Osteochondrosis of the chest

Thoracic osteochondrosis is a chronic spinal disease in which degenerative dystrophic changes occur in the intervertebral discs.The thoracic spine is less affected by osteochondrosis than the cervical and lumbar spine. This is because it is relatively inactive, stable and well reinforced by the muscle corset. Even rarer are its complications - herniation and disc herniation.However, this disease exhibits a wide range of symptoms that significantly reduce quality of life and therefore requires treatment. The use of medications only relieves symptoms and provides temporary effects and does not affect the progression of the disease.In order to reliably eliminate symptoms, you need to influence the causes of the development of the degenerative process of the disc. To this end, the clinic uses comprehensive therapies, with positive results in more than 90% of cases. It includes Eastern reflexology and physical therapy – acupressure, acupuncture, moxibustion and other treatments.

Symptoms and signs

In osteochondrosis, the discs flatten and the vertebrae come together, causing compression of the spinal nerve roots. This causes pain (often described as a stabbing pain) between the shoulder blades.The pain syndrome of thoracic osteochondrosis can be acute and severe or chronic and moderate.In the first case, acute pain occurs suddenly and is called back pain. In the second case, pain that is felt continuously and has an aching character is called backache.The irritation of the root compression travels along the nerve, radiates into the chest, and becomes the cause of intercostal neuralgia - a stabbing, cutting, or burning pain in the chest that worsens with inhalation, movement, coughing, sneezing, laughing.Another characteristic symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis is pain in the heart region, accompanied by signs of cardiac neurosis - palpitations, palpitations, increased heart rate.Nerve root compression can cause disruption of innervation, numbness, weakness, cold hands, and cyanosis (blue discoloration) or blanching of the skin. These symptoms are usually unilateral.Pain caused by osteochondrosis can also radiate to the shoulder, under the shoulder blade, and to the forearm.Other symptoms of the disease include stiffness, tightness in the back, numbness in the paravertebral area, shoulders, neck and collar area, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of a lump in the chest.Nerves arising from the spinal cord in the thoracic region play an important role in innervation of the entire body. Therefore, symptoms of osteochondrosis may appear in areas seemingly unrelated to the spine. Therefore, it is called "chameleon disease".These symptoms include:

• Heartburn, bloating,
• Loss of appetite, nausea,
• Dyspepsia (dyspepsia),
• cough,
• retreating from battle,
• body numbness,
• Rib pain on the right side,
• abdominal discomfort,
• sweating

In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis manifests as impaired blood supply to the brain—headaches, unstable pressure, dizziness, unsteady gait, and loss of coordination.

Causes and stages of development

The main effects in the development of the disease are muscle spasms and tightness of the back muscles (hypertonia). These cramps occur when you lead a sedentary lifestyle, have poor posture, or remain in static, uncomfortable positions for long periods of time (such as at a desk or while driving).On the other hand, monotonous, strenuous physical work can also cause persistent muscle spasms in the back (such as working with arms raised).Muscle spasms can impede circulation and block blood flow to the spine. As a result, the nutrition of the intervertebral disc deteriorates. Intervertebral discs are shock-absorbing pads of connective tissue between vertebrae. At the center of each intervertebral disc is a medullary, semifluid core that contains a large amount of water. Water provides resistance to load and resistance to compression.Each disc is reinforced with a rigid annulus fibrosus along its outer perimeter. The connective tissue of the intervertebral disc is mainly composed of collagen - this substance is synthesized in the body and must be continuously supplied to the joints, intervertebral discs and other connective and cartilage tissues so that they can continue to regenerate.Muscle spasms interfere with blood flow, causing not enough collagen to reach the disc for normal tissue repair. Lack of oxygen causes metabolic processes to slow down.Due to metabolic disorders, tissue renewal in the intervertebral disc slows down and wear accelerates. This can lead to malnutrition and degenerative changes - the discs become dehydrated, rupture, dry out, flatten and lose their shock-absorbing properties and elasticity.Back muscle spasms are a major cause of excessive stress on the spine in the chest area. If in the neck area the intervertebral discs are compressed by the weight of the head, which increases with incorrect posture, and the lumbar area is compressed by the weight, which increases with overweight, then in the chest area muscle spasms occurPlays a special role in the development of the disease. These spasms not only block blood flow, but tighten the spine and compress the discs throughout the day and night. The intervertebral discs are effectively deprived not only of the opportunity for cell renewal, but also of the opportunity to simply rest and recover. Therefore, the first thing doctors need to do when treating thoracic osteochondrosis is to relax the tense back muscles and eliminate muscle spasms and hypertonia. Without this, it is impossible to effectively treat the disease.Flattening of the disc causes the space between the vertebrae to become smaller, bringing the vertebrae closer together and squeezing the nerve roots. This causes pain, which causes reflex muscle spasms and further increases pressure on the discs. Therefore, disease progression often accelerates with the onset of pain.These degenerative dystrophic changes correspond to the first stages of osteochondrosis.

