Heralds of the disease: symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

Thoracic osteochondrosisdegenerative-dystrophic disease of the middle part of the spine.It occurs much less often than lumbar and even cervical osteochondrosis and accounts for about 10% of all cases of the disease.Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are associated with many features of the spine in the thoracic region: rigid fixation of the vertebrae due to the ribs and skeletal muscles, as well as less mobility, semicircular bending of the spine in this region and proper distribution of the load.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis begin with a violation of tissue trophism and drying of the intervertebral discs.The lack of nutrients and fluid leads to the fact that the cartilage loses its elasticity, begins to crack and "sags".This condition is fraught with compression of nerve roots, deterioration of the sensitivity and function of internal organs, and severe pain.The appearance is often accompanied by the destruction of the vertebrae of the thoracic regionosteophytes- bony growths that damage the paravertebral tissues and lead to chronic inflammation.

Contrary to popular belief, thoracic osteochondrosis is not a natural age-related process and requires special treatment.The disease can appear in old ageFrom the age of 25;About 70% of the total number of patients are women between the ages of 35 and 55.Since the disease begins well before retirement age,it can lead to limitations and even loss of working capacity.

Unlike other types of osteochondrosis, thoracic osteochondrosis may not manifest itself for a long time - or it may disguise itself as other pathologies, which is why it is called a chameleon disease.This treatment is also the most difficult.That's why it's so importantCheck the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in time- and today we will tell you which ones.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

A feeling of pain in the sternum is a symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis,patients mistake heartache.The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are characterized by aggravation at night.They are especially evident when you try to straighten your back or, on the contrary, hunch over and arch your back.

The severity of the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depends on the stage of the osteochondrosis disease.At the same time, the negative feelings associated with the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis can be weakly manifested (osteophytes often grow on the surface of the vertebrae, where there are practically no nerve endings, and the muscle ligament compensates for the load for a while).

In addition to pain in the sternum and between the shoulder blades, patients often complain of the following radicular and reflex symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• cold, burning and tingling sensation in the chest, base of the neck, abdomen;
• muscle tension (difficult to relax the back);
• a feeling of pain in the sternum (one of the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, which appears among the first);
• increased heart rate, feeling of pulsation in the chest;
• a feeling of "pins and needles" in the chest, often accompanied by anxiety for no reason or aggravated by stress;
• numbness of soft tissues (skin and muscles) near the spine, in the shoulders, especially felt when pressed or in contact with hot and cold surfaces;
• in case of thoracic osteochondrosis, it is difficult to breathe;
• cold feeling in the hands and feet, pale or bluish skin on the hands;
• weakness, inhibition of reflex reactions in the affected area;
• disorders of the digestive organs, colic, stool disorders;
• the appearance of skin areas with obvious nutritional disorders (peeling, pallor, thinning or, conversely, thickening of the skin);
• feeling of a lump in the chest, discomfort when swallowing large pieces of food;
• characteristic cough with thoracic osteochondrosis;
• digestive symptoms (dyspepsia, loss of appetite, nausea, heartburn, flatulence);
• increased fatigue, feeling very tired in the morning ("broken" state);
• change in gait (usually stooping, unsteadiness);
• intercostal neuralgia.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis can look like a stomach or intestinal ulcer, angina pectoris, gastritis or a heart attack.It is sometimes confused with renal or cardiac colic, cholecystitis or pancreatitis.Indeed: advanced thoracic osteochondrosis can cause malfunctions in the gallbladder (for example, sedimentation) and intestines, as well as malfunctions of the heart vessels.

The specificity of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis depends on the location of the problem:

• 1.-2.thoracic vertebrae- the pain radiates to the collarbone, the armpit and can reach the shoulder;
• 3-6.vertebra- patients are bothered by pain in the belt above the chest, which is similar to the pain of the heart or mammary glands;
• 7-8.vertebra- pain in the solar plexus, which imitates diseases of the internal organs (stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas).It also inhibits the epigastric reflex (contraction of the abdominal muscles when the instrument is passed along the line of the lower rib);
• 9-10.vertebra- here, osteochondrosis can cause sharp pain in the abdomen and under the ribs, can inhibit the mesogastric reflex (when a tool draws a horizontal line at the level of the navel);
• 11-12 vertebrae- can trigger groin pain, diseases of the internal genital organs and intestines.It reduces the hypogastric response (by drawing a line parallel to the inguinal fold in the lower abdomen).

