Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease of the thoracic discs. This disease is very rare. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are similar to those of other diseases and can be difficult to diagnose. For this reason, it is called "chameleon disease".
How does thoracic osteochondrosis happen?
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occurs due to disruption of metabolic processes and increased load on the intervertebral disc. The intervertebral disc consists of the annulus fibrosus, which serves as the hard shell of the semi-liquid nucleus pulposus.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine destroys the normal structure of the intervertebral disc. In case of illness, the core dries up, loses its shock absorption properties, and the fiber annulus thins and cracks. As a result, the spinal nerve roots are invaded and inflamed, causing pain. The disease destroys the discs, joints and ligaments of the spine.
The general principles are always the same, but the factors that cause increased disc pressure can vary. These include:
- Long-term vibration effects on the spine (for example, drivers who drive vehicles frequently);
- physical stress;
- lack of physical activity, also known as a sedentary lifestyle;
- smokes;
- overweight, obese;
- Individual abnormalities in the structure of the spine;
- Manifestations of congenital spinal stenosis;
- Somatic or spinal muscle pain;
- Joint space asymmetry of the intervertebral joints;
- psychosocial factors.
Variety classification of thoracic vertebral osteochondrosis
There are several types of osteochondrosisThoracic spine - symptoms and treatmentThey can be very different.
Classification is based on which nerve endings are affected by damaged structures in 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 diseases.
- muscle adaptation. It is also called "overload".
- compression. It usually develops when a portion of the spinal cord, nerve root, or blood vessel deforms, stretches, or compresses, leading to adverse consequences.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the chest is less pronounced than other types of osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine has the following signs:
- Chest pain is aggravated at night, holding one position for a long time, cooling down, turning around, bending to one side, and great physical exertion;
- Pain between shoulder blades, bending over when raising the right or left arm;
- Pain that increases with deep inhalation and exhalation;
- pain between the ribs when walking;
- The chest and back felt like being squeezed by the hoop.
Pain during disease progression can last for several weeks.
There are other symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Numbness in certain parts of the skin, with a "goose bumps" feeling;
- itching, burning, cold feeling in the legs;
- peeling skin and brittle nails;
- sore throat and esophagus;
- Gastrointestinal disease.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by two symptoms—back pain and back pain.
Dorsago and dorsalgia - manifestations of the disease
Dorsago is a severe, severe pain in the chest, "chest pain. "It usually happens after monotonous work in the same location. During this painful episode, breathing is difficult. Rotation of the upper body can exacerbate the pain.
Back pain - mild pain in the affected disc area that starts gradually and lasts up to 2-3 weeks. Deep breathing and bending over can make the pain worse. The patient may be out of breath. The pain worsened at night and disappeared after a short walk.
Causes of thoracic osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occurs most often in people who:
- work in front of a computer;
- drive often;
- suffered a spinal cord injury;
- weak back muscles;
- Suffering from scoliosis and other postural disorders.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is less common than other types of disease, cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis. The reason is that this part of the spine is the least mobile and most protected due to the rib cage and muscular corset. There are more discs in the thoracic region than in the cervical and lumbar regions combined.
What is Dangerous Thoracic Osteochondrosis
If left untreated and properly treated, thoracic osteochondrosis can lead to the following conditions:
- Thoracic herniation and hernia;
- spinal cord compression;
- problems with the heart, gut, liver, kidneys and pancreas;
- Duodenal disease, bowel motility, gallbladder dyskinesia;
- Intercostal Neuralgia - Compression or irritation of the intercostal nerves.
In addition, the consequences of this pathology include stomach, esophagus, gallbladder, and lung diseases. But the heart is still the biggest risk for this disease, so if you already have certain problems, we strongly advise you to contact the specialists in the clinic and implement it as soon as possible. Thoracic spine treatment.
What can be confused with thoracic osteochondrosis
The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis vary widely and are easily confused with the following diseases:
- Angina pectoris, heart attack. Difference: After taking heart drugs, the chest pain does not disappear, and the patient's electrocardiogram is normal;
- appendicitis, cholecystitis, renal colic;
- gastritis, ulcers, colitis;
- other gastrointestinal disorders (including diverticulitis, chronic pancreatitis, or irritable bowel syndrome);
- tumor process;
- inflammatory process;
- Genitourinary disorders (pyelonephritis or urolithiasis);
- breast pathology;
- pneumonia. Lung inflammation differs from osteochondrosis by cough, shortness of breath, and fever.
It is impossible to make a correct diagnosis on your own. Only a specialist can identify osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
How to diagnose thoracic osteochondrosis
Specialists in specialized clinics will use the following diagnostic methods to differentiate thoracic osteochondrosis from other diseases and make an accurate diagnosis:
- nuclear magnetic resonance. Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound (ultrasound)
- Densitometer
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Daily ECG Monitoring
- Comprehensive physical examination (physical examination)
- Body bioimpedance analysis as part of the "Smart Weight Loss" program
- laboratory research
existTreatment of thoracic osteochondrosisCan be supplemented with a foot or back massage. In addition, conservative maintenance medication with anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs and analgesics is prescribed regularly. In some cases, patients may be prescribed neocaine paravertebral blockers. Each case is individual, so the approach to each patient must be specific so that the treatment is effective and problems do not arise in the future.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine in specialized clinics has various therapeutic effects:
- Improve blood circulation and nutrition of the intervertebral disc;
- Stop destroying the disk and restore its structure;
- Reduce inflammation of nerve roots;
- Relax tense muscles in the back and chest;
- restore the biomechanics of the spine;
- Prevention of complications in the form of protrusions and hernias;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- Strengthen the muscles of the back, shoulder girdle, respiratory muscles;
- correct posture;
- Stimulate the immune system.
After completing the course, the doctor will give you a manual with exercises you will need to do on your own. Your doctor will advise you on how to make lifestyle changes so that your chest pain no longer bothers you.
prevention
We recommend preventing this disease:
- Lie down for 40-50 minutes during the day - this will reduce the load on the spine;
- If you work in front of a computer a lot, change your posture, get up from your chair every 2 hours, lean a few times in different directions, stretch, straighten your shoulders;
- Engaged in water sports: swimming, diving, water aerobics;
- Do not get too cold, keep your back warm;
- Do the following exercises regularly: Lie on your stomach, put your hands on the floor, and bend back. Hold this pose for 5-10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 8-10 times.
It is also highly recommended to keep your weight at an appropriate level and quit bad habits (including smoking).
Nutrition for thoracic osteochondrosis
For thoracic osteochondrosis, it is recommended to consume a small amount 5-6 times a day. Adhere to the following nutritional principles:
- Use jelly, jelly, jelly fish, jelly more often. They contain chondroprotective agents involved in cartilage synthesis;
- Your diet should be 1/3 protein. They can be obtained from meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, soybeans, seeds, beans, nuts, eggplants;
- Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables - cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onions, beets, parsley, cauliflower and bok choy, peppers, broccoli, celery;
- Boiled and steamed dishes, ash, rye bran bread are welcome;
- Osteochondrosis requires calcium. It contains dairy products, almonds, nettles, watercress, rose hips;
- Include sunflower seeds, nuts, avocados, raw spinach, beans in your diet - they are rich in magnesium;
- Prepare dishes with lobster, oysters, crab, mushrooms, grains - they contain B vitamins;
- dressing salad with olive oil;
- It is recommended to eat whole wheat, millet, corn, buckwheat, barley;
- Limit the use of grapes and vegetables, concentrated broths from legumes;
- Eat less salty, smoked food, pasta, sugar, spicy spices.