Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, unlike cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis, is very rare.
It's all about the structure of the thoracic region: it has more discs than in the cervical and lumbar spine combined, the discs are smaller and thinner.The mobility of this section is generally lower, and part of the load is taken by the ribs and sternum.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the symptoms can be confused with, for example, a heart attack.This is due to the specific nature of the disease.
In such cases, painful pains do not occur during movement and exertion, as in cervical or lumbar osteochondrosis, and complications associated with the suspicion of angina pectoris or heart attack, as well as disorders of the respiratory function, come to the fore.
Reasons
The development of osteochondrosis is promoted to a greater extent by physical inactivity - the lack of muscle load, which results in the lack of training of the muscle ligament, the weakening of its functions, and the increased load on the ligaments and intervertebral discs.
The following conditions can provoke the development of osteochondrosis:
- Incorrect posture and lateral curvature of the spine;
- Bad habits;
- Nervous and physical overload, stress;
- Overloading of the back and spine by wearing high-heeled shoes, pregnancy and flat feet;
- Back injuries;
- Physical inactivity;
- Heredity;
- Physically hard work.
The intervertebral discs of the thoracic vertebrae are equally adversely affected by a sedentary lifestyle and physical activity, which increases the likelihood of injuries.
What are the characteristics of the thoracic spine?
Everyone knows that the chest region is functionally inactive, especially compared to the neck.And the load is not so great, for example, compared to the lumbar region.Because of this, chest diseases rarely present with symptoms in the early stages of development.
The low mobility of the thoracic spine is related to its anatomical features - the connection of the vertebrae with the ribs and sternum allows the creation of a sufficiently mobile and at the same time durable structure, which is less susceptible to injuries and external influences.
The relatively small workload of the department contributes to the fact that the occurrence of any problems (for example, displacement of the vertebrae, intervertebral hernia, disc protrusion) is quite rare, which is confirmed by statistics.However, their appearance cannot be called extraordinary;for example, bad posture and scoliosis can be some provoking factor for the occurrence of spinal diseases.
At the same time, the symptoms of such diseases appear quite late and are quite typical for osteochondrosis - they usually mean compression of the nerve roots;in rare cases, the spinal cord itself may be compressed or damaged due to impaired blood supply;narrowing due to compression of veins and arteries is also possible.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can have completely different symptoms, similar to the manifestations of other diseases of the internal organs.Thoracic osteochondrosis is often confused with coronary artery disease, cholecystitis, peptic ulcer, and even heart attack and pneumonia.For this reason, this disease is called "chameleon".
Symptoms associated with pain:
- The pain is localized under the shoulder blades and may radiate to the intercostal nerves.This leads to neuralgia.The pain increases when a person takes a breath or actively moves.
- Chest pain is most often localized on the left side and may resemble coronary artery disease.In this situation, it is important to find out in time why the pain appeared.A complete examination of the cardiovascular system is necessary.
Neurological symptoms:
- Numbness or "crawling" in the legs, upper chest and abdomen (depending on the disc involved);
- Reflex tension in the muscles of the chest or upper back;
- In particularly advanced cases, it is possible to disrupt the functioning of the pelvic organs and reduce the effectiveness of men.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can appear in the area of the spine and back, in addition to pain near the site of osteochondrosis, in the upper abdomen, heart, liver, and gall bladder.
When such pain occurs, misdiagnosis is sometimes possible.Pain in the right chest under the ribs can be mistaken for inflammation of the gallbladder, in the left chest it can be mistaken for a heart attack.It is a mistake to confuse pain in the corresponding areas of the abdominal cavity with the manifestation of a stomach ulcer or gastritis.
Dorsago
Dorsago is one of the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, which manifests itself in acute pain.Usually, this symptom occurs in people who sit for a long time in one position or in an uncomfortable position while doing monotonous work.
Pain may occur in the spine in the chest region, muscles are tense, and often even breathing is difficult.Intercostal neuralgia may occur.
Dorsalgia
The exacerbation period lasts 2-3 weeks.At the same time, the pain gradually increases.Mild pain occurs in the affected part of the spine.As a rule, the pain manifests itself especially actively when breathing deeply, bending forward, backward or to the side.