important!In old age, thoracic osteochondrosis usually occurs against the background of general dehydration and metabolic disorders in the body. This manifests itself particularly in height loss in older adults, which occurs due to thinning of the intervertebral discs.

In the second stage, the outer annulus fibrosus becomes fibrous. Its tissues become loose, brittle, and unable to cope with sustaining internal loads. As a result, the disc herniates (usually locally) in the form of a herniation.The process that points toward the spinal cord is called the dorsal side. The protrusions pointing sideways are called transverse protrusions. The rarest case is a disc that herniates evenly along its entire circumference.The presence of a protrusion usually results in increased pain. X-ray images clearly show a decrease in the height of the spaces between the vertebrae, as well as the development of osteophytes (bone growths). They form along the edges of the vertebrae to compensate for the load on the spine as the discs have less to handle with them.In the third stage of the disease, the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc cannot withstand the internal pressure and ruptures. Through the resulting gap, part of the disc's nucleus pulposus is extruded—an intervertebral hernia occurs.In the fourth stage of the disease, the range of motion of the back is drastically reduced, pain syndromes become persistent, and widespread neurological disorders appear.

diagnosis

During the initial visit, the doctor will ask about the patient's symptoms, what happened, study the medical history, perform an external examination, pay attention to posture, and whether there is any spinal deformity (scoliosis, kyphosis). The causes of pain syndromes (backache, back pain) may be osteochondrosis and displacement of the vertebral body (spondylolisthesis), ankylosing spondyloarthropathy.Osteochondrosis of the chest is often accompanied by tight back muscles and excessive tension in the spinal muscles. The doctor palpates and uses continuous pressure to find the painful (trigger) point that corresponds to the center of the muscle spasm.To get more detailed information, your doctor will order an X-ray or MRI.X-rays of osteochondrosis of the chest provide the most general information - it helps distinguish this disease from spondylolisthesis, observe osteophytes and narrowing of the spaces between the vertebrae.Magnetic resonance imaging can better visualize soft connective tissue. With it, the doctor can examine the structure of the intervertebral disc in detail, looking at herniations, hernias (its size, location, shape), as well as the condition of ligaments, intervertebral joints, blood vessels, nerve roots, etc. Check out spinal stenosis (or its dangers).Based on the MRI data, doctors make a diagnosis and determine an individual treatment plan.

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis

medical treatement

To relieve back pain and intercostal neuralgia in thoracic osteochondrosis, NSAIDs are available in the form of ointments, tablets, or injections. The main action of these drugs is anti-inflammatory, so their use is justified in cases of nerve root compression accompanied by inflammation (ie, thoracic radiculitis). NSAIDs also reduce muscle tissue inflammation in the context of spasticity and persistent hypertension.In case of acute pain syndrome, paravertebral or epidural blockade - injectable analgesia may be used. In the first case, the injection is performed at the site where the nerve root is squeezed, in the second, in the area between the periosteum of the vertebrae and the spinal cord membrane.To relieve muscle tension and reduce pressure on nerve roots, blood vessels, and spinal discs, use muscle relaxants and antispasmodics.A vitamin complex is used to nourish nervous tissue and prevent its atrophy.To slow down the process of connective tissue destruction, chondroprotectants can be used.These drugs have a symptomatic effect and can slow the progression of the disease to a certain extent, but in general they have little effect on the process of degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc.

