Harbingers of the disease: symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

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

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis begin with a violation of tissue trophism and dehydration of the intervertebral discs.The lack of nutrients and fluids leads to the fact that the cartilage loses its elasticity, begins to crack and "sags".This condition is fraught with compression of nerve roots, deterioration of sensitivity and functioning of internal organs, as well as severe pain.Often the destruction of the vertebrae in the chest region is accompanied by the appearanceosteophytes- bone protrusions that damage paravertebral tissues and lead to 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 old;approximately 70% of the total number of patients are women aged 35 to 55 years.Since the disease begins long before retirement age,can lead to limitations and even loss of ability to work.

Unlike other types of osteochondrosis, thoracic osteochondrosis may not appear for a long time - or it may be disguised as other pathologies, which is why it is called a chameleon disease.It is also the most difficult to treat.Therefore it is very importantMonitor your symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in a timely manner- and today we will tell you which ones.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

The feeling of pain in the sternum with thoracic osteochondrosis is a symptom,It is mistaken by patients for heart pain.Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are characterized by intensification at night.They manifest themselves especially clearly when you try to straighten your back or, on the contrary, bend over, turn your back into a dome.

The severity of the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depends on the stage of the osteochondrosis disease.At the same time, negative sensations with symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis may appear poorly (osteophytes often grow on the surfaces of the vertebrae, where there are practically no nerve endings, and the muscular 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:

• a feeling of coldness, burning and tingling in the chest, at the base of the neck, in the abdomen;
• muscle tension (difficulty in relaxing the back);
• a feeling of pain in the sternum (symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis, which is one of the first to appear);
• increased heart rate, feeling of pulsation in the chest;
• a feeling of "pins and needles" inside the chest, which is often accompanied by anxiety for no reason or increases with stress;
• numbness of soft tissues (skin and muscles) near the spine, in the shoulders, especially noticeable when pressed or in contact with hot and cold surfaces;
• with thoracic osteochondrosis it is difficult to breathe;
• feeling cold in the hands and feet, pale or bluish skin on the hands;
• weakness, inhibition of reflex reactions in the affected area;
• disturbances in the functioning of the digestive organs, abdominal pain, stool disorders;
• the appearance of skin areas with obvious nutritional disorders (peeling, fading, thinning or, conversely, thickening of the skin);
• feeling of a lump in the chest, discomfort when swallowing large portions of food;
• characteristic cough with thoracic osteochondrosis;
• digestive symptoms (indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, heartburn, bloating);
• increased fatigue, feeling very tired in the morning ("broken" state);
• change in gait (usually stooping, unsteadiness);
• intercostal neuralgia.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis may seem like a stomach or intestinal ulcer, angina pectoris, gastritis or a heart attack.It is sometimes confused with renal or cardiac colic, cholecystitis or pancreatitis.Indeed: advanced thoracic osteochondrosis can cause malfunctions in the gallbladder (for example, the formation of sediment) and intestines, as well as dysfunction of the heart vessels.

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

• Thoracic vertebrae 1-2- the pain radiates to the clavicle, armpit and can reach the shoulders;
• Beads 3-6- patients are bothered by pains in the belt above the chest, which are similar to pains in the heart or in the mammary glands;
• Beads 7-8- pain in the solar plexus, which imitates 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 line of the lower rib);
• Beads 9-10- here osteochondrosis can cause sharp pain in the abdomen and under the ribs, inhibit the mesogastric reflex (when a tool draws a horizontal line at the level of the navel);
• Beads 11-12- can initiate pain in the groin, diseases of internal genital organs and intestines.Reduces the hypogastric response (drawing a line in the lower abdomen parallel to the inguinal fold).

Difficulty in breathing

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

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

Increased heart rate

Even after a slight effort, which previously went unnoticed, patients complain of increased heart rate, feeling as if the heart is trying to jump out of the chest.At first, increased heart rate may be caused by spastic muscle and chest contractions or by a violation of tissue trophism, but over time, this dangerous symptom can exceed angina pectoris, coronary heart disease and even lead to a heart attack.

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

Chest pain

The most obvious symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis isfeeling of pain in the sternum.These include sharp shooting pains and a feeling of pressure in the chest, as well as pain between the ribs when walking.Chest pain tends to intensify after a long stay in one position, hypothermia, turning the body and bending over (especially with a twist), raising the arms.Carrying heavy objects, sports, deep breathing and sound sleep can increase the pain.It should be remembered that due to the low mobility of the thoracic spine, osteochondrosis in this part of the back is characterized by dull, aching, pressing and throbbing pain.Prolonged acute pain in thoracic osteochondrosis is very rare, which is why patients tend to ignore the pathology for a long time.