The nature of pain during dorsalgia can be very different.The pain can be pulling, burning, aching, cutting, and may radiate to the leg, arm, buttocks, or shoulder blades.The location of the pain is no less diverse.They can appear below, above, in the middle, on the right, on the left, between the shoulder blades.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Diagnostic data based on X-rays help when drawing up a treatment plan that determines the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region.Such an examination gives a clear picture of the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, since X-ray images showing the proliferation of vertebral bodies and changes in the distance between the vertebrae (decrease in height) are characteristic symptoms of the disease.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine depends on the stage of the disease and mainly refers to conservative therapy.Surgery is extremely rare for spina bifida.
Drug treatment
Drug therapy is based on the following principles:
- The use of a special drug that allows the retention of fluid within the intervertebral disc.
- Vitamins.Most often, preparations containing complete vitamin complexes or B-group elements are prescribed.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants that reduce spasm in the muscles surrounding the spine.
- Pain relievers.NSAIDs and pain relievers based on drug combinations.
- Chondroprotectors.It is necessary to catalyze the process of restoring damaged cartilage.
After the elimination of acute phenomena, massage of the muscles of the back and lower limbs is used.Manual therapy is recommended in stage 1-3 of osteochondrosis in the event of functional blockages.It contains various options for soft and hard effects on the back muscles.
The duration of treatment for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine depends on the severity of the disease and the degree of age-related changes, as well as the diligence of the patient in following the instructions of the attending physician.
Gymnastics for thoracic osteochondrosis
In osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, patients are prescribed therapeutic exercises, the main purpose of which is to increase the mobility of the spine and intervertebral joints.Exercise therapy (provided the exercises are done regularly and correctly) can eliminate even very severe muscle spasms.Moderate physical activity helps relieve the stiffness of the spine that occurs when the ligaments are weak.
Daily exercises performed under the supervision of an experienced instructor will have a beneficial effect on the whole body, and especially on the bronchopulmonary system.Patients' lung ventilation improves and they can take deep breaths and exhale pain-free.
Massage
Massage not only reduces the severity of the symptoms of the disease, but also helps the person recover, which results in a positive effect of the other elements of the complex therapy.
It is prescribed individually based on the clinical picture of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the presence of chronic diseases and contraindications.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy is used to eliminate muscle hypertonia and spasms, as well as to restore back mobility.Thanks to the manual therapy, it is possible to release the blood vessels and improve the nutrition and oxygen supply of the disc tissues.
Correct posture during rest and sleep
To prevent osteochondrosis and during the treatment period, it is necessary to organize the correct position during rest and sleep.It is best to sleep on a flat and hard bed, but this should be done without fanaticism;if the bed does not meet the requirements, it is not recommended to sleep on the floor because you may catch a cold.This measure is very necessary so that the spine can quickly return to its normal shape.
However, at first, there may be quite intense pain, which lasts until the vertebrae return to their physiological position.You can place a roller under the painful area to relieve pain and discomfort.
Exercises
The most effective treatment for muscle spasms is physical therapy.Properly selected exercises relax, but at the same time strengthen and train the back muscles.As a result, the thoracic spine is stabilized and pinched spinal nerves are released.
Exercises for thoracic osteochondrosis are performed as follows:
- Starting position: while inhaling, stand straight, legs together, arms down.Extend your arms - exhale, then lean back - take a deep breath.Lower your arms, lean forward, round your back and lower your shoulders and head - exhale.Do 8-10 repetitions.
- Starting position: sitting on a chair.Slowly place your hands behind your head - inhale, lean back 5 times, resting your shoulder blades on the back of the chair - exhale.
- Starting position - get on all fours and bend your back as much as possible, hold for 3 seconds and keep your head straight for three seconds.Do 5-7 repetitions.
- Starting position - lie comfortably on your stomach and put your hands on the floor.At the same time, strongly lean back and try to lift your body off the floor.Do 5-8 reps.
- Starting position: lying on your stomach with your arms extended along your body.Bend at the chest, try to raise your head and legs as much as possible.Do 5-8 reps.
If you follow all the doctor's instructions, you can slowly but surely achieve a significant improvement in your condition.
Prevention
The health of other parts of the chest and spine can be damaged by:
- long static load (sitting in front of the TV, computer);
- lifting weights;
- the habit of stooping;
- hypothermia and frequent colds.
Office workers who, due to their job, spend a longer time at their workplace, need to change their body position more often, stand up and do physical exercises.Even simple stretching is beneficial.