non-pharmacological treatment

Non-drug treatments for thoracic osteochondrosis include physical therapy, reflexology, and physiotherapy.The main goals of treatment are to relieve the inflammatory process, improve blood circulation, restore metabolic processes in the intervertebral disc, stimulate cell renewal of connective tissue. To this end, the clinic uses Eastern medicine methods to perform complex treatments.

important!Physical therapy exercises help to form and strengthen muscle bundles, eliminate unreasonable loads on the spine, and prevent the development of congestion and muscle spasms.

Surgery

For large hernias, especially dorsal hernias, there is a threat of spinal stenosis, especially if present, which may require surgical intervention - a discectomy.Part of the disc is removed or the entire disc is removed and replaced with a prosthesis. Although discectomy is a common type of surgical procedure, surgery in the thoracic region is rarely performed.

clinic treatment

Clinical treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis is carried out through a complex course of treatment, which includes acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, stone therapy, vacuum therapy, leech therapy and other procedures for individual indications. High efficiency is achieved due to the synergy of the individual methods and elimination of the cause.

1. Acupressure. By applying firm pressure to trigger points in the back, doctors can eliminate muscle spasms, tension, and congestion, improve circulation, and restore unobstructed blood flow to the spine. As a result, the load on the intervertebral discs is reduced, and the process of metabolism and tissue regeneration accelerates as the influx of oxygen and collagen increases.
2. acupuncture. Inserting needles into biologically active points in the back, legs, arms, head, chest can eliminate symptoms associated with impaired innervation - numbness, weakness in the arms. Intercostal neuralgia and other vertebral pain can be relieved with this procedure. In addition, acupuncture enhances the effect of acupoint massage and has anti-inflammatory and anti-edema effects.
3. Moxibustion therapy. Use a smoldering mugwort cigar to warm the bioactive points in the spinal area. This process activates metabolic processes, increases blood flow to the disc, stimulates and accelerates its recovery.
4. Vacuum therapy. Cupping massage and cupping can increase blood flow and help improve circulation.
5. Manual therapy. Doctors use gentle traction on the spine to remove the discs, increase the distance between vertebrae, release compressed nerve roots, relieve pain, and increase the range of motion of the back.

Gentle traction or traction is the only manual therapy technique for treating thoracic osteochondrosis. Before beginning, the doctor must completely relax the back muscles, eliminate spasms, and free up the spine. To do this, the muscles are fully warmed up and relaxed through massage. If this is not done, the force of the force may result in injury—a rupture, sprain, or fracture. Hard spinal traction is ineffective in treating osteochondrosis and may even be dangerous, so it is not used clinically.Leech therapyPlacing medicinal leeches can improve local blood circulation, improve blood supply to the intervertebral disc, and have anti-inflammatory effects.stone therapySmooth stones heated to a certain temperature are placed along the spine to deeply warm and relax the spinal muscles, improve circulation and stimulate blood flow.The duration of a single treatment in the clinic is 1-1. 5 hours, depending on individual indications. The treatment course usually consists of 10-15 complex sessions. Upon completion, a control MRI will be performed to evaluate the treatment results achieved.

complication

The main complication of thoracic osteochondrosis is a herniated disc leading to spinal cord stenosis and paralysis of the body.Other possible complications are related to the destruction of the innervation of the body due to compression of the spinal nerve roots: the development of gastrointestinal, renal, cardiac and reproductive system diseases.

prevention

To prevent the development of thoracic osteochondrosis, you should avoid a sedentary lifestyle and monitor your posture.

important!If a child or teenager has scoliosis, it is recommended to treat the disease and not expect it to go away on its own. Scoliosis causes increased pain that may last a lifetime.

In this case, persistent muscle tension and spasms will be inevitable, which in turn can lead to the development of osteochondrosis and possibly its complications. In addition to this, scoliosis itself is fraught with complications for the respiratory, digestive and cardiovascular systems.