Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is much less common compared to a similar pathology affecting adjacent segments. This is due to the strengthening effect of the chest - a strong and flexible frame made of ribs provides good support for the intervertebral joints. Even if osteochondrosis develops in this segment, it rarely reaches the late stage. The ribs partially relieve the cartilage discs and prevent them from collapsing under heavy and prolonged stress.

Often, osteochondrosis of the breast develops in men - they, of course, have to do more difficult and harmful work. When a woman is in similar working conditions, her risk of osteochondrosis increases dramatically. Women's ligaments and muscles are inherently more flexible and stretchable, which protects the weaker sex from degenerative damage to the chest.

In contrast, in men, all movable joints are already "ossified" in adulthood - such changes are initially observed in the intercostal joints. Therefore, the clinical picture develops gradually, as it is associated with slow damage to the joints between the ribs and vertebrae. The earlier a person notices the first symptoms of breast osteochondrosis, the more effective and shorter the subsequent treatment will be.

Symptoms

Breast osteochondrosis is rare even without small manifestations, but in the early stages, patients simply do not usually notice the signs of the disease. Any discomfort is attributed to mundane fatigue caused by prolonged work or uncomfortable posture. But the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine have one insidious property - to develop by leaps and bounds.

That is, the progression of manifestations does not occur gradually, but suddenly - under the influence of external factors. Their development is subject to a certain mechanism that occurs in the joints between the vertebrae and ribs:

• Over the course of a person's life, chest mobility decreases - this is due to the thickening of connective tissue that connects adjacent bones.
• With a long and heavy load, metabolic products accumulate in it, which lead to damage to the "soft" structures - ligaments and cartilage.
• In the intercostal joints, they begin to be replaced by bone tissue that forms small outgrowths at the site of the defects.
• First, these spines begin to irritate the nerve roots emerging from the spinal cord in the vicinity. As a result of the impact on them, a reflex contraction of the surrounding muscles occurs - a spasm.
• It makes restricted mobility worse by making the rib cage less flexible and elastic. Because of these changes, the nutrition of the surrounding tissues changes as their blood supply deteriorates.
• Gradually a vicious circle forms - a disturbed blood circulation deprives the soft tissues of the possibility of a quick recovery. If the load continues, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine gradually develops.

The rate of progression of the disease depends on the severity of harmful factors and the capabilities of the body - in most patients it remains in the early stages until old age.

First degree

In the early stages, it is difficult to diagnose chest osteochondrosis - the symptoms of the disease are still too non-specific. Most patients miss the first degree of the disease and only see a doctor if severe symptoms develop. With a careful attitude towards your health, the signs of a pathology can be easily identified:

1. As the soft tissues in the joints between the ribs and the vertebrae become compressed, their flexibility and elasticity decrease. Therefore, when stretching or exercising, there is chest pain and crunching that occurs between the shoulder blades.
2. A similar sound can be heard in the collarbone or sternum, where cartilage and connective tissue are also thickened.
3. Along with them, the flexibility of the shoulder girdle is disturbed, which is manifested in difficulty in placing the hands behind the back. It becomes difficult for the patient to perform some movements - scratching his back, bringing his shoulder blades together.
4. There is a feeling of discomfort in every part of the chest, but more often in the interscapular region. The majority of the nerve roots emerging from the spinal cord in this section are projected onto it.
5. The resistance to prolonged physical work and the maintenance of the posture decreases - a feeling of tiredness in the back quickly arises.
6. The depth of breath decreases - if you try to breathe deeply, its restriction will be observed.

At this point, the disease can be treated safely at home, since irreversible changes in the soft tissues in the joint area have not yet formed.

Second degree

While the influence of negative factors persists, the signs of breast osteochondrosis intensify - it is at this stage that patients usually seek help. The disease begins to significantly reduce the activity of a person - symptoms interfere not only during work, but also during rest. Their appearance is associated with the formation of persistent changes that lead to the ossification of the cost-vertebral joints:

1. Pain caused by pressure on the nerve roots already comes to the fore when the symptoms appear. It has some characteristics - a burning or shooting character, an association with physical activity, or a prolonged uncomfortable posture.
2. Unpleasant sensations are usually noted between the shoulder blades, from where they spread along the course of the ribs. The pain impulse is always one-sided.
3. The intensity of this symptom depends entirely on the movements of the trunk or breathing - an increase in pain is observed even with a calm breath.
4. The disease differs from ordinary intercostal neuralgia in the persistence of symptoms - in the first case, the pain syndrome passes on its own and quickly (within a few minutes). Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by the duration of pain - it is continuous and only decreases at rest.
5. Chest discomfort and stiffness increase, leading to a decrease in exercise tolerance. It becomes more difficult for the patient to perform work that involves prolonged stress.

At home at this stage it is almost impossible to get rid of symptoms - they try to use a long drug intake in combination with physical therapy procedures for treatment.

