Osteochondrosis affecting the chest is often disguised as a pathology of the internal organs. Manifested by heart pain, shortness of breath, shortness of breath when breathing and panic attacks. Therefore, the diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis is a bit difficult. After its discovery, conservative treatment is performed with the help of drugs, physiotherapy, exercise therapy. And in case of serious damage to the thoracic discs and vertebrae, surgery is required.
Brief description of the disease
Thoracic osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the spine. In the initial stage of its development, the intervertebral discs slowly break down. They become thin, brittle and radial cracks appear on their surface. To stabilize the thoracic segment affected by osteochondrosis, the bone tissue of the vertebrae grows with the formation of sharp growths - osteophytes. This causes a sharp restriction of mobility, compression of blood vessels and spinal roots.
Degrees of pathology
The degree of osteochondrosis is a set of symptoms characteristic of a particular radiographic stage. The more deformed the discs and vertebrae, the more pronounced the clinical manifestations. The severity of the pathology always determines the tactics of treatment, it must be taken into account when choosing drugs and methods of their use.
I degree
X-rays usually do not show any changes. But the intervertebral disc has already begun to collapse due to its inability to retain the moisture needed to repair its tissues. Sometimes there is a slight discomfort in the back, which quickly disappears after a short rest. Grade 1 osteochondrosis is usually detected by chance during the diagnosis of other diseases.
II degree
The fibrous ring becomes loose, fibrous. One of the cracks on the surface of the disc increases, the nucleus pulposus extends there. X-rays show a reduction in the distance between adjacent vertebral bodies due to a reduction in the height of the disc. As a result of constant compensatory muscle tension, the mobility of the chest area is limited and moderate painful sensations appear.
III degree
The integrity of the annular fibrosis is compromised, so the nucleus pulposus is squeezed out of it. A hernial bulge forms - the main cause of severe symptoms and severe complications of thoracic osteochondrosis. The bodies of the vertebrae are deformed, single osteophytes are formed. The pain in the chest area becomes constant, the range of motion in the spine is significantly reduced.
IV degree
X-rays clearly show the growth of connective tissue, the formation of multiple osteophytes. Neighboring vertebrae are blocked, immobilized. Radicular syndrome develops, discogenic myelopathy often occurs - compression of the spinal cord, dangerous for its irreversible consequences. One hardly serves oneself in everyday life, one loses the ability to perform professional duties.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Thoracic osteochondrosis in people over 40-45 years develops due to the natural aging of the body: slow recovery, reduction of collagen production, which causes elasticity, strength of the joints. At a younger age, this occurs as a result of increased stress on the spine or against the background of pathologies already present in the body:
- rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, ankylosing spondylitis; endocrine and metabolic diseases, eg diabetes mellitus, gout, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism;
- congenital and acquired abnormalities, including kyphosis, scoliosis.
Previous spinal injuries, sedentary lifestyle and lack of vitamins and trace elements in the body can provoke premature destruction of the disc.
Characteristic signs and symptoms of the disease
Thoracic osteochondrosis develops gradually, at first, without manifesting itself. It is in this move that his danger lies. A person accepts mild pain and discomfort in the back for banal muscle fatigue after a hard day's work, housework or in the garden and does not seek medical help. Therefore, patients are usually diagnosed with pathology with 2-3 degrees of severity, which is difficult to conservatively treat.
At the very beginning
During the period of exacerbation, the pathology may manifest itself as pain between the shoulder blades, which occurs when bending, turning the body. The range of motion is reduced and there are very specific signs of relapse.
Chest pain
In osteochondrosis, chest pain first appears. They are not clearly localized, can be given to the hands, clavicle, ribs. The pain in the heart is severe or moderate, resembles an attack of angina pectoris, is not eliminated by taking nitroglycerin. Sometimes they are similar to the sensations that appear during the exacerbation of cholecystitis, pancreatitis. But unlike lesions of the pancreas or gallbladder, the pain is not accompanied by increased flatulence, heartburn and bloating.
Chest tightness
Pain between the shoulder blades is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of shortness of breath. One is expected to be afraid, does not understand the reasons for this condition. Doctors recommend that you do not panic, but sit down and measure your heart rate. If the value obtained does not exceed 100 beats per minute, then the probability of destruction of the lungs or heart is extremely low.
