Messengers of the disease: symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

Thoracic osteochondrosisis a degenerative-dystrophic disease in the middle parts of the spine.It occurs less often than lumbar and even cervical osteochondrosis and accounts for about 10% of all cases of the disease.The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are associated with several features of the spine in the thoracic region: rigid fixation of the vertebra due to the ribs and skeletal muscles and less mobility, a semicircular curvature of the ridge in this region and improper distribution of the load.

The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis begin with a violation of tissue trophism and dehydration of the intervertebral discs.Lack of nutrients and lack of fluid, the cartilage loses elasticity, begins to crack and "SAG" begins.This condition is fraught with compression of nerve roots, deterioration of sensitivity and function of internal organs, as well as severe pain.It is often accompanied by the appearance of the destruction of the vertebrae in the thoracic regionosteophytes- Bones that injure paravertebral tissues and cause chronic inflammation.

Contrary to popular belief, thoracic osteochondrosis is not a natural age-related process and requires special treatment.The onset of the disease can occur at any ageFrom 25 years oldAbout 70% of the total number of Open Patients are women between the ages of 35 and 55.Since the illness started before retirement age,This can lead to limitations and even loss of ability to work.

Unlike other types of osteochondrosis, thoracic osteochondrosis manifests itself for a long time or may not manifest itself like other pathologies, therefore it is called a chameleon's disease.It is also the most difficult to treat.That's why it's so importantMonitor the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in time- And today we will tell you which one.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

With thoracic osteochondrosis, pain in the sternum is a symptom,Mistake by patients for heart pain.Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are characterized by nighttime intensification.They show themselves clearly when trying to straighten the arch or, conversely, curve, arch your back.

The severity of symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depends on the stage of osteochondrosis.At the same time, the negative feelings that are symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis can manifest themselves weakly (osteophytes often have practically no nerve endings, and the muscle corset compensates for the load for some time).

In addition to pain in the sternum and between the shoulder blades, patients often complain of the following radicular and reflex symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• Chest, burning and a sensation in the chest, under the neck, in the abdomen, burning and tingling;
• Muscle tension (Difficulty relaxing the back);
• a feeling of pain in the sternum (a symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis, which is one of the first to appear);
• Increased heart rate, feeling of a pulse in the chest;
• A feeling of "pins and needles" in the chest, often increased by unexplained anxiety or stress;
• It is especially noticeable in soft tissues (skin and muscles), near the shoulders, on the shoulders, especially when in contact with hard and cold surfaces;
• It is difficult to breathe with thoracic osteochondrosis;
• Coldness in the hands and feet, pale or bluish skin on the hands;
• weakness, inhibition of reflex reactions in the affected area.
• disorders in the functioning of digestive organs, colic, stool disorders;
• The appearance of skin with obvious nutritional disorders (peeling, shading, thinning or thickening of the skin);
• Feeling of a lump in the chest, discomfort when swallowing large pieces of food;
• characteristic cough with thoracic osteochondrosis;
• digestive symptoms (dyspepsia, loss of appetite, nausea, heartburn, bloating);
• increased fatigue, feeling very tired in the morning ("broken" state);
• change in gait (generally stooped, without standing);
• Intercostal neuralgia.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis can feel like a stomach or intestinal ulcer, angina pectoris, gastritis or a heart attack.Sometimes it is mistaken for kidney or heart colic, cholestasis or pancreatitis.Indeed, advanced thoracic osteochondrosis can cause malfunctions in the gallbladder (for example, sediment formation) and intestines, and cardiovascular dysfunction.

