascular system. Such problems arise due to receptor irritation in the chest and neck regions.
Sometimes observed:
- dysfunction of the duodenum;
- disorders in the digestive tract;
- There is such a pathology as dyskinesia of the gallbladder.
Does the importance of a timely start of therapy in thoracic osteochondrosis have to be proven?
diagnostic measures
Treatment of the chest region should begin after a comprehensive examination of the patient. These are the following procedures:
- The patient is examined and all his observations on the course of the disease are recorded. When the disease reaches stage 2-3, the skeleton is noticeably deformed. The doctor is obliged to collect the patient's medical history in order to exclude / confirm hereditary factors for the development of osteochondrosis of the thorax.
- It is necessary to pass urine and blood for analysis.
- X-ray can be used to determine:
- presence and size of osteophytes;
- Determine the height/contour of the intervertebral discs.
- size/location of hernias;
- The presence of changes in the shape of the disc.
- The discography provides an opportunity to view the outlines of the nucleus pulposus. This method uses contrast.
- CT scan. This study is used extremely rarely, since the patient is heavily irradiated during this study.
- electrocardiography. Since the symptoms of thoracic chondrosis resemble those of ischemic heart disease, this research method is used to verify this diagnosis.
breast treatment
Before organizing the treatment of breast osteochondrosis, you need to understand why this disease appeared in principle. In some people, chondrosis appeared due to an insufficiently mobile lifestyle, in others, the spine was injured at one time, and as a result, the blood supply processes were disrupted. Therefore, there are a variety of reasons why the development of such a disease as osteochondrosis of the chest region became appropriate.
In any case, effective therapy for breast chondrosis consists not only in the use of drugs that have an analgesic effect to neutralize pain in case of exacerbation of the disease. In addition, it is necessary to identify the original cause of the disease. A serious attitude to the treatment of this disease is required.
Also, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region with the help of drugs should be combined with physiotherapy, bearing in mind that low loads are beneficial.
treatment with medication
In order to treat the disease during its exacerbation, it is necessary to observe bed rest, take drugs with an analgesic effect and other drugs that are effective in fighting this disease.
Relief of pain syndrome is achieved by drugs in the initial stages of the development of the disease. Tablet medication and painkiller injections eliminate pain of moderate intensity. Painkillers are prescribed along with drugs that reduce inflammation, with drugs that restore cartilage tissue.
The choice of drugs, the intake of which is necessary for the regeneration of bone tissue, is made individually. The doctor must take into account the peculiarities of the organism and the course of the patient's disease in each individual case. Therefore, treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest with drugs involves taking these drugs:
- Analgesics to eliminate acute pain in the chest area, which causes malfunctions in the respiratory system and severe discomfort during movements.
- Tablets that relieve muscle spasms.
- Preparations with a large amount of B vitamins.
- Medicines of natural origin to maintain fluid in the intervertebral discs that have spread to osteochondrosis.
Effective Exercises
People who face the problem of osteochondrosis of the chest region need to perform exercises that have a beneficial effect on the spine. A well-designed list of simple tasks eliminates acute pain. By the way, with such a disease as chondrosis, breathing training will also give its results and reduce the number of attacks. The following exercises are recommended:
- The plank is a good workout in this disease, while it is advisable to do this exercise for no more than 1. 5 minutes with gradually increasing loads on the thoracic spine.
- Hanging on the horizontal bar should be as many times as possible, followed by adding time to the duration of the exercise.
- In turn, in the "plank" position, you need to press your knees to your chest and hold them in this position for a few seconds. Such a preventive measure is useful for the joints and relieves the load on the thoracic region with osteochondrosis.
For the treatment of pathology, it is best to use exercise therapy and other methods of physical therapy, while being in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor. Such exercises do not cause any inconvenience, since the patient performs simple and effective manipulations to get rid of osteochondrosis of the chest region. Such therapy is one of the important elements in preventing the disease in those at risk.
