Osteochondrosis of the chest (OS) is not only destruction of fibrous rings and bone elements, but also weakness of muscle structures. This form of pathology is unusual and has specific symptoms that may resemble an attack of angina or gastritis.
That is why it is so important to differentiate the disease by excluding other causes of back discomfort. We will tell you how to recognize the symptoms of the disease and conduct effective therapy.
Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the hip joint, unlike lumbar and cervical osteochondrosis, is rarely diagnosed. This is explained by the anatomy of the thoracic region: there are more elements, they are smaller and thinner, and they also have long processes. The mobility of this segment of the ridge is significantly lower, and the lion's share of the load is taken by the sternum and ribs.
A lump in the throat with osteochondrosis of the GOP appears due to spasm of the muscles of the pharynx and neck.
The physiological curvature of the GOP, directed convexly backwards, also plays an important role. In this case, the main pressure falls on the front part of the discs, leaving the far part in relative calm. This means that developed protrusions and hernias occur outside the ridge without affecting the spinal cord.
Types of diseases
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depend on the observed syndrome. There are two types: neurological and painful.
The first case is characterized by numbness of the upper limbs, crawling, twitching and reflex tension of the muscles of the back. In particularly severe cases, difficulty breathing, feeling of a lump in the throat, heartburn and pressure in the epigastrium appear.
The pain syndrome can be sharp and intense (dorsago) or prolonged and mild (dorsalgia), and also manifest as intercostal neuralgia.
To describe the destructive effects of osteochondrosis, there is a code according to ICD-10. For children, it corresponds to the value M42. 0, for adults code M42 is used. 1. If the diagnosis is not confirmed by the results of MRI and X-rays, the patient is given code M54 - dorsalgia.
Dorsago
This term refers to sharp, sudden pain in the sternum. They can be so strong that it makes breathing and movement difficult. They are otherwise called thoracic lumbago.
A dangerous symptom is the appearance of pain in the left side in front. If the attack is not provoked by thoracic osteochondrosis, it may be a sign of cardiac pathology. In this case, the person needs urgent medical attention, so it will be useful to know some of the distinguishing features of chest pain.
Thus, with dorsago, the patient's well-being does not improve after taking "cardiac" drugs, and the ECG does not show any changes in the rhythm. In addition, the discomfort increases sharply when coughing, bending the upper body to the side and forward.
Such manifestations of the thoracic form of the disease must be differentiated from other pathologies with similar symptoms. The neurologist does this by conducting an EKG, X-ray, CT and MRI of the spine. In particularly difficult cases, a thoracic surgeon is involved in the diagnosis.
Dorsalgia
Dorsalgia is called back pain. The peculiarity of this syndrome is the duration of its course and the lack of expression of the clinical picture, until the main symptoms do not extend beyond the chest.
The disease develops gradually, tormenting the patient with unpleasant sensations in the area of the scapula at night. In the morning, the discomfort disappears on its own after short movements.
The pain increases with deep and frequent breathing, bending and turning. With dorsalgia, spasms of the back muscles and deterioration of the mobility of the cervico-thoracic or lumbo-thoracic segments are observed.
Predisposing factors for the occurrence of the disease
The thoracic form of osteochondrosis never appears alone. It is preceded by unfavorable circumstances that may exist separately or simultaneously, reinforcing each other.
Precipitating factors:
- limited diet, micronutrient deficiency;
- passive lifestyle;
- professional sports;
- back injuries;
- congenital anomalies of the structure of bone structures;
- obesity;
- infectious and inflammatory pathologies that can disrupt the diffuse nutrition of the vertebrae (ankylosing spondylitis, spinal tuberculosis);
- flat feet.
When osteochondrosis of osteochondrosis is diagnosed in an elderly person, doctors talk about the inevitable aging of the body. But if the disease develops in young patients, especially teenagers, it indicates an incorrect lifestyle and adherence to bad habits.
The thoracic form of the disease most often develops in office workers, students and schoolchildren who spend a lot of time in a sitting position with a bent back. The thoracic type of osteochondrosis is dangerous for the heart muscle.
In women, predisposing factors for the appearance of the disease are pregnancy, wearing high heels and weak back muscles. Symptoms of the pathology noticeably increase during menopause - due to a decrease in estrogen production. If hormone replacement therapy is started during this period, damage to the spine can be halted for many years.
Basic methods of treatment
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease that leads to deformation of the intervertebral discs and disruption of the biomechanics of the skeleton as a whole. It is impossible to cure, since many neurological and spinal diseases develop simultaneously with the destruction. Therefore, the treatment of osteochondrosis is symptomatic.
The scheme for the treatment of spinal dystrophy includes several types of drugs.
What drugs are used to combat the pathology? First of all, these are NSAIDs in tablets and injections.
Ointments and creams for osteochondrosis of the hip joint are ineffective, since the fibrous disc is hidden behind the thickness of the muscles, and it is unlikely that the medicinal composition can penetrate so deeply.
