Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease of the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. The disease is quite rare. Breast osteochondrosis is similar in symptoms to other diseases and is difficult to diagnose. This is known as the "chameleon disease".
How does osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine develop?
Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs due to a violation of metabolic processes and an increased load on the intervertebral discs. The disc consists of the annulus fibrosus, which serves as a hard covering for the semi-fluid nucleus pulposus.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine disrupts the normal structure of the intervertebral disc. In the event of illness, the core dries out and loses its shock-absorbing properties, the fibrous ring becomes thinner and tears. This injures and inflames the roots of the spinal nerves, causing pain. The disease destroys the intervertebral discs, joints and ligaments of the spine.
The general principle is always the same, but the factors that cause increased stress on the intervertebral discs can vary. These include:
- prolonged vibration effect on the spine (for example, in drivers who often drive a vehicle);
- Body stress;
- physical inactivity, also known as sedentary lifestyle;
- Smoking;
- overweight, obesity;
- individual anomalies in the structure of the spine;
- congenital manifestation of narrowing of the spinal canal;
- somatic or spondylogenic muscle pain;
- asymmetry of the joint spaces in the intervertebral joints;
- psychosocial factors.
Classification of varieties of thoracic osteochondrosis
There are different types of osteochondrosisThoracic spine - symptoms and treatmentthey can vary greatly.
The classification is based on which nerve endings are affected by the damaged structures of the spine. It is customary to distinguish the following types of pathologies:
- Reflex. It is based on reflex muscle tension, as well as on vascular or dystrophic disorders.
- myoadaptive. It is also known as "overload".
- Compression. The cause of its development is usually a deformation, tension or compression of any part of the spinal cord, nerve root or blood vessel, which leads to undesirable consequences.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis
Breast osteochondrosis is less pronounced compared to other types of osteochondrosis. There are the following signs of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Chest pain, aggravated at night, with staying in one position for a long time, cooling, twisting, bending to the side, heavy physical exertion;
- pain between the shoulder blades, when raising the right or left arm, when bending;
- increased pain on deep inhalation and exhalation;
- pain between the ribs when walking;
- Sensation as if chest and back were being squeezed by a tire.
Pain during an exacerbation of the disease can last for several weeks.
There are additional symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- numbness of some skin areas, a feeling of "goosebumps";
- itching, burning, cold sensation in the legs;
- peeling skin, brittle nails;
- pain in the throat and esophagus;
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by two symptoms - dorsago and dorsalgia.
Dorsago and dorsalgia - manifestations of the disease
Dorsago is a sharp, stabbing pain in the chest, "chest lumbago". It usually occurs after monotonous work in the same position. During such an attack of pain, breathing is difficult. The pain is aggravated by rotation of the upper body.
Dorsalgia - slight pain in the area of \u200b\u200bthe affected intervertebral discs, begins gradually and lasts up to 2-3 weeks. The pain is made worse by deep breathing and bending over. The patient may be out of breath. The pain worsens at night and goes away after a short walk.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the chest
Thoracic osteochondrosis is most common in people who:
- work on the computer;
- drive constantly;
- sustained spinal injuries;
- have weak back muscles;
- suffer from scoliosis and other postural disorders.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is less common than other types of the disease - cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis. This is because this part of the spine is the least mobile and the most protected thanks to the ribs and muscular corset. There are more discs in the thoracic region than in the cervical and lumbar regions combined.
What is dangerous breast osteochondrosis?
Without timely treatment, thoracic osteochondrosis can cause the following diseases:
- protrusion and hernia of the thoracic spine;
- spinal cord compression;
- problems with the heart, intestines, liver, kidneys and pancreas;
- disorders in the duodenum, intestinal motility, gallbladder dyskinesia;
- Intercostal neuralgia - compression or irritation of the intercostal nerves.