Other symptoms
Gradually, the symptoms of osteochondrosis worsen with a sensitivity disorder. There are sensations of tingling, numbness and crawling. From time to time, conditions appear that resemble panic attacks. They are characterized by fear, increased heart rate, excessive sweating and cold sweats. If these symptoms are accompanied by chest pain, then it is necessary to take nitroglycerin and call a doctor. Such a set of symptoms may indicate a myocardial infarction.
The spinal roots located in the thoracic region innervate the internal organs. When they are irritated, compressed, the work of the gastrointestinal tract and liver is disrupted. Peristalsis is disturbed, epigastric pain, heartburn, belching appear.
Signs in the subacute phase
After exacerbation, a subacute stage of the course of thoracic osteochondrosis begins. The pain and breathing problems persist, but they are much less intense. For a long time now, a person has not been looking for a comfortable body position in which pain is not felt. The duration of the subacute stage is up to two weeks. If all medical recommendations are followed, remission occurs, which is characterized by the absence of pronounced symptoms. Disruption of the regime leads to a new exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
Remission
In the remission stage, mild discomfort may occur when the weather changes or hypothermia. Acute pain occurs only in osteochondrosis of 2-4 degrees of severity due to too sharp rotation or tilting of the body. Exacerbation of chronic pathologies, stress, increased physical activity, prolonged stay in one position of the body can provoke a new relapse.
Principles of disease diagnosis
The neurologist makes a primary diagnosis based on the patient's complaints, history. On external examination, he found points in the chest area, with pressure on which pain appeared. Conducting functional tests allows you to assess the safety of reflexes, to identify sensitivity disorders. Of the instrumental methods, radiography is the most informative. But for a detailed study of the spinal segment can be performed CT, MRI. To rule out diseases of the cardiovascular system, patients are given an ECG.
Exacerbation first aid
The pain during a recurrence of thoracic osteochondrosis is sharp, penetrating, so a person should receive first aid. It should be soothed, laid on a hard surface, covered with a warm blanket. If the relapse is accompanied by increased heart rate, shortness of breath, increased anxiety, then you should call a doctor. Any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug can be taken to relieve pain between the shoulder blades.
How to treat osteochondrosis in the chest
Only an integrated approach to treatment will get rid of all the symptoms of osteochondrosis, will slow down or completely stop its spread to healthy discs and vertebrae. In pathology with 1-2 degrees of severity, conservative methods of therapy are used. Osteochondrosis 3-4 degrees is characterized by the formation of large hernias. Surgical treatment may be needed to relieve the pressure on the blood vessels and spinal roots.
Preparation
Drugs from different clinical and pharmacological groups are used in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. In the initial stage, parenteral drugs are usually used, which quickly provide a therapeutic effect. A few days later, the injectable solutions are replaced with safer tablets, ointments and patches.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs have a pronounced analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous effect. Intramuscular administration of solutions allows to stop the acute pain. To eliminate the slight discomfort between the shoulder blades, local means of application are used. And with moderate pain, NSAIDs for oral use do well.
Muscle relaxants
Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms in response to severe pain. Most often, the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis begins with intramuscular administration of drugs that, in addition to the muscle relaxant tolperisone, include an anesthetic.
Chondroprotectors
In the case of pathology of the 1st degree of severity, taking chondroprotectors helps to repair damaged discs. In other cases, they are prescribed to improve metabolism in the affected segment of the spine to prevent disease progression.
Preparations of B vitamins
Their use helps to increase blood flow, improve the functioning of the peripheral nervous system, restore trophism and innervation. The complex of B vitamins has a beneficial effect in degenerative diseases of the nerves and musculoskeletal system.
Physiotherapeutic exercises
In case of thoracic osteochondrosis of 1 degree, daily training therapy allows you to do without the use of drugs. Recovery is done by strengthening the muscles, improving the blood supply to the tissues with nutrients. In other cases, exercise and regular training help prevent the involvement of healthy spinal segments in the destructive process and prolong the remission stage.
