Chest osteochondrosis: symptoms, causes and methods of treatment

Osteochondrosis is one of the most commonly diagnosed pathologies of the spine. This pathology has a degenerative-dystrophic origin, affects the intervertebral discs, leading to their structural and external modifications. Doctors identify three types of the disease: cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis, depending on the location of the disorders in the spine. If we talk about the statistics of the identified pathologies, it is believed that thoracic osteochondrosis is less common than other types. This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of the human spine in the thoracic region: the intervertebral discs of this part of the back have limited mobility, which significantly reduces the likelihood of their traumatic injury.

What is thoracic osteochondrosis

Identification of the disease is difficult because its symptoms are often similar to pathological changes in other organs: heart, stomach, etc. Thoracic osteochondrosis is dangerous with its consequences, so its early detection gives more chances for timely correction and prevention ofside effects. The disease is equally commonly diagnosed in patients of both sexes of different ages, including children. Let's take a closer look at the causes of thoracic osteochondrosis, its symptoms, methods of treatment with drugs and at home.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine manifests itself as degenerative-dystrophic disorders in the structure of bones, cartilage of the vertebrae, which provokes the development of destructive processes in them. In addition to the vertebrae themselves, the intervertebral discs suffer: they stratify, shrink in size, causing the nerve endings in the intercostal spaces to be compressed. All this together affects the normal functioning of the spine. Treatment started at the wrong time aggravates the situation, which is subsequently resolved exclusively with the help of surgery, which cannot always be resolved by the patient for various reasons.

Chest osteochondrosis can provoke the development of quite serious and dangerous diseases and conditions. It often causes pneumosclerosis, narrowing of blood vessels, dysfunction of the genitourinary system, cancer and more. If osteochondrosis progresses rapidly, it usually limits a person's physical capabilities: it is difficult for him to walk, work and work freely. usual activities.

With the development of osteochondrosis in patients, the bone component of the vertebrae is affected first, then the cartilage and finally the connective tissue and the adjacent muscles.

If the signs of osteochondrosis appear in childhood or adolescence, adolescence, it is a dangerous situation, as it shows that the musculoskeletal system of man has begun to age without being fully formed and developed. Chest osteochondrosis in a child is rarely diagnosed. But open disease often indicates that there is some other dangerous disease.

The pathology is approximately equally common in both men and women. There are no age-specific priorities. But it is worth noting that women are more prone to the disease more often during the period of hormonal changes in the body - menopause.

If you start treatment for osteochondrosis of the chest in the early stages, then there is a much better chance that the therapy will give a positive result.

The extent of the disease and the characteristic symptoms

The development of osteochondrosis of the chest is gradual, several stages are different. For the proper organization of the healing process it is necessary to understand the mechanisms of its development and progression.

• The initial stage of degenerative-dystrophic processes occurring in the spine is characterized by a slight decrease in the size of the intervertebral discs. Minor cracks begin to appear on the surfaces of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral discs. The disc may be slightly outside the spine. At the same time, thoracic osteochondrosis of the first degree does not manifest itself as painful sensations, often one does not know about the initial dangerous disease. With the help of computed tomography, the protrusion of the discs is detected (their slight loss).
• If a person has grade 2 thoracic osteochondrosis, then painful manifestations in the back in the chest area begin to appear. This is explained by the fact that the nerve fibers are pinched. The musculo-ligament apparatus of the back, ie the muscular corset, provides optimal support of the spine in the correct anatomical shape. To prevent instability of the spine, it is extremely important to form symmetrically the muscular structures of the back. Otherwise, there is not only a violation of posture, curvature of the spine, but also excessive mobility of its individual elements. Due to the increased mobility of the vertebrae, the nerve fibers that leave the spine through the intervertebral space are compressed. How does osteochondrosis manifest itself in the second stage? Mandatory back pain occurs in the second stage of thoracic osteochondrosis. There are different characteristics: it can be pulling for a long time or short-term, in the form of seizures. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the nerve endings are compressed directly into the muscles, which are regularly in increased tone.
• The morphological signs of thoracic osteochondrosis of the third degree are strongly expressed, they affect all structural anatomical components of the spine. The patient has the following pathological picture: there are hernias and bulges of the intervertebral discs, muscles and ligaments become inflamed, tears appear on them, the vertebrae are displaced, signs of arthrosis of the spinal joints develop. The clinical picture of the disease of the spine in the third stage is very diverse. In addition to the fact that a person actually has pain in osteochondrosis of the chest, the patient loses the tactile reaction of the part of the body where the damaged nerve passes; he has disorders of the autonomic nervous system, which are accompanied by malfunctions of the respiratory and circulatory systems. It becomes difficult for him to breathe, he has heart pain, arrhythmia, shortness of breath. In addition, the patient develops osteoarthritis of several joints at once and begins pathological disorders in the functioning of the organs that are in the chest. Similar symptoms occur when the intervertebral fissure decreases by two-thirds of its height. Its size is estimated by chest X-ray, which is performed in two projections: straight and lateral.
• With the development of degenerative processes in the spine to osteochondrosis of the fourth degree, the intervertebral fissure narrows to a minimum distance, such dangerous conditions as spondylosis, spondyloarthritis (characterized by pathological changes in the intervertebral joints), spondylolisthesis or. The body mobilizes its compensatory capabilities to reduce the static and dynamic load on the spine, to prevent injuries to anatomical elements, due to which the vertebrae grow, flatten and grow with each other. The damaged area of the fibrous ring is replaced by a bone structure, osteophytes (bone growths) are formed due to spinal disc prolapse, the spinal cord narrows, the nerve endings are strongly compressed, the motor activity of the chest, the spine is significantly limited, the person is constantly in pain. in the chest area from the back.
• As a result of the progression of the disease, the patient has lumbago pain in the lower back (lumbago), the legs are completely or partially paralyzed, the person loses his ability to work, becomes disabled.