The consequences of this pathology also include diseases of the stomach, esophagus, gallbladder and lungs. However, the heart is still the greatest risk for this disease. Therefore, if you have already had certain problems with it, we strongly recommend that you immediately contact the specialists of the clinic and implement it as soon as possible. Treatment of the thoracic spine.
What can be confused with osteochondrosis of the chest?
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are diverse, it is easy to confuse them with the following diseases:
- Angina pectoris, heart attack. Difference: after taking heart medication, the chest pain does not go away, the patient's cardiogram is normal;
- appendicitis, cholecystitis, renal colic;
- gastritis, ulcer, colitis;
- other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (including diverticulitis, chronic pancreatitis or irritable bowel syndrome);
- neoplastic processes;
- inflammatory processes;
- Diseases of the genitourinary system (pyelonephritis or urolithiasis);
- pathology of the mammary glands;
- Lung infection. Pneumonia differs from osteochondrosis in cough, shortness of breath and fever.
It is impossible to make a correct diagnosis on your own. Only a specialist can determine osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
Methods for diagnosing thoracic osteochondrosis
Specialists of a professional clinic will distinguish thoracic osteochondrosis from other diseases and make an accurate diagnosis using the following diagnostic methods:
- MRI. magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- densitometry
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Daily ECG monitoring
- Comprehensive medical examination of the body (check-up)
- Bioimpedance analysis of the body as part of the "Smart Weight Loss" program
- laboratory research
At theThoracic osteochondrosis of the spine treatmentcan be supplemented with a foot or back massage. Also, conservative drug maintenance therapy with anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs and analgesics is regularly prescribed. In some cases, the patient may be prescribed paravertebral blockade of novocaine. Each case is individual, so the approach to each patient must be special so that the therapy is effective and the problem does not manifest itself in the future.
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis in a specialized clinic has a multifaceted therapeutic effect:
- improves blood circulation and nutrition of the intervertebral discs;
- stops the destruction of hard drives, restores their structure;
- relieves inflammation of the nerve roots;
- relaxes tense back and chest muscles;
- restores the biomechanics of the spine;
- prevents complications in the form of protrusions and hernias;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- strengthens the back, shoulder girdle and respiratory muscles;
- corrects posture;
- stimulates the immune system.
After completing the course, the doctor will give you a manual with exercises that you need to do yourself. The doctor will advise you on how to adjust your lifestyle so that chest pain no longer bothers you.
prevention
To prevent the disease, we recommend:
- lie down for 40-50 minutes during the day - this will relieve the load on the spine;
- If you do a lot of computer work, change your position, get up from your chair every 2 hours, do a few inclines in different directions, stretch, straighten your shoulders.
- do water sports: swimming, diving, water aerobics;
- do not hypothermia, keep your back warm;
- Regularly perform the following exercise: Lie on your stomach, put your hands on the floor and bend back. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 8-10 times.
It is also strongly recommended to maintain body weight at the right level and give up bad habits (including smoking).
Nutrition in thoracic osteochondrosis
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, it is recommended to eat in small portions 5-6 times a day. Adhere to the following nutritional principles:
- More often use jelly, jelly, fish jelly, jelly. They contain chondroprotectors 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, eggplant;
- eat more fresh fruits and vegetables - cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onions, beets, parsley, cauliflower and cabbage, bell peppers, broccoli, celery;
- boiled and stewed dishes, brown bread, rye bran bread are welcome;
- Osteochondrosis needs calcium. It contains dairy products, almonds, nettles, watercress, rose hips;
- include in the diet sunflower seeds, nuts, avocados, raw spinach, bean pods - they are rich in magnesium;
- cook dishes from lobster, oysters, crabs, mushrooms, cereals - they contain vitamin B;
- Season salads with olive oil;
- it is recommended to eat whole wheat, millet, corn, buckwheat, barley;
- Limit the use of grapes and vegetables from the legume family, concentrated broths;
- Eat less salty, smoked foods, flour products, sugar, hot spices.