Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is much less common compared to a similar pathology that affects the adjacent segments. This is due to the chest strengthening effect: a strong and flexible frame made of ribs supports the intervertebral joints well. Even if osteochondrosis develops in this segment, it rarely reaches the late stages. The ribs partially relieve the load on the cartilaginous discs, preventing them from collapsing under prolonged and intense stress.

Osteochondrosis of the chest often develops in men; naturally, they have to do more difficult and damaging work. But if a woman is in similar working conditions, then her risk of osteochondrosis increases dramatically. Women's ligaments and muscles are naturally more flexible and stretchable, protecting the weaker sex from degenerative damage to the chest.

In men, on the contrary, already in adulthood, there is an "ossification" of all mobile joints; First of all, such changes are observed in the intercostal joints. Therefore, the clinical picture develops gradually, as it is associated with slow damage to the joints between the ribs and vertebrae. The earlier a person determines the first symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, the more effective and shorter the subsequent treatment will be.

Symptoms

Thoracic osteochondrosis rarely occurs even without small manifestations, but in the early stages, patients usually simply do not notice the signs of the disease. Any discomfort is attributed to banal fatigue, which arose as a result of prolonged work or an uncomfortable posture. But the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine have an insidious property - they develop by leaps and bounds.

That is, the progression of manifestations does not occur gradually, but suddenly, under the influence of any external factors. Its development is subject to a certain mechanism that occurs in the joints between the vertebrae and the ribs:

• Throughout a person's life, the mobility of the chest decreases; This is due to the thickening of the connective tissue that connects the adjacent bones.
• From a long and heavy load, metabolic products accumulate in it, damaging the "soft" structures - ligaments and cartilage.
• In the intercostal joints, they begin to be replaced by bone tissue, which forms small outgrowths at the site of the defects.
• First, these spines begin to irritate the nerve roots emerging from the spinal cord in the neighborhood. Upon impact on them, a reflex contraction of the surrounding muscles occurs - a spasm.
• It aggravates impaired mobility by making the rib cage less flexible and elastic. From these changes, the nutrition of the surrounding tissues changes, as their blood supply deteriorates.
• A vicious cycle gradually forms: poor blood flow deprives soft tissues of the possibility of rapid recovery. If the load continues to act, then osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine gradually develops.

The rate of progression of the disease depends on the severity of the damaging factors and the capabilities of the body; in most patients it remains in the early stages until old age.

First grade

In the early stages, it is difficult to establish thoracic osteochondrosis; the symptoms of the disease are still too nonspecific. Most patients miss the first degree of the disease and go to the doctor only when severe symptoms form. But with a careful attitude to your health, the signs of pathology can be easily identified:

1. Since the soft tissues are compacted in the joint area between the ribs and the vertebrae, their flexibility and elasticity decreases. Therefore, when stretching or exercising, there is pain and cracking in the thoracic region, which occurs between the shoulder blades.
2. A similar sound can be heard in the clavicle or sternum, where the cartilage and connective tissue are also thickened.
3. Along with them, the flexibility of the shoulder girdle is disturbed, which is manifested by the difficulty in placing the hands behind the back. The patient finds it difficult to perform some movements: scratching the back, bringing the shoulder blades together.
4. There is a feeling of discomfort in any part of the chest, but more often in the interscapular region. Most of the nerve roots that emerge from the spinal cord in this section project into it.
5. Decreases resistance to prolonged physical work and posture maintenance; a feeling of back fatigue quickly arises.
6. There is a decrease in the depth of breathing - when you try to breathe deeply, your restriction is observed.

At this stage, the disease can be safely treated at home, since irreversible changes have not yet formed in the soft tissues in the joint area.

Second grade

While the influence of negative factors persists, the signs of thoracic osteochondrosis begin to intensify; it is at this stage that patients often seek help. The disease begins to significantly limit a person's activity: symptoms interfere not only during work, but also during rest. Its appearance is associated with the formation of persistent changes that lead to ossification of the costal-vertebral joints:

1. Pain, which is the result of pressure on the nerve roots, is already prominent among the symptoms. It has a few characteristics: a fiery or triggering character, a connection to physical activity, or a prolonged awkward posture.
2. Unpleasant sensations are usually determined between the shoulder blades, from where they extend along the course of the ribs. The pain drive is always one-sided.
3. The intensity of this symptom depends entirely on the movements of the trunk or breathing; even with calm breathing, increased pain is observed.
4. The disease is distinguished from ordinary intercostal neuralgia by the persistence of symptoms; in the first case, the pain syndrome passes on its own and quickly (within a few minutes). Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is distinguished by the duration of pain - they are continuous and decrease only at rest.
5. Discomfort and stiffness in the chest increase, leading to decreased exercise tolerance. It becomes more difficult for the patient to perform work associated with prolonged stress.

At home, it is almost impossible to eliminate symptoms at this stage - they try to use a long course of drugs, combined with physiotherapy procedures, for treatment.

