The human spine is literally its mainstay. It is designed to withstand high loads. In case of other negative effects on the body, chest osteochondrosis develops.
Osteochondrosis is a disease in which the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity, elasticity, and strength, that is, their dystrophic and degenerative changes. The basis is a violation of metabolic processes in the tissues of the plates. In addition, the structure of the vertebrae themselves changes.
The right to use the term "osteochondrosis of the spine" is currently disputed, and all back pain is described for this problem.
In the international classification of diseases, the 10th revision of the nosological unit "osteochondrosis" is not, but the term still exists among physicians.
Degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the thoracic spine are less common and may mimic the symptoms of somatic diseases.
If pain occurs in the left side of the chest, even if exacerbated by inspiration, associated with movement, electrocardiography is mandatory to rule out acute coronary syndrome.
What is the disease
Chest osteochondrosis is the rarest form of unnatural changes in the spine. The situation is that, unlike the lumbar and cervical regions, the thoracic region of the spine is supported and strengthened by the ribs.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is less common than other forms of this condition because the thoracic spine is reinforced by ribs.
The symptoms are often similar to those of heart disease as well as pleural diseases.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of X-rays, CT, MRI. Treatment is chosen to relieve symptoms and prevent further deterioration of the cartilage in the spine.
Even a significant load in this area causes minimal damage to the vertebrae. However, the main danger to the vertebrae in this area is a prolonged sitting condition.
Such osteochondrosis causes changes in the vertebrae and nearby organs themselves. The onset of the disease is usually mild without sharp pain. However, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is extremely difficult to identify as it personifies other diseases.
This pathology is often confused with:
- angina pectoris;
- diseasesGastrointestinal tract(gastritis, ulcers, colitis);
- diseaseshearts;
- inflammationappendix;
- kidney-colic.
A comprehensive examination will soon reveal that the symptoms of other diseases are not confirmed, while there are clear signs of one degree of osteochondrosis.
Prevalence of the disease
The risk group includes employees engaged in any activity. Chest osteochondrosis (GO) is most common in people over 55, but the first signs of the disease are seen in young people. In the sample interviewed by physicians, 38% were male and 62% were female.
The initial stage of HO occurs in 71% of respondents. Osteochondrosis is the most common cause of disability in the working population. There are 33-165 cases per 100 employees per year. Those. in many cases, a person has multiple relapses within a year, and sick leave is required each time.
degrees
The development of thoracic osteochondrosis goes through several stages:
- Drying of the tissuesplates,as a result of which they lose their flexibility and elasticity. At this stage, the discs gradually flatten and modify, still able to withstand the load, but the person is already feeling uncomfortable.
- Crack dried outfibrousplate rings. When the position of the body changes, pronounced pain is felt.
- Gapthe outer shell of the disc, the nucleus pulposus, comes out, forming a hernia that affects the nerve roots protruding from the spine, in which situation sharp pain occurs.
- Convergenceadjacent vertebrae, their displacement, flattening, and growth.
Osteochondrosis is divided into several stages:
- Disease1 degreewere diagnosed with an intervertebral disc rupture when there was a sharp, electric shock-like pain in the sternum while the muscles were extremely tense.
- Grade 2the disc is characterized by the appearance of a protrusion when part of it begins to press on the nerve roots, but the nucleus pulposus is still intact and does not come out. This degree of osteochondrosis occurs in a constant alternation of exacerbations and remissions.
- At3 degreesthe pains are constant as the nerve endings are subjected to incessant irritation. At this stage, numbness of the limbs, severe headache, arrhythmia, insomnia, and increased nervousness due to general poor health occur.
- At4 degreesirreversible transformations are observed in the vertebrae, after their convergence and modification the spine loses its motility at this site.
Depending on the extent and stage of the disease, the symptoms and other factors, the appropriate treatment method is chosen.
Cause
Osteochondrosis occurs for a number of reasons, but the most common are:
- Excessiveweightbody. The spine cannot constantly withstand too much weight.
