Clinically, thoracic osteochondrosis (chondrosis) is manifested by sharp pain, piercing or dull, painful, cracking and clicking when bending, stiffness.
For pathology, the many characteristic and specific symptoms are a feeling of lack of air during inspiration, discomfort in the heart region and even a sore throat.
The treatment of pathology is mainly conservative with pharmacological drugs. Physiotherapy procedures, massage sessions are also performed and chiropractors are used.
If such treatment is ineffective, the patient undergoes surgery.
Symptom Details
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 noted. Patients take them for banal fatigue after a hard day's work, clear the "numb" muscles due to a long stay in one body position.
But the intensity of the discomfort increases slowly, steadily. Unpleasant sensations are replaced by severe pain, complicated by limited range of motion, dizziness and headache. In medicine, all symptoms of osteochondrosis of a given localization are divided into several groups. This makes it possible to diagnose it more quickly and to determine treatment tactics.
On a note!Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in men and women do not differ in character, severity or location. But in the stronger sex, they can occur a little later due to the stronger musculoskeletal system. In addition, some men suffer from erectile dysfunction against the background of 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 provoked by a long stay in one position of the body, for example, while sitting. If a person stands up suddenly, the pain in the back is so severe that they lose the ability to move for several minutes.
In medicine, this condition is called dorsago. It differs from ordinary pain by concomitant symptoms:
- a feeling of lack of air when inhaling;
- severe stiffness.
The course of the pathology is often complicated by back pain - pain in the thoracic spine, the intensity of which gradually increases. It increases with flexion, turning the body to the sides. In order not to feel pain, a person takes a forced position. At the same time, it involuntarily strains the muscles of the back, involuntarily causing their overwork. Now they are also starting to hurt, especially when walking.
Extravertebral symptoms
As thoracic osteochondrosis develops, the intervertebral discs become thinner and destroyed. These cartilaginous pads can no longer distribute the loads generated, exclude the impact of the vertebrae against each other. A compensatory response of the body is triggered - bone structures begin to deform with the formation of growths. They press on sensitive nerve endings, encroach on the spinal canal. Therefore, there are specific symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in women and men: loss of sensitivity in certain parts of the body, a burning sensation and creeping "goosebumps".
Important! Osteochondrosis of the thoracic localization is often manifested by a dry, unproductive cough, sore throat, a feeling of coma, as well as urinary disorders.
But that's not all. The spinal roots are responsible not only for innervation (transmission of nerve impulses) of the spine, but also of internal organs. Therefore, when violated, there are uncomfortable sensations in the liver, kidneys, digestive tract, myocardium. What are the uncharacteristic signs of back pathologies manifested by thoracic osteochondrosis:
- pain in the heart region, same as recurrence of angina pectoris, shortness of breath, feeling of "squeezing" of the heart;
- panic attacks, psychoemotional instability, unreasonable fear, anxiety, sleep disturbances;
- discomfort in the epigastric region, bouts of nausea, sometimes leading to vomiting, acid belching, bloating, bubbling and rumbling;
- peristalsis disorders - constipation or diarrhea;
- long, labored breaths with sobs.
The pains are not localized directly to the site of the destroyed intervertebral disc and (or) the intervertebral hernia formed. They radiate along the nerve. Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region can be disguised as renal colic, symptoms of gastritis, gastric ulcers, hepatitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis and even gastroenteritis.
Compressive myelopathy
It is the name of extravertebral syndrome, which is rarely seen in clinical practice. It is observed in 3-4 stages of the disease, when, due to the loss of stability of the vertebral segment, the nucleus pulposus protrudes beyond the fibrous ring. An intervertebral hernia is formed, which constantly presses on the spinal cord. During an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist, patients complain of frequent girdle pain radiating to the groin area. At the same time, there are feelings of weakness, numbness of the lower extremities.
Against the background of damage to the spinal cord, innervation is severely disturbed. In the absence of treatment, the functional activity of the organs located in the small pelvis decreases. Compression myelopathy causes problems with the stool. And due to the pronounced narrowing of the diameter of the spinal canal, the sensitivity of the legs decreases. In severe cases, patients are diagnosed with paresis (partial or complete paralysis) of one or both lower limbs.
Symptoms of remission
Apart from relapses, osteochondrosis of the chest almost does not bother a person. Sometimes there is a pulling, aching, dull back pain, which usually goes away after a long rest. But it is worth at least slightly increasing the load on the spine, lifting a heavy object or bending over, as the next relapse follows. It can be triggered by such factors:
- stressful situations, depressive states;
- hypothermia, sudden changes in temperature;
- prolonged stay in one body position;
- alcohol abuse;
- unbalanced diet, lack of foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, manganese, molybdenum in the diet.
Sometimes the remission phase ends because a person is trying to avoid another relapse. He sees a chiropractor or massage therapist with questionable reputation or little practical experience. An attempt to stretch the spine leads to another exacerbation.