Difficulty breathing

During physical activity (for example, climbing a few flights of stairs), patients have difficulty breathing.In case of thoracic osteochondrosis, severe shortness of breath is observed.Patients often describe this feeling as "breathtaking".Similar symptoms can also be observed during sleep: in an unsuccessful situation, patients dream of a lack of air, their ears may become blocked (strong pulsation can also be heard at the same time), and severe chest cramps occur.

Often, the feeling that it is difficult to breathe in thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by girdle pain in the back and ribs, as well as pain under the ribs.

Increased heart rate

Even after slight exertion, which previously went unnoticed, patients complain of an increased heart rate, feeling as if the heart is trying to jump out of the chest.At first, the increased heart rate may be caused by spasmodic contraction of the muscles and chest or a violation of tissue trophism, but over time, this dangerous symptom can really outgrow angina pectoris, coronary artery disease, and even lead to a heart attack.

In addition to an increased heart rate, patients often also experience a feeling of panic, fear of death, or increased background anxiety.In some cases, real panic attacks can be observed against the background of thoracic osteochondrosis.

Chest pain

The most telling symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis isa feeling of pain in the sternum.These include sharp shooting pains and tightness in the chest, as well as intercostal pain when walking.Chest pain usually intensifies after staying in one position for a long time, hypothermia, turning and bending the body (especially when turning), raising the arms.Carrying heavy objects, playing sports, deep breathing and sound sleep can also increase the pain.It should be remembered that due to the low mobility of the thoracic spine, osteochondrosis of this part of the back is characterized by dull, aching, pressing and throbbing pain.Acute, prolonged pain in thoracic osteochondrosis is very rare, so patients tend to ignore the pathology for a long time..

Vertebral painOsteochondrosis of the spine is usually divided into dorsago and dorsalgia.Dorsago- these are spontaneous shooting pains that usually don't last long and go away when you change positions.Dorsago they usually cause accidental root pinching.Dorsalgiathey last for a long time (about 2-3 weeks) and are associated with permanent disruption of blood circulation or nerve conduction.They feel a burning, stabbing pain.

The pain intensifies when coughing, and patients may mistake it for spinal hernia.However, with osteochondrosis of the chest region, hernia is extremely rare.Do not describe the main symptom(pain in the sternum in case of thoracic osteochondrosis)for vertebral displacement - its probability is extremely low compared to degenerative-dystrophic changes!

Cough with thoracic osteochondrosis

Cough associated with thoracic osteochondrosis is often observed in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and whose work tasks involve prolonged sitting (office workers, operators, drivers).Holding this posture, which puts strain on the human spine, causes chronic muscle tension, spasms, and tension.Spasticityit is both a cause and a consequence of the neck and chest girdle area suffering from insufficient movement.At night, in postures that compress the spine, the spasms and irritation of the spinal roots only intensify, causing a severe cough.If the upper thoracic vertebrae are affected, a cough caused by thoracic osteochondrosis may be accompanied by esophageal pain, a feeling as if something is stuck in the chest.

During coughing attacks with thoracic osteochondrosis, breathing becomes painful for patients;It will be hard to take a deep breath.

Treatment and prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis

Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine aims to stop or at least slow down the degenerative changes, restore normal mobility of the back and eliminate symptoms that cause discomfort to the patient.

Therapeutic treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis includes the simultaneous use of:

• medicines(chondroprotectors, neuroprotectors, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory agents, pain relievers);
• complex methods of physiotherapy;
• therapeutic exercises;
• orthopedic system.

Patients are also advised to change their diet and lifestyle.