Vertebral painIn osteochondrosis of the spine, it is common to divide into dorsago and dorsalgia.Dorsago- these are spontaneous shooting pains, which, as a rule, do not last long and go away when changing position.Dorsago usually cause accidental root capture.Dorsalgiaare long-term (about 2-3 weeks) and are accompanied by permanent interruptions of blood circulation or nerve conduction.They make themselves feel burning, burning pain.

The pain intensifies when coughing and can be confused by patients with a spinal hernia.However, with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, hernias are extremely rare.Do not ignore the main symptoms(feeling of pain in the sternum with thoracic osteochondrosis)for displacement of vertebrae - its likelihood 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 involve prolonged sitting (office workers, operators, drivers).Holding this posture, which is difficult for the human spine, causes chronic muscle strain, spasms and tightness.Spasticityit is both a cause and a consequence of the fact that the cervical and thoracic region suffers from insufficient movements.At night, in positions that press the spine, spasms and irritation of the roots of the spine only intensify, causing a strong cough.If the upper thoracic vertebrae are affected, a cough due to thoracic osteochondrosis may be accompanied by pain in the esophagus, a feeling as if something is stuck in the chest.

During coughing attacks with thoracic osteochondrosis, patients' breathing becomes painful;It becomes difficult to breathe deeply.

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis and its prevention

Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine aims to stop or at least slow down degenerative changes, restore normal mobility of the spine and eliminate symptoms that cause discomfort to the patient.

Therapeutic treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis includes the simultaneous use of:

• Barn(chondroprotectors, neuroprotectors, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory, analgesic);
• Physiotherapy complex methods;
• therapeutic exercises;
• orthopedic regimen.

Patients are also advised to change their diet and lifestyle.

In case of severe irreversible changes in the intervertebral jointsin which pain and nerve conduction disturbances are not relieved by medication,surgery is recommended for patients.It helps stop the death of nerve tissue and prevent life-threatening or disabling consequences of thoracic osteochondrosis.Depending on the situation, complete or partial resection of the intervertebral disc or its replacement with an artificial one, narrowing of the spinal canal or another operation may be indicated.

Physiotherapy

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

To alleviate the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, the following are successfully used:

• Magnetotherapy- one of the most effective anti-inflammatory techniques.Improves metabolic processes in tissues and relieves swelling.
• Laser therapy.Promotes biological activation of regenerative processes.It helps to eliminate the consequences of trophic disorders and relieve inflammation.
• Electrophoresis of drugs.It allows you to restore tissue nutrition and relieve inflammation - the effect of the procedure depends on the drugs used.
• Medicinal phonophoresis.It ensures deep penetration of the active ingredients of the medicine into the soft tissues.
• Therapeutic massage.It helps relax the muscles, eliminates tension and improves the supply of nutrients to the tissues of the spine.In the early stages, in several sessions it eliminates the main symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis - the feeling of pain in the sternum.
• Acupuncture.Stimulation of muscles and nerve endings helps relieve pain, restore sensitivity and eliminate swelling.
• Ultra high frequency therapy.It increases the permeability of capillary walls, improves blood circulation and ensures the flow of protective cells to the site of inflammation.
• Shock wave therapy.It starts the processes of bone and cartilage tissue restoration, prevents the deposition of calcium salts on the vertebral surfaces.
• Balneotherapy.As a rule, clay and ozokerite applications are used, less often paraffin.Radon baths and hydromassage are also recommended for patients.They help improve metabolism and restore sensitivity in affected tissues.
• Amplipulse therapy.It has a neurostimulating, analgesic and trophic effect, activates metabolic processes and facilitates breathing.
• Kinesitherapy(physiotherapy, massage, traction therapy, kinesio taping).It allows you to strengthen the ligaments and skeletal muscles, restore mobility in the back and eliminate persistent spasticity.It prevents the formation of osteophytes and the narrowing of the canals in which the spinal roots are located.

In addition to physiotherapy sessions, for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, patients can be recommended an orthopedic corset, which allows them to relieve the load on the spine.

Exercise therapy and massage

Therapeutic exercises and massage help strengthen the back muscles and relieve stress on the spine.With daily sessions, they help to achieve stable remission without drugs, increase the range of motion and eliminate the neurological manifestations of the disease.These treatment methods also prevent the complications of osteochondrosis..For example, congestion in the lungs (with thoracic osteochondrosis it is difficult to take a deep breath), due to which patients are susceptible to pneumonia, as well as coronary heart disease.