The main methods of treatment
It is not yet possible to completely cure the pathology, therefore all efforts of doctors are aimed at improving the well-being of the patient. Patients are recommended to wear orthopedic products (corsets, bandages), which fix the vertebral structures, prevent their displacement. Drugs of various clinical and pharmacological groups are prescribed, physiotherapeutic measures and physiotherapy exercises are carried out.
The movements of the hands of the chiropractor aim to increase the gaps between the vertebrae, which decreases the thoracic osteochondrosis.
Important!With high severity thoracic osteochondrosis, conservative treatment is unnecessary. Patients are immediately offered surgery - excision of an intervertebral hernia, arthrodesis, placement of implants in place of a damaged disc, bone grafting.
Drug therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is aimed at eliminating all symptoms, inhibiting destructive and degenerative processes. During periods of exacerbation, solutions for parenteral administration are used, which show effects after 5-10 minutes. Then the result is consolidated by following a course of tablet preparations, applying ointments and gels. At the stage of remission, mainly external agents are used, which have a milder effect on the body.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
It is the group of drugs most commonly used in the complex treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. Their active ingredients block the biosynthesis of pain, inflammation and fever mediators from arachidonic acids. Even after just one use of NSAIDs, a person's well-being improves dramatically:
- the severity of the pain syndrome decreases;
- the unpleasant crunch that occurs when the body turns and tilts disappears;
- inflammatory processes in soft tissues weaken, edema disappears;
- range of motion in the thoracic region increases.
To stop relapses, intramuscular solutions are used. Preparations in capsules or tablets may cope with moderate pain. And ointments and gels quickly eliminate mild discomfort.
Preparations with B vitamins
Preparations based on vitamins of group B are well resistant to innervation disorders. They improve the transmission of nerve impulses to the central and peripheral nervous systems, stimulate the restoration of damaged vertebral roots. The composition of funds is represented by thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin.
During the first week of treatment, the intramuscular administration of drugs is carried out which, in addition to vitamins, contain lidocaine, which instantly eliminates pain. And then, for a month, we show patients taking pills.
Glucocorticoids
The use of these synthetic hormone analogues, which are produced by the adrenal glands, is practiced when safer means are ineffective. Glucocorticoids are prescribed to patients with sharp, piercing back pain, radiating to internal organs. Medicines can be taken orally, but much more often they are given parenterally, including to areas of destroyed discs.
Glucocorticoids have a wide range of contraindications and potential side effects. Long-term treatment of chondrosis of the thoracic spine with hormones leads to damage to the tissues of the liver, kidneys and stomach. Their use is therefore prohibited in patients with cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, renal failure and osteoporosis.
Muscle relaxants
Back pain is often attributed to an increase in skeletal muscle tone. To relax it, muscle relaxants are used - first in the form of solutions for parenteral administration, then in the form of tablets. The drugs relieve muscle spasms that cause compression of the spinal root. Which muscle relaxants are most effective:
- blocking of polysynaptic reflexes;
- relaxation of spasmodic muscles;
- reduce the release of prostaglandins.
Drugs are rarely used as monotherapy. Treatment of thoracic chondrosis is carried out with muscle relaxants in combination with glucocorticoids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Their significant drawback is the fairly rapid formation of addiction, so it is forbidden 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. It is the only group of drugs that can increase the production of chondrocytes, which are necessary for the partial restoration of the intervertebral cartilaginous discs. All the therapeutic effects of chondroprotectors are due to the high content of glucosamine and / or chondroitin.
But not just for the ability to restore disks, chondroprotectors are popular. Their components shine in the area of the damaged vertebral segment. After 2-3 weeks, the maximum therapeutic concentration of glucosamine and chondroitin is created. Now the drugs are starting 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 assurances from manufacturers about the effectiveness of ointments and creams, they could not provide an evidence base for their therapeutic effectiveness.
Non-drug therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region with pharmacological drugs should necessarily be combined with regular physical education. Exercise therapy is the most effective therapy method for preventing disability. Through daily training, the muscular framework of the back and the ligamentous tendon apparatus of the thoracic region are strengthened, the production of synovial fluid which supplies the vertebral structures is improved. The set of exercises is determined by the exercise therapy doctor after studying the results of X-ray diagnostics. He is present at the first classes, monitors the dosage of loads.
Manual therapy for osteochondrosis is also performed, aimed at increasing the gaps between the discs and vertebrae. A dry or underwater traction (traction) of the spine is performed, and at home - hanging on the bar. The effectiveness of manual therapy increases with the simultaneous performance of physiotherapy:
- electrophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- magnetotherapy;
- ultraviolet radiation;
- diadynamic currents.
Patients receive 10 to 15 classical, vacuum, Scandinavian acupressure sessions. Hirudotherapy, acupuncture, spa treatments with radon and hydrogen sulfide baths are also helpful.
Only with the help of an integrated approach to the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, it is possible to exclude further damage to the discs and deformation of the vertebrae. Compliance with the recommendations of the doctor helps to get rid of all the symptoms of chronic pathology as quickly as possible.