- Badnutrition.Due to the low intake of foods containing calcium and the simultaneous consumption of food, which causes it to be washed out of the body, bone tissue is destroyed. The vertebrae gradually wear out. In addition, if the diet lacks adequate amounts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, the intervertebral discs, which lack these important micronutrients, suffer.
- Smoking.Smoking disrupts the metabolic processes in the body and this has a significant effect on the condition of the cartilage discs.
- Infringementposture.Systematic violation of the normal position of the spine leads to scoliosis, which in turn leads to osteochondrosis.
- SittingLifestyle. Lack of sedentary work and physical activity leads to the fact that the muscles of the body lose their tone. They relax and cannot fully support the spine, causing it to bend.
- Increased physicalLoading.They are most common with professional athletes, but in everyday circumstances there are such situations. If they have a strong effect on the spine, it is possible to change the position of the vertebrae, protrusion and hernia.
- Genetictendency. Quite often, similar pathological disorders are found in the vertebrae and discs of close relatives.
- Diseasechanges. Over the years, the body stops synthesizing glycosaminoglycans and other important compounds that give flexibility to the intervertebral discs. Bone tissue becomes porous and brittle, which means that the vertebrae are prone to deformation.
- Injuryback. Even a slight injury to the spine does not go away without a trace and causes the vertebrae to transform.
In addition, hormonal disorders of the body, hypothermia, and infectious diseases can give impetus to the development of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms
Because chest osteochondrosis is symptomatically similar to many other diseases, it is quite difficult to distinguish its signs. However, doctors agree that the obvious symptoms of osteochondrosis can be considered:
- pain betweenribs;
- pain in the toplimbs,accompanied by a feeling of tingling and numbness;
- pain in the deepbreathing;
- pain while tryingto raisehand;
- inability to commit by the body of the bodyslopein one direction or another;
- crampsin the muscles;
- palenessskin due to malfunction of nerve endings;
- sensationlumbagoin the back.
Pain attacks intensify at night, with a decrease in body temperature when the body is turned over.
Because pain can radiate to the front of the sternum, it is often confused with pain in the heart.
| vertebra no. | What parts of the body do you relate to? | What reasons |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Trachea, esophagus | Cough, asthma, arrhythmia |
| D2 | Palms, wrists, hands | Pain in the chest, palms and arms |
| D3 | Chest, pleura, lungs, bronchi | Pneumonia, pleurisy, asthma, bronchitis |
| D4 | Bile duct and bladder | Jaundice, gallstones |
| D5 | Napfonat | Jaundice, poor blood clotting |
| D6 | Liver | Ulcers, gastritis, indigestion, liver problems |
| D7 | 12 duodenum, pancreas | Stools, indigestion, ulcers and diabetes |
| D8 | Membrane, spleen | Weakened immune system, allergies |
| D9 | Adrenal | Weakness, tiredness, kidney problems |
| D10 | Kidney | Infertility, digestive problems, diseases of the female genitals |
| D11 | Ureterek | Kidney disease, urinary tract problems |
| D12 | Ovaries, inguinal rings, colon and small intestine | Infertility, genital diseases, stool and digestive problems |
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, 2 common syndromes are observed - dorsago and dorsalgia.
Dorsago is a syndrome accompanied by severe, sharp, and sudden pain in the sternum. Normal inhalation, exhalation, and attempts to turn the body in one direction or another are accompanied by painful feelings. This syndrome often occurs in people who have to spend a long time in a position leaning forward.