The specificity of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis depends on the location of the problem:

• 1st-2nd thoracic vertebrae- Pain can reach the collarbone, armpit and shoulders;
• 3-6thebrae- Patients are disturbed by belts above the chest, similar to pains in the heart or mammary glands;
• Vertebra 7-8- Pain in the solar plexus imitating diseases of internal organs (stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas).There is also inhibition of the epigastric reflex (contraction of the abdominal muscles when passing the instrument along the lower costal line);
• 9-10 ten vertebrae- Here, osteochondrosis can cause sharp pain in the abdomen and under the ribs, inhibits the mesogastric reflex (when a tool draws a horizontal line at the level of the navel);
• 11-12th vertebra- Pain in the groin can lead to diseases of internal genital organs and intestines.Reduces the hypogastric response (drawing a line under the lower abdomen to the inguinal fold).

He has difficulty breathing

During physical activity (for example, climbing several flights of stairs), patients have difficulty breathing.With thoracic osteochondrosis, shortness of breath is observed.Patients often describe this feeling as "breathless".Similar symptoms can be observed during sleep: in an unsuccessful situation, patients dream of a lack of air, their ears can be blocked (at the same time, a strong pulsation can be heard) and severe chest spasms occur.

Often, with thoracic osteochondrosis, the feeling that it is difficult to breathe is accompanied by back pain in the back and ribs, as well as subcostal pain.

Heart rate increased

After the first light, the patient complains of an increased heart rate and tries to jump from the heart to the chest.Initially, an increased heart rate may be caused by muscle and chest or chest or tissue trophic disorders, but over time, this dangerous symptom can actually increase angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, and even cause a heart attack.

In addition to an increased heart rate, patients often develop accompanying panic, fear of death, or increased background anxiety.In some cases, real panic attacks can be observed against the background of thoracic osteochondrosis.

Chest pain

The most telling symptom of thoracic osteochondrosisA feeling of pain in the sternum.These include sharp burning pains and a feeling of pressure in the chest, as well as intercostal pain when walking.Chest pain tends to intensify after a long stay in one position, hypothermia, turning the body (especially in turns).Heavy objects, sports, deep breathing and sleeping can also increase the pain.It is characterized by dull, aching, pressing and throbbing pain due to low mobility of the thoracic spine, due to osteochondrosis in this part of the back.Acute long pain in thoracic osteochondrosis is very rare, so patients ignore the pathology for a long time.

VertebraeIn osteochondrosis of the spine, it is customary to divide Dorsago and Dorsalgia.Dorsago- These are, as a rule, spontaneous shooting pains that do not last long when changing position and do not go away.Dorsago generally causing random root pinches.Dorsalgialong-term (about 2-3 weeks) and associated with permanent disruption of blood circulation or nerve conduction.They feel burning, aching pain.

When coughing, the pain stops and can be mistaken by patients for a herniated disc.But with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, ruptures are extremely rare.Do not write the main symptom(pain in the sternum with thoracic osteochondrosis)for vertebral displacement - Its probability is extremely low compared to degenerative-dystrophic changes!

Cough with thoracic osteochondrosis

Cough with thoracic osteochondrosis is often observed in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, and their work duties include prolonged sitting (office workers, operators, drivers).Maintaining this posture, which is difficult for the human back, causes chronic muscle tension, spasms and tightness.Spasticityeither way, it is a reason that the cervical and thoraco-girdle area suffers from insufficient movement.At night, in positions that compress the spine, spasms and irritation of the spinal roots, it only causes a violent cough.If the upper thoracic vertebra is affected, a cough due to thoracic osteochondrosis may be accompanied by pain in the esophagus, as if something is stuck in the chest.

During coughing attacks with thoracic osteochondrosis, it becomes painful for patients to breathe;It is difficult to take a deep breath.

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis and its prevention

Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine is designed to at least stop degenerative changes, restore normal back mobility and eliminate symptoms that cause discomfort to the patient.

Therapeutic treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis involves the simultaneous use of:

• medicines(chondroprotectors, neuroprotectors, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics);
• Physiotherapy complex methodsOpen
• Therapeutic exercisesOpen
• orthopedic regimen.

Patients are advised to change their diet and lifestyle.

