Clinically, thoracic osteochondrosis (chondrosis) is manifested by sharp, piercing or dull pain, cracking and clicking when bending over, and stiffness.
The pathology is characterized by numerous specific symptoms: a feeling of shortness of breath when inhaling, discomfort in the cardiac region and even a sore throat.
The treatment of the pathology is predominantly conservative with pharmacological drugs.Physiotherapeutic procedures, massage sessions are also performed and the help of chiropractors is sought.
If such treatment is ineffective, the patient is shown surgical intervention.
Details about symptoms
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine never appear all at once.At the initial stage of development of this degenerative-dystrophic pathology, only slight discomfort in the back is observed.Patients consider them a banal overwork after a hard day's work and dismiss them as "stiff" muscles due to being in one position for a long time.
But the intensity of the discomfort increases slowly and steadily.Unpleasant sensations give way to severe pain, complicated by limited range of motion, dizziness and headaches.In medicine, all symptoms of osteochondrosis of this localization are divided into several groups.This helps to diagnose it faster and decide on treatment tactics.
Note!Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in men and women do not differ in character, severity or localization.But in the stronger sex they can occur a little later due to a stronger musculoskeletal system.Additionally, some men experience erectile dysfunction due to osteochondrosis.
Vertebral symptoms
Under the influence of unfavorable factors (hypothermia, increased physical activity), long-term remission of thoracic osteochondrosis can be interrupted by a sudden attack of acute pain.Even more often, it is triggered by prolonged stay in one body position, for example, sitting.If a person stands up suddenly, such acute pain occurs in the back that he loses the ability to move for several minutes.
In medicine, this condition is called dorsago.It differs from common pain in the symptoms that accompany it:
- feeling of lack of air when inhaling;
- pronounced stiffness.
The course of pathology is often complicated by backgia - pain in the thoracic spine, the intensity of which gradually increases.It is intensified by bending or turning the body to the sides.In order not to feel pain, a person takes a forced position.At the same time, you involuntarily strain your back muscles, involuntarily causing them to overstrain.Now they too are starting to hurt, especially when walking.
Extravertebral symptoms
As thoracic osteochondrosis develops, the intervertebral discs become thinned and destroyed.These cartilage pads can no longer distribute the resulting loads and prevent the vertebrae from colliding with each other.A compensatory response from the body is triggered: bone structures begin to deform with the formation of growths.They put pressure on sensitive nerve endings and infringe on the spinal canal.Therefore, specific symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis occur in women and men: loss of sensitivity in certain areas of the body, burning sensation and "goosebumps."
Important!Osteochondrosis of thoracic localization often manifests itself as a dry, unproductive cough, sore throat, a feeling of lumpiness, and urinary disorders.
But that's not all.The spinal roots are responsible not only for the innervation (transmission of nerve impulses) of the spine, but also for the internal organs.Therefore, when pinched, discomfort occurs in the liver, kidneys, digestive tract and myocardium.What signs of thoracic osteochondrosis that are not characteristic of back pathologies are:
- pain in the cardiac region, identical to a relapse of angina, difficulty breathing, feeling of “compression” of the heart;
- panic attacks, psycho-emotional instability, causeless fear, anxiety, sleep disorders;
- discomfort in the epigastric region, attacks of nausea, sometimes causing vomiting, sour belching, bloating, boiling and rumbling;
- alterations in peristalsis: constipation or diarrhea;
- long labored breaths with sobs.
The pain is not localized directly in the area of the destroyed intervertebral disc and (or) of the formed intervertebral hernia.They radiate along the nerve.Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region can disguise themselves as renal colic, symptoms of gastritis, gastric ulcer, hepatitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis and even gastroenteritis.
Compressive myelopathy
This is the name of the extravertebral syndrome, which rarely occurs in clinical practice.It is observed at stages 3-4 of the disease, when, due to the loss of stability of the spinal segment, the nucleus pulposus protrudes beyond the annulus fibrosus.An intervertebral hernia forms, putting constant pressure on the spinal cord.When visiting a vertebrologist or neurologist, patients complain of frequent pains in the waist that radiate to the groin area.At the same time, sensations of weakness and numbness appear in the lower extremities.
Against the background of spinal cord infringement, innervation is severely disturbed.In the absence of treatment, the functional activity of the organs located in the pelvis decreases.Compression myelopathy causes problems with bowel movements.And due to the pronounced narrowing of the diameter of the spinal canal, the sensitivity of the legs is greatly reduced.In severe cases, patients are diagnosed with paresis (partial or complete paralysis) of one or two lower extremities.
Remission symptoms
Apart from relapses, osteochondrosis of the chest almost does not bother a person.Occasionally, a dull, bothersome, annoying pain occurs in the back, which usually disappears after prolonged rest.But as soon as you even slightly increase the load on the spine, lift a heavy object or bend over, another relapse occurs.It can also be triggered by the following factors:
- stressful situations, depressive states;
- hypothermia, sudden changes in temperature;
- staying in one body position for a long time;
- alcohol abuse;
- Unbalanced diet, lack of foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, manganese, molybdenum in the diet.
Sometimes the remission stage ends due to a person's attempts to avoid another relapse.Visit a chiropractor or massage therapist with a dubious reputation or little practical experience.An attempt to stretch the spine leads to another exacerbation.