Dosed physical activity helps relieve nerve root compression, improves blood circulation and nutrition of the intervertebral discs.The optimal frequency and duration of gymnastics classes is determined by the exercise therapy instructor.ok,3-4 exercises for 10-15 minutes a day are enough.

Recommended exercises for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis include the following:

1. Stand straight, feet together, hands at your sides.As you exhale, lift your arms up and lean back, then take a deep breath.Lower your arms and lean forward, arching your back slightly into a dome shape (to do this, lower your head and shoulders while exhaling).
2. Sit in a chair and, while inhaling, put your hands behind your head.Lean back and rest your shoulder blades on the back of the chair, exhaling.
3. Get on all fours and arch your back.After holding the position for 3 seconds, bend your back with a crunch.
4. Lying on the floor on your stomach, place your palms on the floor and, rising on your arms, try to move your head back as far as possible, lifting your chest off the floor.
5. Lie on your stomach and extend your arms to your sides.Perform the "yoke" exercise, trying to lift your head and legs at the same time.
6. Sit on the floor and stretch your legs out in front of you.Extend the fingers of the right hand to the toe of the left foot and vice versa.
7. Do a plank exercise (about 30 seconds).
8. Hang on the horizontal bar (or, in the absence of a horizontal bar, fix your fingers on the door frame and try to stretch your back as much as possible).

Bending to the side while raising the arm will also be helpful.All exercises must be done8 to 10 times.

For the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, various massage techniques are used, including.acupressure and vacuum massage.For self-massage at home, patients are recommended the following movements:

• caressing the cervical, scapular and armpit area;
• squeezing with thumb and forefinger(capture of skin and soft tissues);
• trituration;
• kneading(must be performed very carefully; it is advisable to entrust this technique to a specialist).

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

Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis

To treat the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, the following groups of drugs are used:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)- helps relieve pain, soothe inflammation and disperse swelling.They can be used both systemically (in the form of tablets, capsules and injections) and locally (in the form of ointments, gels, creams, compresses and solutions for medicinal electrophoresis).
• Hormonal drugs- to eliminate acute and chronic neurological pain.It is used in cases where NSAIDs show insufficient efficacy.
• Muscle relaxants- prescribed to reduce muscle tone and eliminate skeletal muscle spasms.This helps alleviate pain and has a positive effect on tissue trophism.
• Circulation correctors- 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 discomfort and reduce the risk of complications.
• Neuroprotectors- to maintain and restore sensitivity during compression of nerve roots and relief of neurological symptoms.This group also includes cholinesterase inhibitors, which improve the transmission of nerve impulses and help restore normal muscle tone.

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

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

To relieve excruciating pain that interferes with the patient's daily activities, the doctor may recommend a medical block with anesthetics.Diuretics are used to eliminate swelling and relieve congested nerves and blood vessels.

Prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis

To prevent the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, you should:

1. Take care to maintain a healthy posture.This is facilitated by walking, swimming and therapeutic exercises to strengthen the muscles of the back, chest, abdomen and shoulder complex.
2. When sitting, adjust your workstation and warm up whenever your back and neck start to feel stiff (ideally, bend to the side, stretch and roll your shoulders every 2 hours).
3. Avoid back injuries and immediately seek help from an orthopedic traumatologist, even in the case of a seemingly insignificant bruise.You should not cause other diseases of the musculoskeletal system - especially in the joints of the lower extremities.
4. If possible, unload the spine during the day (to do this, just lie on the floor for 40 minutes).
5. Protect yourself from hypothermia and stress.
6. Take chondroprotectors to protect your joints for at least 3 months a year.Regardless of the strength of the muscular belt, the human spine is not anatomically adapted to vertical loads, and therefore requires additional support.
7. Adjust weight if overweight.In addition to following a low-carb diet, you should eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals.In spring and autumn, they can be taken in tablet form.
8. Sports activities that involve jumping from heights or lifting heavy weights should be limited.
9. It is recommended to sleep on a semi-rigid bed and for prolonged sitting choose solid furniture.This helps maintain muscle tone and relieve stress on the spine.If possible, you should buy an orthopedic mattress and shoe insoles.
10. Do not lift loads weighing more than 10 kg.The load should be distributed evenly, with muscle tension and without being transferred to one side.If necessary, use a special sports corset.It is undesirable to carry loads in the arms outstretched for a long time.
11. Women should avoid wearing high-heeled shoes.The optimal heel height is 2-4 cm.

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

And remember: the main thing in the prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis is the constant observance of healthy habits.

Let chest pain never bother you!