Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease of the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. The disease is quite rare. Osteochondrosis of the chest has symptoms similar to other diseases and is difficult to diagnose. For this, it is called the "chameleon disease".
How does osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occur?
Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs due to a violation of metabolic processes and an increased load on the intervertebral discs. The intervertebral disc consists of the annulus fibrosus, which serves as the hard shell for the semi-liquid nucleus pulposus.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine disrupts the normal structure of the intervertebral disc. In disease, the nucleus dries up and loses its shock-absorbing property, and the annulus fibrosis thins and cracks. As a result, the spinal nerve roots are infringed and inflamed, causing pain. The disease destroys the intervertebral discs, joints and ligaments of the spine.
The general principle is always the same, but the factors that cause increased stress on the intervertebral discs may vary. These include:
- prolonged effect of vibration on the spine (for example, in drivers who often drive a vehicle);
- physical stress;
- physical inactivity, also known as a sedentary lifestyle;
- smoking;
- overweight, obesity;
- individual anomalies in the structure of the spine;
- congenital manifestation of narrowing of the spinal canal;
- somatic or spondylogenic muscle pain;
- asymmetry of joint spaces in the intervertebral joints;
- psychosocial factors.
Classification of varieties of thoracic osteochondrosis
There are several types of osteochondrosisthoracic spine - symptoms and treatmentthey can vary significantly.
The classification is made on the basis of the nerve endings affected by the damaged structures of the spine. It is customary to distinguish the following types of pathology:
- Reflex. It is based on reflex muscle tension, as well as vascular or dystrophic disorders.
- Myoadaptive. It is also known as "overload".
- Compression. The cause of its development is usually the deformation, tension or compression of part of the spinal cord, nerve root or blood vessel, which leads to undesirable consequences.
Symptoms of chest osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the chest is less pronounced than other types of osteochondrosis. There are the following signs of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- chest pain that worsens at night, with a long stay in one position, cooling, turning, bending to the side, heavy physical exertion;
- pain between the shoulder blades, when raising the right or left arm, when bending;
- increased pain with deep inspiration and expiration;
- pain between the ribs when walking;
- feeling as if chest and back were hoop-bound.
Pain during an exacerbation of the disease can last for several weeks.
There are additional symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- numbness of certain areas of the skin, feeling of "goosebumps";
- itching, burning, feeling cold in the legs;
- peeling skin, brittle nails;
- pain in the pharynx and esophagus;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by two symptoms - dorsago and dorsalgia.
Dorsago and dorsalgia - manifestations of the disease
Dorsago is a sharp, sharp pain in the chest, "thoracic lumbago". It usually occurs after monotonous work in the same position. During an attack of such pain, it is difficult to breathe. The pain is aggravated by rotation of the upper body.
Back pain - mild pain in the region of the affected intervertebral discs, begins gradually and lasts up to 2-3 weeks. The pain is made worse by deep breathing and bending. The patient may be short of breath. The pain gets worse at night and goes away after a short walk.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the chest
Thoracic osteochondrosis most often occurs in people who:
- work on a computer;
- drive constantly;
- received spinal injuries;
- having weak back muscles;
- suffer from scoliosis and other postural disorders.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is less common than other types of the disease - cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis. The reason is that this part of the spine is the least mobile and the most protected thanks to the ribs and the muscular corset. There are more discs in the thoracic region than in the cervical and lumbar regions combined.
What is dangerous thoracic osteochondrosis
Without proper and timely treatment, thoracic osteochondrosis can cause the following diseases:
- protrusion and herniation of the thoracic spine;
- spinal cord compression;
- heart, intestinal, liver, kidney and pancreatic problems;
- duodenal disorders, intestinal motility, gallbladder dyskinesia;
- intercostal neuralgia - compression or irritation of the intercostal nerves.