Basic treatment methods
Completely curing the pathology is not yet possible, so all the efforts of doctors are aimed at improving the patient's well-being.Patients are recommended to use orthopedic products (corsets, bandages), which fix the vertebral structures and prevent their displacement.Medicines of various clinical and pharmacological groups are prescribed, physiotherapeutic measures and exercise therapy are carried out.
The chiropractor's hand movements are aimed at increasing the spaces between the vertebrae, which decrease with thoracic osteochondrosis.
Important!In case of very severe thoracic osteochondrosis, conservative treatment is useless.Patients are immediately offered surgical intervention: excision of an intervertebral hernia, arthrodesis, installation of implants in place of the damaged disc and bone grafting.
Drug therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is aimed at eliminating all symptoms and inhibiting destructive and degenerative processes.During periods of exacerbation, solutions for parenteral administration are used, which show effects after 5 to 10 minutes.Then the result is ensured by a cycle of taking tablets, applying ointments and gels.In the remission stage, mainly external agents are used that have a milder effect on the body.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
This is the most used group of drugs in the complex treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis.Its active ingredients block the biosynthesis of mediators of pain, inflammation and fever from arachidonic acid.Even after a single use of NSAIDs, a person's well-being improves significantly:
- the intensity of the pain decreases;
- The unpleasant creak that occurs when turning the body and bending disappears;
- inflammatory processes in soft tissues weaken, swelling disappears;
- increases the range of motion in the thoracic region.
To stop relapses, solutions for intramuscular administration are used.Medications in capsules or tablets cope with moderate pain.And ointments and gels quickly eliminate minor discomfort.
Preparations with vitamin B.
Innervation disorders are well treated with drugs containing vitamin B. They improve the transmission of nerve impulses to the central and peripheral nervous systems and stimulate the restoration of damaged spinal roots.The composition of the products includes thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin.
In the first week of therapy, intramuscular injection of drugs is practiced, which, in addition to vitamins, contain lidocaine, which instantly eliminates pain.And then patients are recommended to take pills for a month.
Glucocorticosteroids
The use of these synthetic analogues of hormones produced by the adrenal glands is practiced when safer means are not effective.Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed to patients for sharp, stabbing pain in the back that radiates to internal organs.Medications can also be taken orally, but much more often they are administered parenterally, including to areas of damaged discs.
Glucocorticosteroids are characterized by a wide list of contraindications and possible side effects.Long-term treatment of chondrosis of the thoracic spine with hormones causes damage to the tissues of the liver, kidneys and stomach.Therefore, its use is prohibited in patients with cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, kidney failure and osteoporosis.
muscle relaxants
Back pain is often explained by increased tone of skeletal muscles.To relax it, muscle relaxants are used, first in the form of solutions for parenteral administration, and then in tablets.The medications relieve muscle spasms that cause compression of the spinal root.Which muscle relaxants are most effective:
- block polysynaptic reflexes;
- relax spasmodic muscles;
- reducing the release of prostaglandins.
The drugs are rarely used as monotherapy.Treatment of thoracic chondrosis is carried out with muscle relaxants in combination with glucocorticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Their significant drawback is that addiction develops quite quickly, so it is prohibited to use them for more than a week.
Chondroprotectors
Unlike drugs that eliminate the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, these drugs are also used for pathogenic therapy.This is the only group of drugs that can improve the production of chondrocytes necessary for the partial restoration of cartilaginous intervertebral discs.All therapeutic effects of chondroprotectors are due to the high content of glucosamine and (or) chondroitin.
But chondroprotectors are valued not only for their ability to restore discs.Its components shine in the area of the damaged spinal segment.After 2-3 weeks, the maximum therapeutic concentration of glucosamine and chondroitin is created.Now the drugs are beginning to show pronounced analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous activity.
Recommendation!It is advisable to treat osteochondrosis with chondroprotectors in the form of injectable solutions or tablets.Despite all the manufacturers' assurances about the effectiveness of ointments and creams, they could not provide evidence of their therapeutic effectiveness.
Non-pharmacological treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region with drugs should be combined with regular physical exercise.Exercise therapy is the most effective therapeutic method to avoid disability.Thanks to daily training, the muscular structure of the back and the ligamentous-tendinous apparatus of the thoracic region are strengthened and the production of synovial fluid that nourishes the vertebral structures is improved.The set of exercises is determined by the physiotherapist after studying the results of X-ray diagnostics. He is present in the first classes and monitors the dosage of loads.
Manual therapy for osteochondrosis is also practiced, aimed at increasing the spaces between the discs and vertebrae.Dry or underwater traction (extension) of the spine is performed, and at home, hanging from a bar.The effectiveness of manual therapy increases with simultaneous physical procedures:
- electrophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- magnetic therapy;
- ultraviolet irradiation;
- diadynamic currents.
Patients are shown 10 to 15 sessions of classic, vacuum, Scandinavian acupressure massage.Hirudotherapy, acupuncture and treatment in a sanatorium with radon and hydrogen sulfide baths are also useful.
Only with the help of an integrated approach to the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis it is possible to eliminate further damage to the discs and deformation of the vertebrae.Following the doctor's recommendations helps to get rid of all the symptoms of chronic pathology as soon as possible.