Third degree

In the final stages of the disease, there is a sharp deformation of the joints between the ribs and vertebrae. This puts pressure on the surrounding vessels and nerves that are directed towards the internal organs. Therefore, the symptoms of the disease acquire unusual features that are characteristic of another pathology:

1. The pain syndrome persists and acquires an intense and continuous character. Lumbago between the shoulder blades and along the ribs disturbs the patient even at rest, which is associated with constant pressure on the nerve roots.
2. There are areas of reduced sensitivity in the abdomen and chest - they look like stripes along the ribs. They are characterized by numbness, tingling, or "creeping".
3. There are periodic reflex spasms of the abdominal muscles, accompanied by unpleasant sensations.
4. Since the nerves of the internal organs are involved in the process, symptoms of their defeat may appear. More often, false attacks of angina, hepatic or renal colic are observed, simulating diseases of similar organs.
5. Often, osteochondrosis of the chest leads to the formation of irritable bowel syndrome - disorders of the digestive tract, the causes of which were not identified during the examination.

Even long-term treatment will not allow you to permanently get rid of symptoms if the patient has persisted the disease to this degree. Supportive therapy only reduces the signs of the disease, which is firmly anchored in the thoracic spine.

treatment

How to treat thoracic osteochondrosisThe tactic of support is based on the duration of the disease - the more pronounced the symptoms, the more stages include the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. Despite the frequent difficulties in prescribing drugs, many patients want to have all treatment procedures at home. The patient does not want to waste the extra time it takes to visit the hospital or clinic.

In addition, sick leave is rarely issued for this disease, which forces people to quickly finish activities that have begun. After the patient has improved a little, he returns to his usual activities. However, incomplete treatment of breast osteochondrosis leads to a rapid return of the previous symptoms. Therefore, too "busy" patients can perform some procedures at home - the main thing is that they do not give up what they have started.

At home

You can do without hospital only in the early stages of the disease, when all changes in the spine are reversible. With the help of some measures, it is possible to get rid of muscle spasms, which are the cause of the manifestations:

• It is necessary to change the resting place - the bed on which the soft tissues of the spine are restored in sleep. To do this, you need to make it stiffer, buy an orthopedic mattress to exclude the wrong position of the back.
• For any activity, you need to support the spine - a soft corset that covers the lumbar and chest regions. It should be worn regularly to work and only take off when resting or sleeping.
• It is recommended to use warming ointments to get rid of symptoms. They are placed between the shoulder blades before the upcoming load to artificially warm up the muscles.
• You need to develop a good habit - doing exercises at home after you wake up. In addition, it is not necessary to do it only in the morning - for back discomfort, you need to allow a few minutes to warm up.
• You need to change your diet, increase the amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet - the vitamins in them slow down the destruction of connective tissue.

Patients who have enough free time are advised to engage in physical activity - walking or swimming.

Conservative

With the development of pronounced signs, treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine with the help of drugs begins. They allow you to get rid of pain and other manifestations that interfere with normal activity:

• First of all, anti-inflammatory drugs that have an analgesic effect are prescribed. They inhibit the processes of destruction of soft tissues, which inevitably lead to the formation of bone growth.
• Muscle relaxants - drugs that remove painful muscle contractions - are also used. Using them allows the chest to return to its previous flexibility and range of motion.
• Furthermore, vitamin complexes are prescribed, which are supposed to protect the nervous tissue. They allow you to quickly restore the pressurized roots of the spinal cord.
• Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories can also be used in the form of creams that are applied between the shoulder blades. However, they are usually only combined with medication to ensure synergies.

It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks to take the medication. The patient is then transferred to home treatment.

Surgically

The surgical method of treatment is usually used when the medication is ineffective. In addition, the intervention is not always radical in nature:

• The most common blockade is the introduction of drugs directly into the lesion with a needle. A local anesthetic is usually used to relieve symptoms. After the procedure, the effect lasts for several days.
• Blockages performed with the help of glucocorticosteroids are more effective - they provide a therapeutic effect that lasts for several weeks. The composition contains hormones that suppress the inflammatory process in the area of administration.
• In the most severe cases, surgery is performed - removal of the deformed areas of the joints between the ribs and vertebrae. In this way, it is possible to get rid of the pressure on the nerve roots and blood vessels, which leads to the elimination of most of the manifestations.

Surgical correction does not lead to a complete cure of the disease, it only facilitates the patient's condition. Therefore, after each manipulation, it is necessary to continue conservative therapy in order to slow the progression of the disease.

rehabilitation

Eliminating the main signs of osteochondrosis does not mean the end of treatment. In the post-treatment period, the patient undergoes restorative measures:

1. In the early days, procedures are prescribed that have a reflex effect. Electrophoresis and phonophoresis, UHF and laser can eliminate the reflex muscle contraction in the thoracic spine.
2. Then more active interventions begin - massages, therapeutic exercises. They help strengthen the muscular frame of the chest.
3. Recovery ends with independent training that should be continued continuously. They allow you to slow the progression of osteochondrosis.

These patients are advised to choose sports disciplines that allow them to develop muscle endurance and strength at the same time. Therefore, patients are advised to swim and run in order to achieve an even load on all muscles. Daily training is optional - three sessions a week are enough.