Manual therapy
The help of a chiropractor in the form of massage for osteochondrosis of any part of the spine gives greater efficiency and significantly improves the patient's well-being. Such treatment:
- Prevents back pain pain;
- Reduces tension in muscle tissue.
In addition, manual therapy is a great chance to normalize systemic circulation in the intercostal space, determine adequate tissue nutrition and stimulate better blood oxygen saturation.
With pectalgia (this is also one of the types of pain syndrome), such therapy is also used, but only as prescribed by a doctor.
massages
Massage is good therapy for osteochondrosis, even in the hospital, even at home. This method:
- Causes the elimination of hypertonia of the back muscles;
- Helps strengthen the bodies of the intervertebral discs.
If massage is part of general therapy for osteochondrosis, it can significantly bring the moment of full recovery closer, if the patient's diagnosis is acute osteochondrosis of the chest region. Various therapeutic massages are usually recommended at the same time as treatment by a chiropractor in combination with therapeutic physical activity.
What to do if the thoracic osteochondrosis is inflamed?
Exacerbation of osteochondrosis can lead to physical overload (sports, hard work), hypothermia, severe stress or fatigue, lifting heavy objects.
In case of exacerbation of chondrosis, a person feels unbearable pain, which cannot be eliminated with the help of painkillers at home. For this reason, in such cases it is necessary to call an ambulance.
If the pain is not so severe and can be endured, then the use of painkillers is undesirable, as this complicates the doctor's task in establishing an appropriate diagnosis. With osteochondrosis of the chest region, you can not self-medicate - it is dangerous to health.
Chondrosis often passes into an acute stage after:
- stressful situations;
- Great physical exertion;
- hypothermia.
In order to eliminate the process of aggravation of osteochondrosis as soon as possible, you should listen to these recommendations:
- The patient should observe bed rest (avoid exercise if possible);
- It is best to go on a comprehensive diet and eat right;
- The postures the patient adopts should not give the appearance of pain;
- It is necessary to take medication: painkillers and drugs to eliminate muscle spasms;
- It will not be superfluous to perform physiotherapeutic manipulations;
- Exercise therapy is of great importance in the treatment of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region. Of course, all exercises must be performed with extreme caution.
prevention
In order to prevent the occurrence of diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis of various departments), you should follow these tips:
- Don't sit still: sign up for a pool, arrange morning jogs, warm up your muscles;
- When you're in a position while you're at work (e. g. working in an office), always try to straighten your back and relax your shoulders.
- Seated work should only be done in a chair that supports the spine;
- Buy an orthopedic pillow and mattress - so that the spine takes the correct position during sleep;
- Don't carry a lot of weights and try not to lift them abruptly if necessary.
- Pump up your abs;
- Your shoes should not cause any discomfort when worn;
- Compose your diet in such a way that it contains as many beneficial microelements as possible and is enriched.
No one is immune from the occurrence of such a disease as osteochondrosis of the chest. If you suddenly notice the first manifestations of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor - after all, it is easier to prevent osteochondrosis than to treat it a long time later.
If you follow all of the above recommendations, the chances of encountering this disease will be minimal.
Additional tips
It is clear that in order to avoid problems with the spine, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations for a healthy lifestyle.
If your work is sedentary, it is worth organizing a break every hour and, if possible, warming up. Very effective in the prevention of osteochondrosis of the chest region is swimming. A balanced diet will not be superfluous.
For prevention, it is worth doing morning exercises every day and doing sports in your free time.
In essence, thoracic osteochondrosis does not pose any danger, but it will lead to serious complications if you do not treat it. It is important to organize the treatment of osteochondrosis in a timely manner in order to avoid other problems with the spine in the future, because in our body all systems and organs are interconnected - remember this.
Everyone wants to live without pain and not restrict themselves in anything due to illness. Therefore, it is important to identify and treat osteochondrosis in time, if this problem still surprises you.
Many people, having encountered osteochondrosis of the chest, reacted to the disease at the right time and, having started its treatment, have already forgotten what osteochondrosis is and what its symptoms are. Don't hesitate either!
And even better to prevent the occurrence of this disease. Just lead an active lifestyle!