Chest osteochondrosis is a disease of the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. The disease is quite rare. The symptoms of chest osteochondrosis are similar to other diseases and are difficult to diagnose. This is why it is called "chameleon disease. "
How does osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine develop?
Chest osteochondrosis is caused by a violation of metabolic processes and an increased load on the intervertebral discs. The intervertebral disc consists of the annulus fibrosus, which serves as a hard shell for the semi-liquid nucleus pulposus.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine disrupts the normal structure of the intervertebral disc. In case of illness, the core dries out and loses its shock-absorbing properties, the fibrous ring becomes thinner and cracked. As a result, the roots of the spinal nerves are damaged and inflamed, causing pain. The disease destroys the intervertebral plates, joints and ligaments of the spine.
The general principle is always the same, but the factors that cause increased use of intervertebral discs may be different. These include:
- prolonged vibration effects on the spine (for example, in drivers who drive frequently);
- physical stress;
- physical inactivity, also known as sedentary lifestyle;
- smoking;
- overweight, obesity;
- individual anomalies in the structure of the spine;
- congenital manifestation of spinal canal stenosis;
- somatic or spondylogenic muscle pain;
- asymmetry of joint spaces in intervertebral joints;
- psychosocial factors.
Classification of types of thoracic osteochondrosis
There are several types of osteochondrosischest spine - symptoms and treatmentthey can change dramatically.
Classification is based on the nerve endings affected by damaged structures in the spine. It is common to distinguish the following pathologies:
- Reflex. Reflex is based on muscle tension as well as vascular or dystrophic disorders.
- Myoadaptive. Also known as "overload".
- Compression. It is usually caused by deformation, tension, or compression of a part of the spinal cord, nerve root, or blood vessel, with undesirable consequences.
Symptoms of chest osteochondrosis
Chest osteochondrosis is less pronounced than other types of osteochondrosis. There are the following signs of osteochondrosis of the chest:
- chest pain that worsens at night, prolonged staying in one position, chilling, turning, leaning to the side, strenuous physical exertion;
- pain between the shoulder blades when raising the right or left arm, bending;
- increased pain with deep inhalation and exhalation;
- pain while walking between the ribs;
- it felt as if the chest and back were clenched in a hoop.
The pain can last for several weeks as the disease gets worse.
Other symptoms of chest osteochondrosis include:
- numbness of certain areas of the skin, a feeling of "goosebumps";
- itching, burning sensation, feeling cold in the legs;
- exfoliation of the skin, brittle nails;
- pain in the throat and esophagus;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by two symptoms - dorsago and dorsalgia.
Dorsago and dorsalgia - a manifestation of the disease
Dorsago has sharp, sharp chest pain, "chest lumbago. "It usually occurs after working monotonously in the same position. It is difficult to breathe during the onset of such pain. The pain is exacerbated by rotating the upper body.
Dorsalgia - mild pain in the affected intervertebral discs, starting gradually and lasting 2-3 weeks. The pain is aggravated by deep breathing and bending. The patient may choke. The pain worsens at night and disappears after a short walk.
Causes of chest osteochondrosis
Chest osteochondrosis is most common in people who:
- work on a computer;
- they are constantly driving;
- received spinal injuries;
- weak back muscles;
- suffers from scoliosis and other postural disorders.
Chest 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 agile and best protected due to the ribs and muscular corset. There are more cartilage discs in the chest region than in the neck and lumbar region combined.
What is dangerous chest osteochondrosis
In the absence of timely treatment, chest osteochondrosis can cause the following conditions:
- protrusion and injury of the thoracic spine;
- spinal cord compression;
- heart, bowel, liver, kidney and pancreas problems;
- disorders of the duodenum, bowel movements, gallbladder dyskinesia;
- intercostal neuralgia - compression or irritation of the intercostal nerves.
Consequences of this pathology include diseases of the stomach, esophagus, gallbladder, and lungs. However, the heart is still at the highest risk for this disease, so if you have already had certain problems with it, we strongly recommend that you contact the clinic immediately and have it done as soon as possible. chest spine treatment.
What can be confused with chest osteochondrosis
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are varied and can easily be confused with the following diseases:
- angina, heart attack. Difference: chest pain does not go away after taking heart medicine, the patient's cardiogram is normal;
- appendicitis, cholecystitis, renal colic;
- gastritis, ulcer, colitis;
- other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (including diverticulitis, chronic inflammation of the pancreas, or irritable bowel syndrome);
- neoplastic processes;
- inflammatory processes;
- diseases of the urogenital system (pyelonephritis or urolithiasis);
- pathology of the mammary glands;
- pneumonia. Pneumonia is distinguished from osteochondrosis by cough, shortness of breath and fever.
It is impossible to make a correct diagnosis on its own. Only a specialist can determine osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
Methods of diagnosing osteochondrosis of the chest
Specialists in the professional clinic distinguish chest 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
- Body bioimpedance analysis as part of the "smart weight loss" program
- Laboratory research
AtTreatment of spinal osteochondrosiscan be supplemented with foot or back massage. In addition, conservative maintenance drug therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics is periodically prescribed. In some cases, the patient may be prescribed novocaine for paravertebral blockade. Each case is unique, so the approach to each patient must be specific for the therapy to be effective and the problem not to be felt in the future.
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis in a special clinic provides a versatile therapeutic effect:
- improves blood circulation and nutrition of intervertebral discs;
- stops the destruction of disks, restores their structure;
- relieves inflammation of the nerve roots;
- relaxes tense muscles in the back and chest;
- restores the biomechanics of the spine;
- prevents the development of complications in the form of protrusions and hernias;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- strengthens back muscles, shoulder girdle, respiratory muscles;
- correct posture;
- stimulates the immune system.
After completing the course, your doctor will give you a manual that includes exercises that you need to do on your own. Your doctor will advise you on how to adjust your lifestyle so that your chest pain no longer bothers you.
Prevention
To prevent the disease, we recommend:
- lie down for 40-50 minutes during the day - this relieves the load on the spine;
- if you work a lot on the computer, change your position, get up from the chair every 2 hours, do a few tiltings in different directions, stretch, straighten your shoulders;
- take part in water sports: swimming, diving, water aerobics;
- do not overcool, keep your back warm;
- do the following exercise regularly: lying on your stomach, place your hands on the floor and lean back. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 8-10 times.
Keeping your weight at an appropriate level and giving up bad habits (including smoking) is highly recommended.
Nutrition for chest osteochondrosis
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, it is recommended to eat in small portions 5-6 times a day. Follow the following nutritional principles:
- use jelly, jelly, jelly fish, jelly more often. They contain chondroprotectors that are 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 white cabbage, peppers, broccoli, celery;
- cooked and steamed food, gray, rye bread;
- Osteochondrosis requires calcium. Contains dairy products, almonds, nettles, watercress, rosehips;
- include sunflower seeds, nuts, avocado, raw spinach, bean pods in your diet - they are rich in magnesium;
- cook foods made from lobster, oysters, crab, mushrooms, cereals - they contain vitamin B;
- season the salads with olive oil;
- consumption of whole wheat, millet, corn, buckwheat, barley is recommended;
- restrict the use of grapes and vegetables and concentrated broths from the legume family;
- eat less salty, smoked foods, flour products, sugar, spicy spices.