Dorsalgia - unlike dorsal, develops unnoticed for about a month. It is characterized by throbbing pain and chest discomfort. The pain intensifies in the dark, with deep breathing and an uncomfortable posture.
| Where does it hurt? | How it manifests |
|---|---|
| Breast | Narrowing of the back and chest, difficulty breathing, pain on breathing and bending, sometimes in the heart and left sternum |
| Neck | Hands numb, hoarse voice, difficulty breathing, headache, dizziness, impaired vision and hearing |
| Small from behind | Cold leg syndrome, cramps in the lower extremities, increased sweating, abnormalities of the urogenital system, low back pain - acute or acute |
Specific and rare symptoms of breast osteochondrosis:
- sensationknotthroat pain in the larynx and esophagus, occurs when the disease affects the upper chest;
- symptomspancreatitis,cholecystitis occurs when the central region of the chest is affected;
- pathologyintestinesable to simulate the defeat of the lower chest region;
- intercostalneuralgia,The pain resulting from injury to the roots of the intercostal nerve in this case is shingles. It is easy to confuse neuralgia with many diseases of the internal organs;
- lungs-syndrome - symptoms of hypoxia and congestion.
During the course of the disease, several and almost all symptoms can be observed at the same time, which vary depending on the stage of osteochondrosis of the chest.
| Factor | Osteochondrosis | Myocardial infarction | Angina pectoris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intensity | Less frequent severe, more often mild pain | From strong to unbearable | Weak |
| Period | Long: a day or more | Several hours or days | 1-15 minutes |
| Location | Left sternum, back, area between shoulder blades | Neck behind the sternum | Neck behind the sternum |
Diagnostics
The main methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis of the chest are:
- X-ray.The images obtained with his help usually show the following signs: an altered shape of the vertebral body; presence of bone outgrowths; reduced height of intervertebral discs; uneven contours of plates; thinning of the spinal canal; degenerative processes in the structure of the spine.
- Computertomography. In difficult cases, it is necessary to obtain a full-fledged 3D model of the spine.
- Neurophysiologicalinvestigation. Tendon reflexes as well as muscle nerve conduction are assessed (electroneuromyography).
- Studybloodto determine the level of calcium in it.
Because diagnosing osteochondrosis of the chest is quite difficult, you need to know its primary symptoms in order to see a doctor in time.
First aid in case of aggravation
If it becomes necessary to get rid of the attack in the short term, experts recommend following a number of recommendations.
First, the area where the pain syndrome manifests should be heated. For this it is better to use special medical ointments. Doctors definitely do not recommend the use of herbal decoctions as there is a possibility of severe burns. A wool scarf or shawl is best for a warming compress.
You should then take a posture that does not trigger discomfort. It is recommended to lie on a hard surface such as a floor.
A tight bandage should be placed on the chest during exacerbation.
Taking a painkiller will help stop or reduce the severity of your seizure.
If the condition does not improve after 60 minutes, an ambulance should be called. When the doctor arrives, you should be informed about the use of painkillers.
Treatment
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis consists of the following procedures:
- Anti-inflammatorynon-steroidal medications - help suppress inflammation and relieve pain. If necessary, hormone preparations are added.
- Muscle relaxants- relax tense muscles.
- Sedativesmedications - to reduce anxiety and irritability caused by persistent pain.
- Diureticmedications to relieve swelling.
- Medicinesto stimulate blood circulation.
- Chondroprotectors.Medications prescribed to accelerate the regeneration of cartilage tissue - not enough evidence, the effect is individual.
- Acupuncture.Acupuncture professionals are able to relieve pain in osteochondrosis by affecting certain areas of the body.
- Physiotherapy.
- Manualtherapy. An experienced chiropractor can improve blood circulation, relieve muscle cramps and stop the development of osteochondrosis.
- Massage.This method of treatment is permissible in the absence of a disc herniation.
- Ultrasoundtherapy.
- Electromagnetictherapy.
- Mud therapy.
- Stretching.Thanks to this method, the muscles and spine are stretched to 1. 5 mm. This, in turn, leads to decompression of the nerve endings, while the inflammatory process ceases, the pain ceases, and local blood circulation increases.
Surgery is rarely needed if standard treatment does not work or if a disc herniation has developed.