The different symptomatic manifestations of the disease depend on different causes, including a person's genetic predisposition. The same symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest in different patients fail in different ways. There is an objective explanation for this: various causes, conditions of occurrence and the general state of human health lead to osteochondrosis. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in men appear a little earlier than in women. The main reason for this phenomenon lies in the physiological structure of the female body: the hormone estrogen protects the intervertebral discs, therefore particularly favorable conditions for the disease occur during changes in the hormonal background (during pregnancy, menopause).

Many wonder if they were taken with osteochondrosis in the army. If the recruit has first-degree osteochondrosis, he will be drafted into the army. If a young man has severe symptoms of the disease, observed by a neurologist, then a delay is likely, in a neglected condition (if there is polysegmental osteochondrosis of the chest), they may not call at all.

Reasons for the appearance

Thoracic osteochondrosis at the beginning of its appearance is practically not manifested in anything. However, you need to know why it may occur. The following causes provoke pathology:

• Regular static or dynamic strain on the spine due to active strength training in professional athletes or people engaged in sports without the necessary load control.
• Traumatic damage to the bones, the articular elements of the spine often leads to the fact that they do not merge properly, they quickly collapse. Any injury to the spine is exacerbated by pathological changes in the functioning of the structures of the nervous and circulatory systems. The necessary supply of nutrients to the bones is often restored over a very long period of time.
• Poor posture, congenital or acquired curvature of the spine, which leads to an unbalanced effect on the intervertebral discs.
• Sudden weight lifting when the bulk of the load falls on the back of the chest. If a person constantly performs such movements, then the likelihood of developing osteochondrosis of the chest is high.

• Disorders of the endocrine system. In case the metabolic processes in the body are disturbed, all other organs and tissues do not receive the necessary nutrients, and their regeneration is also incorrect.
• Genetic prerequisites for possible pathological processes in the vertebrae, intervertebral discs. In this case, thoracic osteochondrosis occurs in absolutely any age group.
• Insufficient physical and physical activity of a person, sedentary work. The muscular framework of the back in this situation weakens, the nutrition of the tissues deteriorates, the flexibility of the spine decreases and the risk of developing thoracic osteochondrosis increases significantly.
• Underdevelopment of all tissues of the musculoskeletal system, which causes degenerative disorders of the spine. The reason is an unbalanced, excessive load on the spine.
• Various pathological changes in the intervertebral discs. They can become thinner or, conversely, grow, osteophytes can appear on them, which interfere with the functioning of the joints, as well as damage blood vessels and exert compression on nerve fibers. The development of intervertebral hernias often provokes the progression of osteochondrosis.
• Inflammatory processes in the spine or nearby muscles often cause signs of thoracic osteochondrosis in women and men.
• Impaired blood supply to the spinal cord due to the fact that the veins and arteries are narrowed or compressed.
• The consequences of infectious diseases are the development or exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
• Hypothermia, abuse of bad habits, nutritional imbalance.
• Separately distinguish psychosomatics, ie constant stress, nervous excitement can also cause osteochondrosis.

There are many reasons for the development of thoracic osteochondrosis, therefore, to prevent its development, you need to pay attention to prevention.

Common symptoms

The symptoms of breast osteochondrosis in women and men are similar. Usually, progressive disease during exacerbation is manifested by the following symptoms.

