Thoracic spondylosis (OS) not only destroys the annulus fibrosus and bony elements but also weakens the muscle structures. This form of the condition is uncommon and has specific symptoms that can resemble angina or gastritis.
Therefore, it is important to differentiate the disease by excluding other causes of back discomfort. We will tell you how to recognize the symptoms of the disease and carry out effective therapy.
Signs of bone and cartilage degeneration in the chest
Osteonecrosis of the hip, unlike lumbar and cervical osteoarthritis, is rarely diagnosed. This is explained by the anatomy of the thoracic region: it has more components, they are smaller and thinner, and also have long processes. The mobility of this section of the ridge is significantly lower, and the lion's load will be borne by the sternum and ribs.
A lump in the throat with osteochondrosis of the GOP appears due to spasm of the muscles of the throat and neck.
The physiological curvature of the GOP, which is convex posteriorly, also plays an important role. In this case, the main pressure falls on the anterior area of the disc, leaving the distal part relatively quiet. This means that protrusions and hernias develop that appear outside the ridge without affecting the spinal cord.
Types of diseases
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis depend directly on the syndrome observed. There are two types: nerve and pain.
The first case is characterized by upper limb numbness, crawling, twitching, and stretch reflexes of the back muscles. In especially severe cases, difficulty breathing occurs, a feeling of choking in the throat, heartburn, and pressure in the epigastric region appear.
The pain syndrome can be severe and intense (back pain) or persistent and mild (back pain), and also manifests as intercostal neuralgia.
To describe the destructive effects of osteochondrosis, there are codes according to ICD-10. For children, it corresponds to the value M42. 0, for adults, code M42. 1 is used. If the diagnosis is not confirmed by MRI and X-ray results, the patient is given code M54 - back pain.
Dorsago
This term refers to sudden, sharp pain in the sternum. They can be so strong that they make breathing and movement difficult. Otherwise, they are called angina.
A dangerous symptom is pain in the left side. If the attack is not provoked by osteochondrosis of the chest, it may be a sign of heart disease. In this case, the person needs urgent medical attention, so it is helpful to know some of the special characteristics of chest pain.
Thus, with dorsago, the patient's health condition did not improve after taking the "heart" drug, and the electrocardiogram did not show any changes in rhythm. In addition, the feeling of discomfort increases sharply when coughing, bending the upper body to the sides and forward.
Such manifestations in the thoracic form of the disease must be distinguished from other pathologies with similar symptoms. A neurologist does this by conducting electrocardiograms, X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs of the spine. In especially difficult cases, a thoracic surgeon will participate in the diagnosis.
Back-ache
Back pain is called lumbago. The special feature of this syndrome is its duration and lack of clinical manifestations, while the main symptoms do not spread beyond the chest.
The disease develops gradually, tormenting the patient with uncomfortable feelings in the shoulder area at night. In the morning, the feeling of discomfort will disappear after short movements.
The pain increases with deep and frequent breathing, bending and turning. With back pain, spasms of the back muscles and impaired mobility of the cervical-thoracic or lumbo-thoracic segments are observed.
Factors favorable to the onset of the disease
Osteochondrosis of the chest never appears on its own. It is preceded by adverse circumstances, which can exist separately or simultaneously, reinforcing each other.
Stimulating factors:
- restricted diet, lack of micronutrients;
- passive lifestyle;
- Professional sports;
- back injury;
- Congenital abnormalities of bone structure;
- fat;
- Infectious and inflammatory diseases that can disrupt the diffuse nutrition of the vertebrae (ankylosing spondylitis, spinal tuberculosis);
- flat feet.
When diagnosing osteochondrosis in the elderly, doctors talk about the inevitable aging of the body. But if the disease develops in young patients, especially adolescents, this indicates an improper lifestyle and adherence to bad habits.
Thoracic adenopathy most often develops in office workers, schoolchildren and students, people who spend a lot of time in a sitting position with an arched back. This type of osteonecrosis in the chest is very dangerous for the heart muscle.
In women, risk factors for disease onset are pregnancy, wearing high heels and weak back muscles. Symptoms of the pathology increase markedly during menopause - due to decreased estrogen production. If hormone replacement therapy is started during this period, spinal damage may last for many years.
Main treatment method
Osteonecrosis is a degenerative disease that leads to deformation of intervertebral discs and biomechanical disorders of the entire skeleton. It cannot be cured, because simultaneously with the destruction, many neurological and vertebral disorders develop. Therefore, treatment of cartilage degeneration is symptomatic.
Treatment regimens for spinal dystrophy include several medications.
What drugs are used to combat pathology? First of all, these are NSAIDs in tablet and injection form.
Ointments and creams for hip osteoarthritis are not effective because the fibrous disc is hidden behind the thickness of the muscle and it is unlikely that the drug ingredients can penetrate that deeply.