Third degree

In the final stage of the disease, there is a strong deformation of the joints between the ribs and vertebrae. This puts pressure on the surrounding vessels and nerves, which are directed to the internal organs. Therefore, the symptoms of the disease acquire unusual features characteristic of another pathology:

1. The pain syndrome persists, acquiring an intense and continuous character. Low back pain between the shoulder blades and along the ribs bothers the patient even at rest, which is associated with constant pressure on the nerve roots.
2. There are areas of altered sensation in the abdomen and chest; they look like stripes along the direction of the ribs. They are characterized by numbness, a tingling or "tingling" sensation.
3. There are periodic reflex cramps of the abdominal muscles, accompanied by unpleasant sensations.
4. Since the nerves of the internal organs are involved in the process, symptoms of their defeat may appear. More often false attacks of angina pectoris, hepatic or renal colic are observed, simulating diseases of similar organs.
5. Osteochondrosis of the chest often leads to the formation of irritable bowel syndrome, disorders of the digestive tract, the causes of which were not identified during the examination.

Even long-term treatment will not allow you to permanently get rid of symptoms if the patient has held onto the disease to this point. Supportive therapy will only reduce the signs of the disease, which is firmly ingrained in the thoracic spine.

Treatment

How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis? The tactic of assistance is based on the duration of the disease: the more pronounced the symptoms, the more stages will include the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. Despite the frequent difficulties in prescribing medications, many patients wish to undergo all treatment procedures at home. The patient does not want to waste the extra time he needs to visit the hospital or clinic.

Furthermore, sick leave is rarely granted, forcing people to quickly abandon the activities they have started. Having felt some improvement, the recent patient returns to his usual activities. But incomplete treatment of breast osteochondrosis leads to a rapid return of the above symptoms. Therefore, patients who are too "busy" can perform some procedures at home; the main thing is that they do not abandon what they started.

At home

You can do without going to the hospital only in the early stages of the disease, when all changes in the spine are reversible. With the help of some measures, it is possible to eliminate muscle spasm, which is the cause of the manifestations:

• It is necessary to change the place of rest - the bed, in which the soft tissues of the spine are restored during sleep. To do this, you need to make it more rigid, buy an orthopedic mattress to exclude the wrong position of the back.
• For any activity, you should wear spinal support - a soft corset that captures the lumbar and thoracic regions. It should be worn regularly to work, taking off only when you are resting or sleeping.
• It is recommended to use warm ointments to eliminate the symptoms. They are applied between the shoulder blades before the next load to artificially warm up the muscles.
• You need to get into a good habit: exercising at home after waking up. In addition, it is not necessary to do it only in the morning; for any back discomfort, you need to find a few minutes to warm up.
• You must change your diet, increase the amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet; the vitamins they contain slow down the destruction of connective tissue.

Patients who have enough free time are advised to engage in physical activity - walking or swimming.

Conservative

With the development of pronounced signs, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine begins with the help of drugs. They allow you to eliminate pain and other manifestations that interfere with normal activity:

• First of all, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, which have an analgesic effect. They inhibit soft tissue destruction processes, which inevitably lead to the formation of bone outgrowths.
• Muscle relaxants, drugs that eliminate painful muscle contractions, are also used. Its use allows the chest to return to its former flexibility and mobility.
• Also, vitamin complexes are prescribed, which are aimed at protecting the nervous tissue. They allow you to quickly restore the roots of the spinal cord, which have been put under pressure.
• Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories can also be used in the form of creams that are applied between the shoulder blades. But they are usually only combined with medications to ensure synergy.

The course of medication usually lasts 2-3 weeks, after which the patient is transferred to home treatment.

Surgical

Surgical method of treatment is often resorted to when medication is ineffective. Furthermore, the intervention is not always radical in nature:

• The most commonly used block is the introduction of drugs directly into the lesion with a needle. A local anesthetic is usually used to relieve symptoms. After the procedure, its effect lasts for several days.
• Blockages performed with the help of glucocorticosteroids are more effective: they provide a therapeutic effect that lasts for several weeks. The composition contains hormones that inhibit the inflammatory process in the area of administration.
• In the most severe cases, an operation is performed - removal of the deformed areas of the joints between the ribs and vertebrae. In this way, it is possible to remove the pressure on the nerve roots and blood vessels, which leads to the elimination of most manifestations.

Surgical correction does not lead to a complete cure of the disease, but only eases the patient's condition. Therefore, after any manipulation, the continuation of conservative therapy is required, aimed at slowing down the progression of the disease.

Rehabilitation

Elimination of the main signs of osteochondrosis does not imply the termination of treatment. In the post-treatment period, the patient undergoes restorative measures:

1. In the initial period, procedures are prescribed that have a reflex effect. Electrophoresis and phonophoresis, UHF and laser can eliminate reflex muscle contraction in the thoracic spine.
2. Then the most active procedures begin: massages, therapeutic exercises. They help to strengthen the muscular structure of the chest.
3. Recovery ends with independent training, which must be continued continuously. They allow you to slow down the progression of osteochondrosis.

These patients are advised to choose sports disciplines that allow them to develop endurance and muscular strength at the same time. Therefore, patients are recommended to practice swimming and walking, which allows you to create an even load on all muscles. Daily workouts are optional - three sessions per week are sufficient.