• Severe chest pain. They arise from a long stay in an awkward position during physical labor.
• Radicular syndrome as a result of compression of nerve endings.
• Intercostal neuralgia.
• The appearance of spasms in the muscles of the back.
• Altered condition of the heart muscle, in which the pain is not relieved by taking special drugs.

In addition, during an attack of thoracic osteochondrosis, the patient may experience atypical symptoms: tachycardia, dizziness, heartburn, high or low blood pressure. Body temperature, as a rule, does not change.

Diagnostic techniques

If the doctor assumes that the patient has osteochondrosis, then he will suggest that he undergo the following tests to diagnose the pathology.

• X-ray examination, which determines: the boundaries and sizes of the intervertebral discs, existing bone growths, changes in the shape of the vertebrae, etc.
• Contrast-enhanced radiography allows you to assess the degree of disc destruction when diagnosing osteochondrosis of the chest.

• CT or MRI shows layer by layer showing changed structures. These techniques are used in the most difficult situations.
• Electromyography differentiates neurological signs associated with chest disease.

The basic rules of treatment

The following key points are observed in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest:

1. At the initial signs of osteochondrosis, you can prevent its further development by adjusting your posture.
2. All, even minor, symptoms of the disease require conservative therapy.
3. In order to achieve a positive result from the treatment, long-term and systematic application of additional techniques to the drug therapy is necessary.
4. If the disease is neglected, then surgery is needed.

When deciding how to treat osteochondrosis of the chest, the doctor will take into account the stage of development of the disease, the individual characteristics of the patient, as well as possible side effects of the body.

Medication treatment

Conservative therapy involves the use of the following groups of drugs.

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers or glucocorticosteroids are prescribed to reduce the onset of pain and inflammation. They are available in various pharmacological forms (tablets, solutions for injections, ointments), therefore what exactly to treat the disease, the doctor will advise.
• Chondroprotectors are used to stimulate the recovery of cartilage tissue.
• Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms.
• To relieve the unbearable pain in the patient's back, it may be suggested to give injections for osteochondrosis - to perform a blockade with the help of anesthetic drugs.

As a combined treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, the possibilities of the following additional methods of treatment are widely used.

1. With the help of acupuncture you can quickly get the result - pain relief. The advantages of the technique include: high efficiency for a short time, rare occurrence of side effects on the body, a small list of contraindications, painless technique. Acupuncture is not practiced if a person is diagnosed with the presence of malignant neoplasms, has mental disorders, during the exacerbation of inflammation and pregnancy. The duration of treatment is chosen individually.
2. The possibilities of manual therapy improve the blood supply to the damaged areas of the body, the intensity of the pain decreases, the muscle spasm is eliminated, the connections are restored, the development of osteochondrosis is slowed down.
3. The treatment of osteochondrosis with the help of physiotherapy is practiced everywhere, because, using them, the drugs are injected into the affected area. Thus, for example, electrophoresis with NSAIDs, glucocorticosteroids, etc. is applied. In addition to electrophoresis, UHF, magnetic therapy, and vacuum are often prescribed. The main goal, which is achieved through physiotherapy techniques, is to improve blood circulation in the painful area.
4. A course of massage is often prescribed to relieve back muscle spasms. Classical massage is used during remission, and vibration massage - in the acute period. If the patient has an intervertebral hernia, then the use of massage techniques is not recommended.
5. Physical therapy is of great importance in treatment. The specific set of exercises in each case is chosen by the doctor individually.
6. During the treatment of osteochondrosis, diet is important. In the patient's diet it is mandatory to include protein in the required amount, chondroitin (for this you need to eat jelly, jelly meat, dishes with topping), vegetables, fruits. You can't overeat; exclude the use of fried and fatty foods.

How to treat osteochondrosis of the breast at home

Folk remedies can also be practiced, but before using any of them, you should consult your doctor. The following recipes are popular.

• To prepare a decoction of celery root, take 3-4 g of raw materials, grind, pour 1 liter of boiling water. After 8 hours, filter the infusion, drink up to three times a day with a dessert spoon.
• To prepare the broth, take 2-3 sunflower roots, cut them into pieces about 1 cm, pour three liters of boiling water and cook for another 3 minutes. The drug is used as a tea.
• At home you can prepare an ointment for rubbing sore spots. 150 g of lard is mixed with 2 tablespoons of wax, heated for 20 minutes in a water bath, then add 1 tablespoon of fir oil, continue to heat the same amount, then add 1 tbsp. . l. l. ammonia. Store the product in a glass container in a cool place.

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis at home is usually used in the mild period or as an adjunct to medication during exacerbations.

Chest osteochondrosis is a disease that must be taken seriously to avoid negative consequences. For its successful treatment you should carefully consider the advice of a doctor and follow them in a disciplined manner.