In case of severe irreversible changes in the intervertebral jointsin which pain and nerve conduction disturbances cannot be alleviated with drugs,surgery is recommended for patients.It helps stop the destruction of nerve tissue and prevent life-threatening or disabling consequences of thoracic osteochondrosis.Depending on the situation, complete or partial resection of the intervertebral disc or replacement with an artificial one, narrowing of the spinal canal or other surgery may be justified.

Physiotherapy

The aim of physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the chest region is to reduce pain and inflammation, relieve spasms, strengthen the ligaments, restore the function of nerve roots and normal blood circulation.

The following are successfully used to alleviate the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• Magnetotherapy- one of the most effective anti-inflammatory techniques.It improves metabolic processes in tissues and relieves swelling.
• Laser therapy.It promotes the biological activation of regeneration processes.It helps eliminate the consequences of trophic disorders and relieves inflammation.
• Medicinal electrophoresis.It allows tissue nutrition to be restored and inflammation to be alleviated - the effect of the procedure depends on the drugs used.
• Therapeutic phonophoresis.It ensures the deep penetration of the active ingredients of the drugs into the soft tissues.
• Therapeutic massage.It helps to relax the muscles, eliminate tension and improve the supply of nutrients to the tissues of the spine.In the early stages, it eliminates the main symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis - the feeling of pain in the sternum - in just a few sessions.
• Acupuncture.Stimulating the muscles and nerve endings helps relieve pain, restore sensitivity and eliminate swelling.
• Ultra high frequency therapy.It increases the permeability of capillary walls, improves blood flow and ensures the influx of protective cells to the site of inflammation.
• Shock wave therapy.It initiates the restoration processes of bone and cartilage tissue, prevents the deposition of calcium salts on the vertebral surfaces.
• Balneotherapy.Generally mud and ozokerite applications are used, less often paraffin.Radon and hydromassage baths are also recommended for patients.They help to improve the metabolism and restore the sensitivity of the affected tissues.
• Amplipulse therapy.It has a neurostimulating, pain-relieving and trophic effect, activates metabolic processes, and facilitates breathing.
• Kinesitherapy(physical therapy, massage, traction therapy, kinesio taping).It makes it possible to strengthen the ligaments and skeletal muscles, restore the mobility of the back and eliminate even persistent spasms.It prevents the formation of osteophytes and the narrowing of the channels in which the spinal roots are located.

In addition to physical therapy sessions, for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, patients can also be recommended an orthopedic corset, which allows to reduce the load on the spine.

Exercise therapy and massage

Therapeutic exercises and massage strengthen the back muscles and relieve stress on the spine.With daily sessions, they help achieve a stable drug-free remission, increase the range of motion and eliminate the neurological manifestations of the disease.These treatment methods also prevent the complications of osteochondrosis..For example, congestion of the lungs (with thoracic osteochondrosis, it is difficult to breathe deeply), which makes patients susceptible to pneumonia, as well as coronary heart disease.

Adequate physical activity relieves compression of the nerve roots, improves blood circulation and nutrition of the intervertebral discs.The optimal frequency and duration of exercise classes is determined by the exercise therapy instructor.Usually,3-4 exercises per day for 10-15 minutes are enough.

Recommended exercises for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

1. Stand straight, feet together, hands at your sides.As you exhale, raise your arms and lean back, then inhale deeply.Lower your arms and lean forward, slightly arching your back like a dome (to do this, lower your head and shoulders as you exhale).
2. Sit on a chair and place your hands behind your head as you inhale.Lean back and exhale our shoulder blades on the back of the chair.
3. Get on all fours and arch your back.After holding the position for 3 seconds, bend your back with a crunch.
4. Lying on your stomach on the floor, put your palms on the floor and, lifting on your arms, try to move your head as far back as possible, lifting your chest off the floor.
5. Lie on your stomach and extend your arms to your sides.Do the "yoke" exercise while trying to lift your head and legs at the same time.
6. Sit on the floor and stretch your legs out in front of you.Extend the fingers of your right hand to the toe of your left foot and vice versa.
7. Do a plank exercise (about 30 seconds).
8. Do pull-ups on the horizontal bar (or if there is no horizontal bar, fix your fingers on the door frame and try to stretch your back as much as possible).