Stand complex
In the upright position, the following therapeutic exercises are the most therapeutically effective:
- put your palms on your shoulders, lean forward while raising your bent legs as if trying to reach the opposite knee with your elbow;
- raise your left arm up, bend to the right. Perform the exercise in the opposite direction;
- Spread your legs shoulder-width apart, raise your arms. Lean forward, touching the opposite leg with your palm.
The number of repetitions is 10-12 times in 2-3 sets.
From lying down
For these exercises you will need a fitness mat or a thick, folded double blanket:
- lie on your stomach, at the same time raise your arms and legs;
- lying on your back, lift your upper body, stretch your palms to your feet;
- lying on your back, bend one leg, roll it behind the other, trying to touch the floor with your knee.
Each exercise should be done 7-10 times.
Sit down
When performing such exercises, sharp movements of high amplitude, including twisting, should be avoided:
- sitting on the floor, stretch forward, trying to touch the opposite leg with your palm;
- sitting on a chair or stool, stretch your arms forward and slowly turn from side to side;
- , while sitting on the floor, wrap your arms around your knee, pulling it as close to your chest as possible.
In the first lessons the exercises should be repeated 5-7 times, after about a month - 15-20 times.
Physiotherapy
In the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, UHF therapy, sinusoidal currents, shock wave therapy, paraffin and ozokerite applications are used. In case of exacerbations, electrophoresis, ultraphonophoresis with glucocorticosteroids, anesthetics, B vitamins, chondroprotectors are performed.
Massage
The massage performed by a specialist helps to eliminate the pain between the shoulder blades, to relax the spasmodic skeletal muscles.
In osteochondrosis all types of massages are therapeutically effective - classical, vacuum, acupuncture, connective tissue. At home, self-massage is conveniently performed using a wooden or electric massager with a long handle.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a method of treating pathology by installing needles in bioactive points of the human body. They are thin, short, so that when piercing the skin from time to time there is only a slight discomfort. But even this effect is sufficient for the production of substances in the body with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Nutrition
Nutritionists recommend that patients with osteochondrosis of the chest to give up fatty meats, rich soups, smoked meats, homemade and factory marinades. It is necessary to limit the amount of salt in the diet, which provokes the formation of edema. Every day you should drink about 2, 5 liters of fluid - water, vegetable juices, fruit drinks, fruit compotes.
Folk remedies
Decoctions and infusions of medicinal plants, ointments, rubbing with alcohol and oil, compresses are allowed by neurologists to use after the main therapy. Folk remedies are used to eliminate mild pain between the shoulder blades, sometimes occurring after exercise.
Celery root
Peel a large celery root, chop finely, squeeze the juice. Add 100 g of chopped fresh celery. Take 3 tablespoons up to 4 times a day during meals to cleanse the spinal structures of harmful salt deposits.
Sunflower root
Pour a teaspoon of dry crushed sunflower roots with a glass of hot water. Bring to a boil, simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, cool under the lid, drain. Drink 3-4 times a day.
Homemade ointment
In a mortar, grind a tablespoon of turpentine and thick honey, add 2 drops of essential oils of juniper, rosemary, eucalyptus. Inject 100 g of Vaseline in small portions. Stir, transfer to a jar, refrigerate, rub on back for pain.
During pregnancy
Many systemic analgesics are contraindicated during pregnancy, so neurologists prefer drugs for external use - ointments, gels, patches. If you can not do without taking pills, then their doses are significantly reduced. During the period of childbirth, the main methods of treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis are massage and exercise.
Possible consequences
In the absence of medical intervention, thoracic osteochondrosis can cause pneumosclerosis, arrhythmias, vegetative-vascular dystonia, deterioration of the gastrointestinal tract, impaired sexual and reproductive function in women and men.
Prevention and prognosis
The prognosis is favorable with timely detection of the disease, competent, comprehensive treatment. If complications of thoracic osteochondrosis develop, then only following all medical recommendations will allow you to achieve stable remission.
As a prevention of the pathology, neurologists recommend to exclude the provoking factors from the usual way of life. This is overweight, low physical activity, deficiency of vitamins and minerals, excessive stress on the spine.