If NSAIDs are contraindicated or do not have the desired effect, glucocorticosteroids are used, including as paravertebral blocks. To reduce pain and inflammation, ultrasound with analgesics, magnetic therapy and UHF are prescribed. Muscle spasms are reduced with muscle relaxants.
Non-drug treatment
The most effective method to combat osteonecrosis of the chest is massage. It helps relax tense muscles, relieve back discomfort and partially restore the biomechanics of the spine. You can perform this procedure yourself by purchasing a suitable massager for your home.
Traction (stretching) of the spine helps reduce the load on damaged discs. With this procedure, it is possible to relieve compressed nerve roots and significantly improve the patient's condition. It is noticed that patients feel relief after the first session.
At home, it is recommended to stretch the spine with specially selected exercises. Of course, traction works faster in case of osteoarthritis, but exercise therapy has a number of advantages: helps relax and strengthen the back muscles, reduces the load on the intervertebral discs, improves the general well-being of the patientmultiplies and elevates mood.
There are many interesting and effective complexes designed for the thoracic spine. Great exercises that don't require physical training and are accessible to everyone. You should start practicing with the simplest movements, gradually increasing the complexity of the exercise.
Recently, a basic complex containing universal movements that help restore the function of all body systems has become very popular. Gymnastics is well supplemented by swimming in the pool and hydromassage.
Measures to aggravate osteoarthritis
Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs as a chronic disease and the frequency of recurrence directly depends on the degree of disc damage and the patient's lifestyle.
During an exacerbation, in which nerve fibers are compressed, the patient requires complete rest and treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also recommended to take pain relievers, vitamin and mineral complexes with a high content of calcium and B vitamins.
For recurrent osteoarthritis, folk remedies are very effective. Non-traditional treatment includes a variety of ointments and rubs prepared on the basis of camphor alcohol, essential oils of fir, juniper and thuja.
Infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs will help to cope with relapses. Compresses made from fresh burdock and cabbage leaves, lotions with decoctions from linden flowers, birch buds or celery root give good anti-inflammatory results.
For acute back pain, traditional healers recommend applying a mustard patch to the affected vertebrae. It is difficult to say how effective and safe this method is, but for many people it really helps eliminate painful symptoms.
There are many good reviews about methods of dealing with this exacerbation, such as acupuncture. The procedure, performed by a highly qualified specialist, perfectly relieves pain, soothes and relaxes, and stimulates the body's defenses. Helps both in the early stages of the disease and in severe forms.
Consequences of GOP cartilage degeneration
If degenerative changes in the spine are not treated promptly, they will quickly progress and lead to serious disorders in the body. The most common complications of osteoarthritis are:
- dysfunction of the digestive tract;
- lung and bronchial diseases;
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- impaired blood circulation in the limbs.
The protrusion and herniation of the disc causes compression of nerve fibers, arteries and spinal cord.
Due to poor blood circulation, the patient may experience paralysis of the limbs and brain function may decline. Neurological manifestations are not uncommon: Brown-Séquard and Personage-Turner syndromes, Adamkiewicz reaction, anterior spinal artery infarction.
Osteochondrosis complications of GOP include VSD (vegetative-vascular dysplastic complex).
Why is this type of osteoarthritis dangerous?
The main danger of thoracic spinal dystrophy is misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment prescription. While the patient takes medicine to treat the heart or stomach, the destruction of the disc progresses, leading to protrusions and herniation.
The risk of this disease is also great in terms of the possibility of developing heart diseases - progressive degenerative arthritis of the heart often becomes the cause of arrhythmia, cardiovascular failure and myocardial infarction.
During acute dorsago, breathing problems may occur. Long-term airflow restriction leads to devastating bronchitis, asthma, and lung diseases. Hernia leads to impaired function of the stomach, pancreas, kidneys and liver.
Women with thoracic osteoarthritis face disorders of the reproductive system - they cannot conceive for many years without even suspecting that the cause of infertility lies in spinal dystrophy. Men also suffered from chest diseases - decreased potency, decreased muscle tone, loss of arm strength and possible postponement of military service.
Precautions
It is not difficult to avoid spinal problems. The main thing is to get used to daily physical activity. A little exercise early in the morning and a few moments of active rest during the workday will bring great benefits.
Swimming is good, if you are overweight then remember to lose weight but don't go overboard. The diet must be balanced and contain enough calories. Additionally, you can take chondroprotectors.
To prevent spinal diseases, you should find someone with expertise in massage, yoga or stretching.
Conclusion
Even if you have thoracic osteoarthritis, you can still live to the fullest, forgetting about this disease for many years. The main thing is to remember about regular physical activity. As soon as we reduce activity, the body begins to age rapidly and suffer from all kinds of diseases, including spinal dystrophy. Knowing this, it is not difficult to stop the pathology or slow down the destructive process that has begun.