The diet should include foods that are natural chondroprotectors - jelly meat, jellies, puddings, strong broths cooked from lamb and beef.
Every doctor says that swimming is essential to maintaining the health of your spine. This type of activity allows the load to be evenly distributed throughout the body, helps align the spine, strengthens the back muscles and generally improves the health of the body. However, it is worth remembering that in the presence of a hernia, such a healing method is ruled out as long as exacerbation occurs.
Physiotherapy
If grade 1 chest osteochondrosis is diagnosed, regular exercise will allow you to cope with the problem without having to take medication. In addition, to achieve a positive result, it is recommended to exercise for at least 4 months.
The following exercises are recommended daily to treat the disease:
- tilt the body forward while alternately bending the lower limbs;
- perform side bends by alternately raising your hands;
- lift the upper and lower limbs simultaneously in a prone position;
- tilt your body forward, reaching for the foot on the opposite side with your hand.
Each exercise is repeated 10 times. 3 approaches allowed.
Experts give additional exercises:
- Take a standing position. Raise your arms as you inhale and lower them as you exhale.
- Sit in a chair with a backrest. Inhale and pull your shoulders back so that the shoulder blades are as close together as possible. Slightly bend the lower back.
- Stand on all fours. Lift your right leg and left arm off the floor, straighten it, and remove it. You must remain in this position for 15 seconds. Then take the starting position and do the same on the opposite limbs.
- Perform the "cat" exercise. To do this, standing on all fours, you must take a position, lean on your lower back, and lean up.
Each should be done 15-20 times. If you experience painful feelings during any exercise, you better not do it.
Once the muscle band is strengthened, the expert recommends that you switch to more complex exercises.
It should be recalled that during the period of disease exacerbation, the load should be kept to a minimum, but should not leave the hours completely.
Consequences and complications
Complications associated with the occurrence of thoracic osteochondrosis are not uncommon, as the disease is latent and asymptomatic at first and can be recognized when it is significantly advanced. The following complications are distinguished:
- stenosisspinal canal;
- overgrowthbone tissue of the vertebrae;
- spondyloarthrosis(thoracoarthrosis, dorsarthrosis);
- inflammationnerve roots of the spinal column;
- vegetative-vasculardystonia.
The nature and severity of the complications depend on the timeliness and correctness of the treatment. However, at a younger age, the consequences can be avoided more often.
Prevention methods
As such, there is no specific prevention for osteochondrosis, and general care of the spine is required to avoid possible lesions. Therefore, you must follow the following rules:
- Not to letinjuryspine. Athletes should carefully calibrate the load and use sports belts and corsets to support the spine. People whose work involves physical activity need to strengthen their back muscles to support the spine.
- Perform a complex specialgymnasticexercise. Spinal circulation should be normalized so that intervertebral discs do not suffer from a lack of the necessary trace elements. You should get up at least every hour during sitting and do a little warm-up.
- In case of the slightest signs of spinal diseases (tingling, numbness, lumbago)consultationto a neurologist.
It is necessary to take care of the health of the spine, to observe moderate physical activity, to avoid bad habits, to eat a balanced diet, to drink more fluids. All of this helps prevent changes in the vertebrae and the discs between them and keeps the spine in working order for a long time.
Answers to frequently asked questions
Which doctor is treating you?
For the first symptoms of the pathology, you should contact a vertebrologist or neurologist. Prescribing a complex treatment requires a consultation with a traumatologist (if the cause of the disease is bruising, trauma, fractures), an osteopath (who determines the area of the spinal cord injury), and a rheumatologist (inflammation). the connective tissue).
How long does the exacerbation last?
The duration of the acute phase can be 3-14 days. In the absence of therapeutic measures, relapses continue to recur, causing gradual damage to new areas.
What position should you sleep in?
Experts recommend taking a side position in the embryo position. You can also sleep on your back, but in this case, your internal organs can put pressure on your chest. Sleeping on your stomach can cause pain in your neck.