Also, the consequences of this pathology include diseases of the stomach, esophagus, gallbladder and lungs. But the heart is still the most at risk for this disease, so if you have ever had some problems with it, we strongly recommend that you quickly contact the specialists in the clinic and implement it as soon as possible. thoracic spine treatment.
What can be confused with osteochondrosis of the chest
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are diverse, it is easy to confuse it with the following diseases:
- angina, heart attack. Difference: After taking heart medication, chest pain does not go away, patient's cardiogram is normal;
- appendicitis, cholecystitis, renal colic;
- gastritis, ulcer, colitis;
- other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (including diverticulitis, chronic pancreatitis or irritable bowel syndrome);
- neoplastic processes;
- inflammatory processes;
- diseases of the genitourinary system (pyelonephritis or urolithiasis);
- pathology of the mammary glands;
- pneumonia. Inflammation of the lungs is distinguished from osteochondrosis by cough, shortness of breath and fever.
It is impossible to make a correct diagnosis on your own. Only a specialist can determine osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
Methods of diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis
Specialists of a professional clinic will distinguish thoracic osteochondrosis from other diseases and make an accurate diagnosis using the following diagnostic methods:
- MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Densitometry
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Daily ECG monitoring
- Full body medical examination (check-up)
- Bioimpedance analysis of the body as part of the "Smart Weight Loss" program
- Laboratory research
ATtreatment of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spinecan be completed with a foot or back massage. Also, conservative maintenance drug therapy with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers is periodically prescribed. In some cases, the patient may be prescribed paravertebral novocaine blockade. Each case is individual, therefore, the approach to each patient should be special so that the therapy is effective and the problem does not arise in the future.
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis in a specialized clinic gives a versatile therapeutic effect:
- improves blood circulation and nutrition of intervertebral discs;
- stops the destruction of disks, restores their structure;
- relieves inflammation of the nerve roots;
- relaxes tense back and chest muscles;
- restores the biomechanics of the spine;
- prevents complications in the form of protrusions and hernias;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- strengthens the muscles of the back, shoulder girdle, respiratory muscles;
- corrects posture;
- stimulates the immune system.
After completing the course, the doctor will give you a manual with exercises that you will need to perform on your own. The doctor will advise you on how to adapt your lifestyle so that chest pain no longer bothers you.
Prevention
We recommend for the prevention of the disease:
- lie down for 40-50 minutes during the day - this will relieve the load on the spine;
- if you work at the computer a lot, change your position, get up from your chair every 2 hours, make a few tilts in different directions, stretch, straighten your shoulders;
- practice water sports: swimming, diving, water aerobics;
- do not overcool, keep your back warm;
- do the following exercise regularly: lying on your stomach, put your hands on the floor and lean back. Hold this position for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 8 to 10 times.
It is also highly recommended to maintain body weight at the appropriate level and give up bad habits (including smoking).
Nutrition for thoracic osteochondrosis
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, it is recommended to eat 5-6 times a day in small portions. Respect the following nutritional principles:
- use jelly, jelly, jelly fish, jelly more often. They contain chondroprotectors which intervene in the synthesis of cartilage;
- your diet should be 1/3 protein. They can be obtained from meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, soy, seeds, beans, nuts, eggplant;
- eat more fresh fruits and vegetables - cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onions, beets, parsley, cauliflower and white cabbage, peppers, broccoli, celery;
- boiled and steamed dishes, gray, rye bran bread are welcome;
- osteochondrosis requires calcium. It contains dairy products, almonds, nettles, watercress, rose hips;
- include in the diet sunflower seeds, walnuts, avocados, raw spinach, bean pods - they are rich in magnesium;
- cook dishes from lobsters, oysters, crabs, mushrooms, cereals - they contain vitamin B;
- season salads with olive oil;
- it is recommended to eat whole grains of wheat, millet, corn, buckwheat, barley;
- limit the use of grapes and vegetables from the legume family, concentrated broths;
- eat less salty, smoked foods, flour products, sugar, hot spices.