Messengers of the disease: symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

Thoracic osteochondrosisis a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the central parts of the spine.It occurs much less frequently than lumbar and even cervical osteochondrosis and accounts for about 10% of all cases of the disease.Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are associated with several features of the spine in the thoracic region: rigid fixation of the vertebrae due to the ribs and skeletal muscles and less mobility, a semicircular curvature of the ridge in this region and the corresponding load distribution.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis begin with a violation of tissue trophism and dehydration of the intervertebral discs.The lack of nutrients and liquid leads to the fact that the cartilage loses its elasticity, begins to break down and "sag".This state of affairs is fraught with compression of the nerve roots, deterioration of sensitivity and functioning of internal organs, as well as severe pain.Often the destruction of the vertebrae in the thoracic region is accompanied by appearanceosteophytes- 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 onset of the disease can occur at an advanced agefrom 25 years old;approximately 70% of the total number of patients are women aged between 35 and 55.Since the disease begins long before retirement age,it can lead to limitations and even loss of ability to work.

Unlike other types of osteochondrosis, thoracic osteochondrosis may not manifest itself for a long time or disguise itself as other pathologies, which is why it is called chameleon disease.It is also the most difficult to treat.Therefore it is very importantMonitor the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in a timely manner- and today we will tell you which ones.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

The sensation of pain in the sternum in thoracic osteochondrosis is a symptom,mistaken by patients for heart pain.Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are characterized by intensification at night.They manifest themselves especially clearly when trying to straighten the back or, conversely, bend over, arch the back into a dome.

The severity of the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depends on the stage of osteochondrosis disease.At the same time, negative sensations with symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis can manifest themselves weakly (osteophytes often grow on the surface of the vertebrae, where there are practically no nerve endings, and the muscle corset compensates for the load for some time).

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:

• sensation of cold, burning and tingling in the chest, base of the neck, abdomen;
• muscle tension (difficulty relaxing your back);
• a feeling of pain in the sternum (a symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis, which is one of the first to appear);
• increased heart rate, throbbing sensation in the chest;
• a “pins and needles” feeling inside the chest, which is often accompanied by uncaused anxiety or increases with stress;
• numbness of the soft tissues (skin and muscles) near the spine, in the shoulders, especially noticeable when pressed or in contact with hot and cold surfaces;
• with thoracic osteochondrosis it is difficult to breathe;
• feeling cold in your hands and feet, pale or bluish skin on your hands;
• weakness, inhibition of reflex reactions in the affected area;
• disturbances in the functioning of the digestive organs, colic, stool disorders;
• the appearance of skin areas with evident nutritional disorders (desquamation, paleness, thinning or, conversely, thickening of the skin);
• feeling of swelling in the chest, discomfort when swallowing large pieces of food;
• characteristic cough with thoracic osteochondrosis;
• digestive symptoms (dyspepsia, loss of appetite, nausea, heartburn, bloating);
• increased fatigue, feeling very tired in the morning (“broken” state);
• change in gait (usually stooping, unsteadiness);
• intercostal neuralgia.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis may 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, sediment formation) and intestines, as well as dysfunction of the heart vessels.

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

• 1st-2nd thoracic vertebra- the pain radiates to the collarbone, armpit and can reach the shoulders;
• 3-6th vertebra- patients are disturbed by shooting pains above the chest, similar to pain in the heart or mammary glands;
• 7-8th vertebra- pain in the solar plexus, imitating diseases of internal organs (stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas).Inhibition of the epigastric reflex (contraction of the abdominal muscles when passing the instrument along the lower rib line) also occurs;
• 9-10th vertebra- here osteochondrosis can cause acute pain in the abdomen and under the ribs, inhibit the mesogastric reflex (when an instrument draws a horizontal line at the level of the navel);
• 11-12th vertebra- can cause pain in the groin, diseases of the internal genital organs and intestines.Reduces hypogastric response (drawing a line in the lower abdomen parallel to the inguinal crease).

Difficulty breathing

During physical activity (for example, climbing a couple of flights of stairs), patients have difficulty breathing.With thoracic osteochondrosis, severe shortness of breath is observed.Patients often describe this sensation as “breathless.”Similar symptoms can be observed during sleep: in an unsuccessful position, patients dream of lack of air, their ears may block (at the same time a strong pulsation can be felt), and severe chest spasms occur.

Often the feeling of difficulty breathing in thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by pain in the back girdle and ribs, as well as subcostal pain.

Increased heart rate

Even after light 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.Initially, increased heart rate can be caused by spastic contractions of the muscles and chest or a violation of tissue trophism, but over time this dangerous symptom can actually overcome angina pectoris, coronary heart disease and even lead to a heart attack.