In case of serious irreversible changes in intervertebral jointsdrugs and disorders of nerve conduction do not relieve pain,Surgery is recommended for patients.It helps stop the death of nerve tissue and prevents the life-threatening or deactivation of throat osteochondrosis.Depending on the situation, it can be replaced by complete or partial resection of the intervertebral disc or replacement of an artificial one, narrowing of the spinal canal or other surgery.

Physiotherapy

The goals of physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the thoracic region are to reduce pain and inflammation, reduce spasms, strengthen the muscle corset, restore the function of nerve roots and restore normal blood circulation.

The following are successfully used to relieve the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• Magnetotherapy- one of the most effective anti-inflammatory methods.It improves metabolic processes in tissues and removes swelling.
• Laser therapy.It promotes biological activation of regenerative processes.It helps to eliminate the consequences of trophic disorders and relieve inflammation.
• Drug electrophoresis.It allows to restore tissue nutrition and relieve inflammation - the effect of the procedure depends on the drugs used.
• Medicinal phonochoresis.It ensures the deep penetration of the active substances of the drugs into the soft tissues.
• Therapeutic massage.It helps to relax the muscles, relieve tension and improve the supply of nutrients to the tissues of the spine.In the early stages, it eliminates the main symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis - a feeling of pain in the sternum - in a few sessions.
• Acupuncture.Stimulation of muscles and nerve endings helps relieve pain, restore sensitivity and reduce swelling.
• Ultrahigh Frequency Therapy.It increases the permeability of the capillary walls, improves blood flow and induces the flow of protective cells to the site of inflammation.
• Shock wave therapy.It starts the processes of regeneration of bone and cartilage tissue, prevents the deposition of calcium salts on the vertebral surfaces.
• Balneotherapy.As a rule, applications of mud and ozokerite are used, less paraffin.Radon and hydromassage baths are also recommended for patients.They help improve metabolism and restore sensitivity in affected tissues.
• Amplipulsereterapy.It has a neurostimulating, analgesic and trophic effect, activates metabolic processes and breathing.
• Kinesaperapy(Physical therapy, massage, traction therapy, kinesio tape).It allows you to strengthen ligaments and skeletal muscles, restore mobility in the back and even eliminate persistent spasticity.It prevents the formation of osteophytes in the canals where the spinal roots are located.

In addition to physical therapy sessions, for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, patients may be recommended an orthopedic corset that allows them to relieve the burden on the spine.

Get therapy and massage

Therapeutic exercises and massages strengthen the back muscles and relieve stress on the back.With daily sessions, they help to achieve stable drug-free remission, increase range of motion and eliminate neurological manifestations of the disease.These treatment methods also prevent complications of osteochondrosis..For example, congestion in the lungs (with thoracic osteochondrosis it is difficult to take a deep breath), patients are susceptible to pneumonia, as well as coronary heart disease.

Dosed physical activity helps to compress nerve roots, improve blood circulation and nutrition of intervertebral discs.The optimal frequency and duration of gymnastics classes is determined by the exercise therapy instructor.As a rule,3-4 exercises for 10-15 minutes a day are enough.

Recommended exercises for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis include:

1. Stand straight, feet together, hands at your sides.As you exhale, raise your arms up and bend back, then take a deep breath.Lower your arms and lean forward, resting your back in a dome shape (to do this, lower your head and shoulders as you inhale).
2. Sit in a chair and put your hands behind your head while inhaling.Bend back and bend back the shoulder blades behind the chair, exhaling.
3. Get on all fours and take the rear.After holding the position for 3 seconds, bend your back with a crampon.
4. Lying on the floor of your stomach, put your palms on the floor and raise yourself on your lap, try to move your head away by placing your head on the floor and lifting your chest off the floor.
5. Lie on your stomach and extend your arms to your sides.Perform the "yoke" exercise by trying to raise your head and legs at the same time.
6. Sit on the floor and stretch your legs in front of you.Toes of your right hand to toes of your left foot and vice versa.
7. Do a plank exercise (about 30 seconds).
8. It hangs on a horizontal bar (or if there is no horizontal bar, place your fingers securely on the door frame and try to stretch your back as much as possible).

