Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease of the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. The disease is quite rare. Osteochondrosis of the chest is similar in symptoms to other diseases and is difficult to diagnose. Hence, it is called "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 intervertebral discs. The intervertebral disc consists of the annulus fibrosus, which serves as a hard shell for the semi-liquid nucleus pulposus.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine disrupts the normal structure of the intervertebral disc. In case of disease, the core dries out and loses its shock-absorbing property, and the annulus fibrosus becomes thinner 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 causing increased stress on intervertebral discs can vary. These include:
- prolonged vibration effect on the spine (for example, in drivers who often drive a vehicle);
- physical stress;
- sedentary lifestyle, also known as sedentary lifestyle;
- smoke;
- 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 intervertebral joints;
- psychosocial factors.
Classification of varieties of thoracic osteochondrosis
There are several types of osteochondrosisthoracic spine - symptoms and treatmentthey can vary markedly.
Classification is performed based on which nerve endings are affected by the damaged structures of the spine. It is customary to distinguish the following types of pathology:
- Reflection. 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 deformation, tension or compression of a part of the spinal cord, nerve root or blood vessel, which leads to undesirable consequences.
Symptoms of Thoracic Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the chest is less pronounced compared to other types of osteochondrosis. There are the following signs of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- chest pain worse at night, with long standing in one position, chilling, turning over, leaning to the side, heavy physical exertion;
- pain between the shoulder blades, when lifting the right or left arm, stooping;
- increased pain with deep inspiration and expiration;
- pain between the ribs when walking;
- sensation as if chest and back were squeezed by an arc.
Pain during a flare-up of the disease can last for several weeks.
There are additional symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- numbness of some areas of the skin, feeling of "goose bumps";
- itching, burning, feeling of cold in the legs;
- peeling skin, brittle nails;
- pain in the pharynx and esophagus;
- gastrointestinal tract disorders.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by two symptoms - back and back pain.
Dorsago and dorsalgia - manifestations of the disease
Dorsago is a sharp pain in the chest, "lumbago in the chest". 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.
Dorsalgia - mild pain in the area of the affected intervertebral discs, starts gradually and lasts up to 2-3 weeks. Pain is aggravated by deep breathing and bending. The patient may be out of breath. The pain is worse at night and disappears after a short walk.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the chest
Thoracic osteochondrosis most often occurs in people who:
- working on a computer;
- are constantly driving;
- received spinal injuries;
- have 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 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 timely treatment, thoracic osteochondrosis can cause the following diseases:
- protrusion and hernia of the thoracic spine;
- spinal cord compression;
- problems with the heart, intestines, liver, kidneys and pancreas;
- disorders in the duodenum, intestinal motility, gallbladder dyskinesia;
- intercostal neuralgia - compression or irritation of the intercostal nerves.
In addition, the consequences of this pathology include diseases of the stomach, esophagus, gallbladder, lungs. But the heart is still at a higher risk for this disease, so if you have already had some problems with it, we recommend that you immediately contact the specialists at the clinic and have it implemented as soon as possible. thoracic spine treatment.
What can be confused with osteochondrosis of the chest
The 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 electrocardiogram 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 for diagnosing thoracic osteochondrosis
Specialists from a professional clinic will distinguish thoracic osteochondrosis from other diseases and make an accurate diagnosis using the following diagnostic methods:
- MRI. MRI image
- Ultrasound exam (ultrasound)
- densitometry
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Daily ECG monitoring
- Complete medical examination of the body (check-up)
- Bioimpedance analysis of the body as part of the "Smart Weight Loss" program
- laboratory research
At thethoracic osteochondrosis of the spine treatmentcan be complemented with a foot or back massage. In addition, conservative maintenance drug therapy with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics is prescribed periodically. In some cases, the patient may receive novocaine paravertebral block. Each case is individual, therefore, the approach of each patient must be special so that the therapy is effective and the problem is not felt in the future.
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis in a specialized clinic offers 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;
- relax tense back and chest muscles;
- restores the biomechanics of the spine;
- prevents complications in the form of bulges and hernias;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- strengthens back muscles, 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 need to do on your own. The doctor will advise you on how to adjust your lifestyle so that chest pain no longer bothers you.
Prevention
We recommend for disease prevention:
- lie down for 40-50 minutes during the day - this will lighten the load on the spine;
- if you work a lot at the computer, change your position, get up from your chair every 2 hours, do some bends in different directions, stretch, straighten your shoulders;
- practice water sports: swimming, diving, water aerobics;
- don't get too cold, keep your back warm;
- do the following exercise regularly: lie on your stomach, rest your hands on the floor and lean back. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 8-10 times.
It is also highly recommended to keep your body weight at the proper 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. Follow the following nutrition principles:
- use jelly, jelly, jelly fish, jelly more often. They contain chondroprotectors that are involved in cartilage synthesis;
- your diet should be 1/3 of 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 bread from rye bran are welcome;
- osteochondrosis requires calcium. Contains dairy products, almonds, nettles, watercress, rose hips;
- include sunflower seeds, walnuts, avocados, raw spinach, bean pods in the diet - they are rich in magnesium;
- cooking dishes from lobsters, oysters, crabs, mushrooms, cereals - they contain vitamin B;
- season the salads with olive oil;
- it is recommended to eat whole grains of wheat, corn, millet, buckwheat, barley;
- limit the use of grapes and vegetables from the legume family, concentrated broths;
- eat less salty foods, smoked foods, flour products, sugar, hot spices.