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

Chest pain

The most significant symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis issensation of pain in the sternum.These include sharp stabbing pains and a feeling of pressure in the chest, as well as intercostal pain when walking.Chest pain tends to intensify after a long stay in one position, hypothermia, rotation of the body and bending (especially with a rotation), raising of the arms.Carrying heavy objects, playing sports, taking deep breaths, and sleeping peacefully can also increase pain.It should be remembered that due to poor mobility of the thoracic spine, osteochondrosis in this part of the back is characterized by dull, aching, pressing, throbbing pain.Prolonged acute pain in thoracic osteochondrosis is very rare, which is why patients tend to ignore the pathology for a long time.

Spinal painIn osteochondrosis of the spine it is customary to divide into dorsago and dorsalgia.Dorsago- these are spontaneous shooting pains that, as a rule, do not last long and disappear when you change position.Dorsago they usually cause accidental crushing of the roots.Dorsalgiathey are long lasting (about 2-3 weeks) and are associated with a permanent interruption of blood circulation or nerve conduction.They make themselves felt with a burning, stinging pain.

The pain intensifies when coughing and may be mistaken by patients for a spinal hernia.However, with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, hernias are extremely rare.Don't write off the main symptom(sensation of pain in the sternum with thoracic osteochondrosis)for vertebral displacement - its probability is extremely low compared to degenerative-dystrophic changes!

Cough with thoracic osteochondrosis

Cough with thoracic osteochondrosis is often observed in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and their work duties involve prolonged sitting (office workers, operators, drivers).Maintaining this posture, which is difficult for the human spine, causes chronic muscle fatigue, spasms and stiffness.Spasticityit is both a cause and a consequence of the fact that the cervical and thoraco-cingular area suffers from insufficient movement.At night, in positions that compress the spine, the spasms and irritation of the spinal roots only intensify, causing a strong cough.If the upper thoracic vertebrae are affected, coughing due to thoracic osteochondrosis may be accompanied by pain in the esophagus, a sensation as if something is stuck in the chest.

During cough attacks with thoracic osteochondrosis, it becomes painful for patients to breathe;It becomes difficult to take a deep breath.

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis and its prevention

Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine is aimed at stopping or at least slowing down degenerative changes, restoring normal mobility of the back and eliminating symptoms that cause discomfort to the patient.

Therapeutic treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis involves the simultaneous use of:

• medicines(chondroprotectors, neuroprotectors, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, analgesics);
• methods of physiotherapeutic complex;
• therapeutic exercises;
• orthopedic regimen.

Patients are also advised to change their diet and lifestyle.

In case of serious irreversible alterations of the intervertebral jointswhere pain and nerve conduction disorders are not relieved by medications,surgery is recommended for patients.It helps stop the death of nervous tissue and prevent the potentially lethal or disabling consequences of thoracic osteochondrosis.Depending on the situation, complete or partial resection of the intervertebral disc or its replacement with an artificial one, narrowing of the spinal canal or other surgical intervention may be indicated.

Physiotherapy

The goals of physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the thoracic region are to reduce pain and inflammation, relieve spasms, strengthen the muscle corset, restore the function of nerve roots and normal blood circulation.

To relieve the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, the following are successfully used:

• Magnetotherapy- one of the most effective anti-inflammatory techniques.Improves metabolic processes in tissues and relieves swelling.
• Laser therapy.Promotes the biological activation of regenerative processes.Helps eliminate the consequences of trophic disorders and relieve inflammation.
• Drug electrophoresis.It allows you to restore tissue nutrition and relieve inflammation: the effect of the procedure depends on the drugs used.
• Medicinal phonophoresis.It guarantees deep penetration of the active ingredients of the drugs into the soft tissues.
• Therapeutic massage.It helps relax muscles, eliminate tension and improve the supply of nutrients to the tissues of the spine.In the initial stages, it eliminates the main symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis, the sensation of pain in the sternum, in just a few sessions.
• Acupuncture.Stimulation of muscles and nerve endings helps relieve pain, restore sensitivity and eliminate swelling.
• Very high frequency therapy.It increases the permeability of the capillary walls, improves blood flow and ensures the flow of protective cells to the site of inflammation.
• Shock wave therapy.Starts the processes of restoration of bone and cartilaginous tissue, prevents the deposition of calcium salts on the vertebral surfaces.
• Balneotherapy.Mud and ozocerite applications are usually used, less often paraffin.Radon tubs and whirlpools are also recommended for patients.They help improve metabolism and restore sensitivity in affected tissues.
• Amplification therapy.It has a neurostimulating, analgesic and trophic effect, activates metabolic processes and facilitates breathing.
• Kinesitherapy(physiotherapy, massage, traction therapy, kinesio taping).It allows you to strengthen ligaments and skeletal muscles, restore back mobility and also eliminate persistent spasticity.It prevents the formation of osteophytes and narrowing of the canals in which the spinal roots are located.

In addition to physiotherapy sessions, for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, patients may be recommended an orthopedic corset, which allows them to relieve the load on the spine.