As you raise your arm, it bends to the side.All exercises should be done8 to 10 times.

Various massage techniques are used and included for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.Acurressure and vacuum massage.For self-massage at home, patients are recommended the following actions:

• Injection of the cervical collar, scapular and axillary areasOpen
• Squeeze with your thumb and finger(grip the skin and soft tissues);
• triturationOpen
• knead(This must be done with extreme care; it is advisable to leave this technique to an expert).

Massage should not be performed during the aggravation of the disease or during severe inflammation.

Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis

The following drug groups are used to treat the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)- Help relieve pain, calm inflammation and damage.They can be used both systemically (in the form of tablets, capsules and injections) and locally (in the form of ointments, gels, creams, creams, compresses and solutions for drug electrophoresis).
• Hormonal drugs- Eliminate acute and chronic neurological pain.It is used in cases where NSAIDS have demonstrated insufficient effectiveness.
• Muscle streamers- It is prescribed to reduce muscle tone and relieve spasms of skeletal muscles.It helps relieve pain and has a positive effect on tissue trophism.
• Circuit breakers- Strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve blood circulation in the small capillaries that feed the periosteum and other structural elements of the vertebral joints.Reduce anxiety and reduce the risk of complications.
• Neurodetectors- to maintain sensitivity during compression of nerve roots and to relieve and restore neurological symptoms.This group also includes cholinesterase inhibitors that improve nerve impulse transmission and help restore normal muscle tone.

For the structural restoration of tissues affected by the degenerative process, it is used in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• chondroprotectors- necessary bioactive substances that trigger cartilage and bone tissue regeneration processes.It serves to prevent the growth of osteophytes and the narrowing of the spinal canal.They help to grow stable and strong cartilage cells in a weakened body.Taking chondroprotectors significantly improves the shock-absorbing properties of intervertebral discs, making them more flexible and resistant to damage;
• vitamin complexes- Contribute to the normalization of metabolic processes and prevents excess oxidation in tissues.

To relieve pain that interferes with the patient's daily activities, the doctor may recommend medical blockade with anesthesia.Diuretics are used to relieve swelling and relieve pinched nerves and blood vessels.

Prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis

To prevent symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

1. Pay attention to maintaining a healthy posture.This is facilitated by walking, swimming and therapeutic exercises to strengthen the muscles of the back, chest, abs and shoulder complex.
2. When working in the dressing room, adjust your work position properly and make sure your back and neck are stiff (ideally bend over, stretch and rotate shoulders every 2 hours).
3. Avoid injuries and immediately, in case of a seemingly insignificant bruise, seek help from an orthopedic traumatologist.You should not trigger other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, especially in the joints of the lower limbs.
4. If possible, relax your back during the day (to do this, just lie down for 40 minutes).
5. Protect yourself from hypothermia and stress.
6. Take chondroprotectors to protect joints for at least 3 months in a year.Regardless of the strength of the muscle corset, human backs are anatomically not adapted to vertical loads and therefore require additional support.
7. Adjust the weight if overweight.In addition to maintaining a low-carbohydrate diet, you should eat a diet high in vitamins and minerals.In spring and autumn, they can be taken in the form of tablets.
8. Sports activities that include jumping from heights or lifting heavy weights should be limited.
9. To sleep on a semi-hard bed and sit lying down, it is advisable to choose hard furniture.It helps maintain muscle tone and relieve stress on the spine.If possible, you should buy an orthopedic mattress and shoe prints.
10. Do not lift loads of more than 10 kg.The load should be evenly distributed without muscle tension and transfer to one side.If necessary, use a special sports corset.It is undesirable to hold loads on extended arms for a long time.
11. Women should avoid wearing high heels.The optimal heel height is 2-4 cm.

These recommendations will also be useful for those who are already sick - they will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the spine and help to significantly slow down pathological changes.

And remember: The main thing in the prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis is to follow healthy habits.

Chest pain never bother you!