If NSAIDs are contraindicated or do not have the desired effect, glucocorticosteroids are used, including in the form of paravertebral blockades. To reduce pain and inflammation, ultraphonophoresis with analgesics, magnetotherapy and UHF are prescribed. Muscle spasms are relieved with muscle relaxants.
Non-drug treatment
The most effective method of combating thoracic osteochondrosis is massage. It helps to relax tense muscles, relieve back discomfort and partially restore the biomechanics of the spine. You can perform the procedure yourself by purchasing a suitable massager for your home.
Traction (stretching) of the spine helps reduce the load on the damaged discs. With this procedure, it is possible to relieve pinched nerve roots and significantly improve the patient's condition. It is noted that the patient feels relief after the first session.
At home, it is recommended to stretch the spine using specially selected exercises. Of course, traction works faster in osteochondrosis, but exercise therapy has a number of advantages: it relaxes and strengthens the back muscles, reduces the load on the discs, improves the general well-being of the patient and raises the mood.
There are many interesting and effective complexes designed for the chest. Very good exercises that do not require sports training and are available to everyone. It is recommended to start training with the simplest movements, gradually increasing the complexity of the exercises.
Recently, a basic complex containing universal movements that restore the functionality of all body systems has gained great popularity. Gymnastics is well complemented by swimming in the pool and hydromassage.
Actions in exacerbation of osteochondrosis
Thoracic osteochondrosis manifests itself as a chronic pathology, and the frequency of relapses directly depends on the degree of disc damage and the patient's lifestyle.
During an exacerbation, during which there is pinching of nerve fibers, the patient needs complete rest and treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also recommended to take analgesics, vitamin and mineral complexes with a high content of calcium and B vitamins.
For relapses of osteochondrosis, folk remedies are very effective. Non-traditional treatment includes various ointments and rubs prepared on the basis of camphor alcohol, essential oils of fir, juniper and thuja.
Infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs will help you cope with a relapse. Compresses of fresh leaves of burdock and cabbage, lotions with decoction of linden flowers, birch buds or celery root have a good anti-inflammatory effect.
In case of acute back pain, folk healers recommend placing mustard plasters on the area of the affected vertebrae. It is difficult to say how effective and safe this method is, but for many it really helps to get rid of painful symptoms.
There are many good reviews about this method of dealing with an exacerbation, like acupuncture. The procedure, performed by a highly qualified specialist, perfectly relieves pain, calms and relaxes, stimulates the body's defenses. It helps both in the initial stage of the disease and in severely advanced forms.
Consequences of osteochondrosis GOP
If degenerative changes in the spine are not treated promptly, they rapidly progress and lead to serious disorders in the body. The most common complications of osteochondrosis are:
- disturbances in the activity of the gastrointestinal tract;
- diseases of the lungs and bronchi;
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- deterioration of blood circulation in the limbs.
The development of protrusion and herniation of intervertebral discs causes compression of nerve fibers, arteries and spinal cord.
As a result of the deterioration of blood circulation, the patient may develop paralysis of the limbs and the functionality of the brain may deteriorate. Neurological disorders often occur: Brown-Séquard and Personage-Turner syndromes, Adamkiewicz reaction, anterior spinal artery infarction.
Complications of GOP osteochondrosis include VSD (complex of vegetative-vascular disorders).
Why is this type of osteochondrosis dangerous?
The main danger of dystrophy of the chest is making an incorrect diagnosis and prescribing inappropriate treatment. As the patient takes pills for the heart or stomach, the destruction of the discs progresses more and more, leading to bulging and herniation.
The danger of the disease is also great in terms of the possible development of cardiac pathologies - advanced osteochondrosis of the heart often causes arrhythmia, cardiovascular insufficiency and myocardial infarction.
During an acute attack of dorsago, breathing problems may occur. Long-term airflow limitation leads to destructive bronchitis, asthma, and lung disease. The resulting hernias cause deterioration of the functioning of the stomach, pancreas, kidneys and liver.
Women suffering from thoracic osteochondrosis face a disorder of the reproductive system - they cannot conceive a child for years without even suspecting that the cause of infertility lies in spinal dystrophy. Men also suffer from a disease of the chest - potency deteriorates, muscle tone decreases, strength in the hands is lost, and a postponement of recruitment into the army is possible.
Precautions
It is not difficult to avoid spine problems. The main thing is to get used to daily physical activity. A little exercise early in the morning and a few active breaks during the workday will bring huge benefits.
It is good to go swimming if you are overweight, remember to lose weight, but without undue zeal. The diet should be balanced and have enough calories. In addition, you can take chondroprotectors.
To prevent diseases of the spine, it is recommended to find a qualified massage therapist, do yoga or stretching.
Conclusion
Even with osteochondrosis of the chest, you can live fully, forgetting about the disease for many years. The main thing is to remember regular physical activity. As soon as we reduce activity, the body begins to age quickly and acquire all kinds of diseases, including spinal dystrophy. Knowing this, it is not difficult to prevent pathology or slow down the destruction that has already begun.