Clinically, thoracic osteochondrosis (chondrosis) is manifested by sharp, piercing or dull, aching pain, crunching and clicking when bending over and stiffness.
The pathology is characterized by many specific symptoms - a feeling of lack of air when inhaling, discomfort in the heart area and even a sore throat.
Treatment of the pathology is mainly conservative with pharmacological drugs.Physiotherapy procedures, massages are also carried out, the help of manual therapists is sought.
If such treatment is ineffective, the patient is indicated for surgical intervention.
Details of symptoms
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest never appear all at once.In the initial stage of development of this degenerative-dystrophic pathology, only slight discomfort in the back is noted.Patients take them for banal overtiredness after a hard day's work and write them off as "stiff" muscles due to being in one position for a long time.
But the intensity of the discomfort slowly, steadily increases.Unpleasant sensations are replaced by severe pain, complicated by limited range of motion, dizziness and headache.In medicine, all symptoms of osteochondrosis of this localization are divided into several groups.This helps to diagnose more quickly and decide on treatment tactics.
Note!Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in men and women do not differ in nature, severity or localization.But in the representatives of the stronger sex, they may appear a little later due to the stronger musculoskeletal system.Also, some men experience erectile dysfunction due to osteochondrosis.
Vertebral symptoms
Under the influence of unfavorable factors (hypothermia, increased physical activity), the long-term remission of thoracic osteochondrosis can be interrupted by a sudden attack of acute pain.It is even more often caused by prolonged stay in one position of the body, for example sitting.If a person stands up suddenly, there is such a sharp pain in the back that he loses the ability to move for a few minutes.
In medicine, this condition is called dorsago.It differs from ordinary pain in accompanying symptoms:
- feeling of lack of air when inhaling;
- pronounced stiffness.
The course of the pathology is often complicated by dorsalgia - pain in the chest, the intensity of which gradually increases.Intensifies when bending or turning the body to the side.In order not to feel pain, a person takes a forced position.At the same time, he involuntarily strains the muscles of the back, involuntarily provokes their overstrain.Now they are starting to hurt too, especially when walking.
Extravertebral symptoms
With the development of thoracic osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs become thinner and destroyed.These cartilaginous pads can no longer distribute the resulting loads and prevent the vertebrae from hitting each other.A compensatory reaction of the body is triggered - bone structures begin to deform with the formation of growths.They put pressure on sensitive nerve endings and disrupt the spinal canal.Because of this, specific symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis appear in women and men: loss of sensitivity in certain parts of the body, burning sensation and "goosebumps".
important!Osteochondrosis of the thoracic localization often manifests itself as a dry, unproductive cough, sore throat, a feeling of a lump in it, as well as urination disorders.
But that's not all.The spinal roots are responsible not only for the innervation (transmission of nerve impulses) of the spine, but also of the internal organs.Therefore, when pinched, discomfort occurs from the liver, kidneys, digestive tract and myocardium.What signs of thoracic osteochondrosis, which are not characteristic of back pathologies, are:
- pain in the heart area, identical to a recurrence of angina pectoris, shortness of breath, a feeling of "compression" of the heart;
- panic attacks, psycho-emotional instability, causeless fear, anxiety, sleep disorders;
- discomfort in the epigastric region, attacks of nausea, sometimes leading to vomiting, sour belching, swelling of the abdomen, boiling and rumbling in it;
- peristalsis disorders - constipation or diarrhea;
- long, labored breaths with sobs.
The pain is not localized directly in the area of the destroyed intervertebral disc and (or) formed intervertebral hernia.They radiate along the length of the nerve.Signs of osteochondrosis of the chest can be disguised as renal colic, symptoms of gastritis, stomach ulcers, hepatitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis and even gastroenteritis.
Compressive myelopathy
This is the name of an extravertebral syndrome that rarely occurs in clinical practice.It is observed in the 3-4 stage of the disease, when due to loss of stability of the spinal segment, the nucleus pulposus goes outside the fibrous ring.An intervertebral hernia is formed, which constantly puts pressure on the spinal cord.When visiting a vertebrologist or neurologist, patients complain of frequent pain in the waist, radiating to the groin area.At the same time, there is a feeling of weakness and numbness in the lower limbs.
Against the background of damage to the spinal cord, the innervation is seriously disturbed.In the absence of treatment, the functional activity of the organs located in the small pelvis decreases.Compressive myelopathy causes problems with bowel movements.And due to the pronounced narrowing of the diameter of the spinal canal, the sensitivity of the legs is greatly reduced.In severe cases, patients are diagnosed with paresis (partial or complete paralysis) of one or two lower limbs.
Remission symptoms
Outside of relapses, osteochondrosis of the chest almost does not bother a person.Sometimes there is a nagging, aching, dull pain in the back, which usually disappears after a long rest.But as soon as you even slightly increase the load on the spine, lift a heavy object or bend over, a new relapse follows.It can also be caused by the following factors:
- stressful situations, depressive states;
- hypothermia, sudden changes in temperature;
- staying in one position of the body for a long time;
- alcohol abuse;
- unbalanced diet, lack of foods with a high content of calcium, phosphorus, manganese, molybdenum in the diet.
Sometimes the stage of remission ends due to a person's attempts to avoid another relapse.Visiting a chiropractor or massage therapist with a dubious reputation or little practical experience.An attempt to stretch the spine leads to a new aggravation.