Bending to the side while raising the arm will also be helpful.All exercises must be completed8-10 times.

For the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, various massage techniques are used, includingacupressure and vacuum massage.For self-massage at home, patients are recommended the following movements:

• stroking the neck-collar, scapula and armpit areas;
• pinched with thumb and forefinger(grabbing of skin and soft tissues);
• trituration;
• kneading(it must be done extremely carefully; it is advisable to leave this technique to a specialist).

The massage cannot be performed during the aggravation of the disease or severe inflammation.

Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis

The following drug groups are used to treat the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)- helps relieve pain, soothes inflammation and dispels swelling.They can be used both systemically (in the form of tablets, capsules and injections) and locally (in the form of ointments, gels, creams, poultices and solutions for medical electrophoresis).
• Hormonal drugs- to eliminate acute and chronic neurological pain.It is used in cases where NSAIDs do not prove to be effective enough.
• Muscle relaxants- prescribed to reduce muscle tone and eliminate spasms of skeletal muscles.This helps relieve pain and has a positive effect on tissue trophism.
• Circulation correctors- strengthens the walls of blood vessels and improves blood circulation in the small capillaries that feed the periosteum and other structural elements of the vertebral joints.Reduce discomfort and reduce the risk of complications.
• Neuroprotectors- to preserve and restore sensitivity during compression of the nerve roots, as well as to alleviate neurological symptoms.This group also includes cholinesterase inhibitors, which improve nerve impulse transmission and help restore normal muscle tone.

For the structural restoration of tissues affected by the degenerative process, the following are used in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• chondroprotectors- essential bioactive substances that initiate the regeneration processes of cartilage and bone tissue.It prevents the growth of osteophytes and the narrowing of the spinal canal.They help the weakened body to grow stable and flexible cartilage cells.Taking chondroprotectors significantly improves the shock-absorbing properties of the intervertebral discs, making them more flexible and resistant to damage;
• vitamin complexes- contributes to the normalization of metabolic processes and prevents excessive oxidation of tissues.

To relieve unbearable pain that interferes with the patient's daily activities, the doctor may recommend medical blockade with anesthetics.Diuretics are used to reduce swelling and relieve pinched nerves and blood vessels.

Prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis

To prevent symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

1. Take care of a healthy posture.This is facilitated by walking, swimming and physical exercise aimed at strengthening the back, chest, abdominal and shoulder muscles.
2. When working in a sitting position, arrange your workplace properly and do a physical warm-up when your back and neck become stiff (ideally, every 2 hours, bend to the side, stretch and rotate your shoulders).
3. Avoid back injuries and immediately seek help from an orthopedic traumatologist, even for bruises that seem insignificant.It should not trigger other diseases of the locomotor system - especially in the joints of the lower limbs.
4. If possible, relieve the spine during the day (just lie on the floor for 40 minutes).
5. Protect yourself from hypothermia and stress.
6. Take chondroprotector to protect the joints for at least 3 months a year.Regardless of the strength of the muscular ligament, the human spine does not anatomically adapt to vertical loads and therefore requires additional support.
7. Change the weight if you are overweight.In addition to following a low-carb diet, you should eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals.They can also be taken in tablet form in spring and autumn.
8. Sports activities that involve jumping from heights or lifting heavy weights should be limited.
9. It is advisable to sleep on a semi-rigid bed, and for longer sittings choose hard furniture.This helps maintain muscle tone and relieves stress on the spine.If possible, buy an orthopedic mattress and shoe insoles.
10. Do not lift more than 10 kg.The load should be evenly distributed, with muscle tension and without shifting to one side.If necessary, use special sports laces.It is not desirable to hold loads in outstretched arms for a long time.
11. Women should avoid wearing high heels.The optimal heel height is 2-4 cm.

These recommendations will also be useful for patients who are already sick - they will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the spine and significantly slow down pathological changes.

And remember: the most important thing in preventing thoracic osteochondrosis is consistent adherence to healthy habits.

Never let chest pain bother you!