Physical therapy and massage

Therapeutic exercises and massages help strengthen the back muscles and relieve stress on the spine.With daily sessions, they help achieve stable remission without drugs, increase range of motion and eliminate neurological manifestations of the disease.These treatment methods also prevent complications of osteochondrosis..For example, pulmonary congestion (with thoracic osteochondrosis it is difficult to breathe deeply), due to which patients are susceptible to pneumonia and coronary heart disease.

Dosed physical activity helps relieve compression of the nerve roots, improve blood circulation and nutrition of the intervertebral discs.The optimal frequency and duration of exercise classes is determined by the physical therapy instructor.As a rule,3-4 exercises for 10-15 minutes a day are sufficient.

Exercises recommended for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis include the following:

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 bend forward, arching your back slightly in the shape of a dome (to do this, lower your head and shoulders as you exhale).
2. Sit in a chair and, as you inhale, place your hands behind your head.Lean back and rest your shoulder blades on the back of the chair, exhaling.
3. Get on all fours and arch your back.After holding the position for 3 seconds, bend your back with the crampon.
4. Lying on the floor on your stomach, place your palms on the floor and, raising yourself 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 at your sides.Perform the “yoke” exercise, trying to raise your head and legs at the same time.
6. Sit on the floor and stretch your legs in front of you.Reach the fingers of your right hand to the toes of your left foot and vice versa.
7. Perform a plank exercise (about 30 seconds).
8. Perform the hook on the horizontal bar (or, in the absence of a horizontal bar, fix your fingers to the door frame and try to stretch your back as much as possible).

Leaning to the side as you raise your arm will also be helpful.All exercises should be done8 to 10 times.

To treat thoracic osteochondrosis, various massage techniques are used, incl.acupressure and vacuum massage.For self-massage at home, patients are recommended the following movements:

• caress the cervical-collar, scapular and axillary area;
• compressing with thumb and forefinger(grasping skin and soft tissue);
• shredding;
• knead(it must be carried out with the utmost care; it is advisable to entrust this technique to a specialist).

Massage should not be performed during exacerbations of the disease or during severe inflammation.

Pharmacological treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis

To treat the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, the following groups of drugs are used:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)- helps relieve pain, calm inflammation and disperse swelling.They can be used both systemically (in the form of tablets, capsules and injections) and locally (in the form of ointments, gels, creams, compresses and medicinal electrophoresis solutions).
• Hormonal drugs- eliminate acute and chronic neurological pain.Used in cases where NSAIDs demonstrate insufficient effectiveness.
• Muscle relaxants- prescribed to reduce muscle tone and eliminate spasms of skeletal muscles.This helps to relieve pain and has a positive effect on tissue trophism.
• Circulation correctors- strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve blood circulation in the small capillaries that nourish 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 nerve roots and relieve neurological symptoms.This group also includes cholinesterase inhibitors, which improve the transmission of nerve impulses and help restore normal muscle tone.

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

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

To relieve excruciating pain that interferes with the patient's daily activities, the doctor may recommend a medical block with anesthetics.Diuretics are used to eliminate swelling and relieve compression of the nerves and blood vessels.

Prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis

To prevent symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, you should:

1. Be careful to maintain a healthy posture.This is facilitated by walking, swimming and therapeutic exercises to strengthen the muscles of the back, chest, abdominals and shoulder complex.
2. When working in a sedentary manner, organize your workstation properly and perform a physical warm-up whenever your back and neck begin to stiffen (ideally, bend at the sides, stretch and rotate your shoulders every 2 hours).
3. Avoid back injuries and seek help from an orthopedic traumatologist immediately, even in the case of a seemingly insignificant bruise.You should not trigger other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, especially in the joints of the lower extremities.
4. If possible, unload your spine during the day (to do this just lie on the floor for 40 minutes).
5. Protect yourself from hypothermia and stress.
6. Take chondroprotectors to protect your joints for at least 3 months a year.Regardless of the strength of the muscle corset, the human spine is not anatomically suited to vertical loads and therefore requires additional support.
7. Adjust your weight if you are overweight.In addition to maintaining a low-carb diet, you should eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals.In spring and autumn they can be taken in tablet form.
8. Sports activities that involve jumping from heights or lifting heavy weights should be limited.
9. It is recommended to sleep on a semi-rigid bed and, for prolonged sitting, choose rigid furniture.This helps maintain muscle tone and relieve stress on the spine.If possible, you should purchase an orthopedic mattress and shoe insoles.
10. Do not lift loads weighing more than 10 kg.The load should be distributed evenly, with muscle tension and without shifting to one side.If necessary, use a special sports corset.It is undesirable to hold loads with outstretched arms for a long time.
11. Women should avoid wearing high-heeled shoes.The optimal heel height is 2-4 cm.

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

And remember: the main thing in the prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis is constant compliance with healthy habits.

Let chest pain never bother you!