Basic methods of treatment
It is still not possible to completely cure the pathology, so all the efforts of doctors are aimed at improving the patient's well-being.Patients are recommended to wear orthopedic products (corsets, bandages) that fix the spinal structures and prevent their displacement.Medicines from various clinical and pharmacological groups are prescribed, physiotherapeutic measures and exercises are carried out.
The manual therapist's hand movements are aimed at increasing the spaces between the vertebrae, which decrease in thoracic osteochondrosis.
important!In thoracic osteochondrosis with high severity, conservative treatment is useless.Patients are immediately offered surgical intervention - excision of the intervertebral hernia, arthrodesis, installation of implants at the site of the damaged disc, bone plastic.
Drug therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest is aimed at eliminating all symptoms and inhibiting destructive and degenerative processes.In periods of exacerbation, solutions for parenteral administration are used, which show an effect after 5-10 minutes.After that, the result is ensured by a course of taking tablets, applying ointments and gels.At the stage of remission, mainly external agents are used, which have a more gentle effect on the body.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
This is the most commonly used group of drugs in the complex treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.Their active ingredients block the biosynthesis of mediators of pain, inflammation and temperature from arachidonic acid.Even after a single use of NSAIDs, a person's well-being significantly improves:
- the severity of pain decreases;
- the unpleasant crunch that occurs when turning the body and bending over disappears;
- inflammatory processes in soft tissues weaken, swelling passes;
- the range of motion in the chest area increases.
To stop relapses, solutions for intramuscular administration are used.Medicines in capsules or tablets cope with moderate pain.And ointments and gels quickly remove the slight discomfort.
Preparations with B vitamins
Innervation disorders are well treated with drugs containing B vitamins. They improve the transmission of nerve impulses to the central and peripheral nervous system and stimulate the recovery of damaged spinal roots.The composition of the products includes thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin.
During the first week of therapy, intramuscular injection of drugs is practiced, which, in addition to vitamins, contains lidocaine, which instantly relieves pain.And then patients are advised to take pills for a month.
Glucocorticosteroids
The use of these synthetic analogues of hormones produced by the adrenal glands is practiced when safer means are ineffective.Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed to patients for acute, stabbing back pain radiating to internal organs.Medicines can also be taken orally, but much more often they are administered parenterally, including at the sites of damaged discs.
Glucocorticosteroids are characterized by a wide list of contraindications and possible side effects.Long-term treatment of chondrosis of the chest with hormones leads to damage to the tissues of the liver, kidneys and stomach.So their use is prohibited in patients with cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, kidney failure and osteoporosis.
Muscle relaxants
Back pain is often explained by increased tone of his skeletal muscles.For its relaxation, muscle relaxants are used - first in the form of solutions for parenteral administration, and then in tablets.Medicines relieve muscle spasms that cause spinal root compression.Which muscle relaxants are most effective:
- blocking polysynaptic reflexes;
- relaxation of spasmodic muscles;
- reducing the release of prostaglandins.
Drugs are rarely used as monotherapy.Treatment of thoracic chondrosis is carried out with muscle relaxants in combination with glucocorticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Their significant drawback is that addiction develops quite quickly, so it is forbidden to use them for more than a week.
Chondroprotectors
Unlike drugs that eliminate the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, such drugs are also used for pathogenetic therapy.This is the only group of drugs that can improve the production of chondrocytes, necessary for the partial restoration of cartilaginous intervertebral discs.All therapeutic effects of chondroprotectors are due to the high content of glucosamine and (or) chondroitin.
But chondroprotectors are valued not only for their ability to restore discs.Their components light up in the area of the damaged spinal segment.After 2-3 weeks, the maximum therapeutic concentration of glucosamine and chondroitin is created.Now the drugs are beginning to exhibit pronounced analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous activity.
Recommendation!It is recommended to treat osteochondrosis with chondroprotectors in the form of injection solutions or tablets.Despite all the manufacturers' assurances about the effectiveness of ointments and creams, they failed to provide evidence of their therapeutic effectiveness.
Non-drug treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest with pharmacological drugs should be combined with regular physical exercises.Exercise therapy is the most effective method of therapy to avoid injury.Thanks to daily training, the muscular framework of the back and the tendon-tendon apparatus of the chest are strengthened and the production of synovial fluid, which nourishes the spinal structures, is improved.The complex of exercises is determined by the physiotherapist after studying the results of the X-ray diagnostics.He attends the first classes and monitors the dosage of the loads.
Manual therapy for osteochondrosis is also practiced, aimed at increasing the space between the discs and the vertebrae.Dry or underwater traction (stretching) of the spine is performed, and in home conditions, hanging on the bar.The effectiveness of manual therapy increases with simultaneous physical procedures:
- electrophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- magnetic therapy;
- ultraviolet radiation;
- diadynamic currents.
Patients are shown 10-15 sessions of classical, vacuum, Scandinavian, acupressure massage.Hirudotherapy, acupuncture and sanatorium-spa treatment with radon and hydrogen sulphide baths are also useful.
Only with the help of an integrated approach to the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis is it possible to eliminate further damage to the discs and deformation of the vertebrae.Following the doctor's recommendations helps to get rid of all symptoms of chronic pathology as soon as possible.