Messenger of Disease: Symptoms of Osteochondrosis of the Chest

Thoracic osteochondrosisIt is a degenerative dystrophic disease that occurs in the middle of the spine.It occurs much less frequently than osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine or even the cervical spine, accounting for approximately 10% of all cases.The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are related to several characteristics of the spine in the thoracic region: rigid fixation and poor mobility of the vertebrae due to ribs and skeletal muscles, a semicircular curvature of the spine in this region and a corresponding load distribution.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis begin with the destruction of tissue nutrition and dehydration of the intervertebral discs.Lack of nutrients and fluids can cause cartilage to lose elasticity and begin to break down and "sag".This condition can lead to nerve root compression, decreased sensitivity and function of internal organs, and severe pain.Destruction of vertebrae in the chest area is often accompanied by the appearanceOsteophytes- Bone hyperplasia can damage paravertebral tissue and lead to chronic inflammation.

Contrary to popular belief, thoracic osteochondrosis is not a natural age-related process and requires special treatment.The disease may occur at ageFrom 25 years old;About 70% of patients are women between the ages of 35 and 55.Since the disease begins long before retirement age,It may result in limitations or even incapacity.

Unlike other types of osteochondrosis, thoracic osteochondrosis may not manifest itself over a long period of time or masquerade as other lesions, which is why it is called chameleon disease.It is also the most difficult to treat.therefore very importantMonitor your thoracic osteochondrosis symptoms promptly- Today we will tell you which ones.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

Sternal pain is a symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis.Mistaken by patients as heartache.Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are characterized by worsening at night.They are particularly noticeable when you try to straighten your back or, conversely, hunched over, arching your back into a dome.

The severity of thoracic osteochondrosis symptoms directly depends on the stage of osteochondrosis.At the same time, negative sensations of symptoms of osteochondrosis in the chest may appear weak (osteophytes often grow on the surface of the vertebrae with almost no nerve endings, and muscle bundles compensate for the load over time).

In addition to pain between the sternum and scapula, patients often complain of the following radicular and reflex symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• Cold, burning, and tingling sensations in the chest, base of the neck, and abdomen;
• Muscle tension (difficulty back relaxing);
• A feeling of pain in the sternum (a symptom of osteochondrosis of the chest, which is one of the earliest symptoms);
• Increased heart rate and a pulsating feeling in the chest;
• A "pins and needles" feeling in the chest, often accompanied by unfounded anxiety or worsened by stress;
• Numbness of the soft tissues (skin and muscles) near the spine and shoulders, especially when pressure is applied or contact with hot or cold surfaces;
• Patients with thoracic osteochondrosis have difficulty breathing;
• Cold hands and feet, pale or blue skin on hands;
• Weakness, suppression of reflex reactions in the affected area;
• Digestive organ dysfunction, colic, bowel disturbances;
• Areas of skin with marked dystrophic disorders (peeling, paleness, thinning or, conversely, thickening of the skin);
• A lump sensation in the chest and discomfort when swallowing large pieces of food;
• Cough characteristic of thoracic osteochondrosis;
• Digestive symptoms (indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, heartburn, bloating);
• Increased fatigue, feeling very tired in the morning ("broken" state);
• Changes in gait (usually stooping, unsteady);
• Intercostal neuralgia.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis may be stomach or intestinal ulcers, angina, gastritis, or heart disease.Sometimes it is mistaken for renal angina or angina, cholecystitis, or pancreatitis.Fact: Advanced thoracic osteochondrosis can lead to gallbladder dysfunction (e.g. deposit formation) and intestinal dysfunction, as well as cardiovascular dysfunction.

The specificity of cervical osteochondrosis symptoms depends on the location of the problem:

• 1st-2nd thoracic vertebrae- Pain radiates to the collarbone, armpit, and can reach the shoulder;
• Vertebrae 3-6- The patient is troubled by band-like pain above the chest, which is similar to pain in the heart or breast;
• Vertebrae 7-8- Pain in the solar plexus, similar to diseases of the internal organs (stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas).Also inhibits the epigastric reflex (abdominal muscle contraction when passing an instrument along the lower rib line);
• Vertebrae 9-10- Here osteochondrosis causes severe pain in the abdomen and under the ribs, inhibiting the mesogastric reflex (when the tool draws a horizontal line at the level of the navel);
• Vertebrae 11-12- May cause groin pain, internal reproductive organ and intestinal disorders.Reduce lower abdominal reflexes (by drawing a line on the lower abdomen parallel to the inguinal fold).

difficulty breathing

During physical activity (for example, climbing several flights of stairs), patients may find it difficult to breathe.People with thoracic osteochondrosis experience severe shortness of breath.Patients often describe this feeling as "out of breath."Similar symptoms are observed during sleep: in unsuccessful positions, the patient dreams of a lack of air, the ears may become clogged (at the same time a strong pulsating sound is heard) and severe chest spasms occur.

People with thoracic osteochondrosis often experience difficulty breathing, along with girdle pain in the back and ribs, and subcostal pain.

increased heart rate

Even after mild exercise that was previously unnoticed, patients may complain of an increased heart rate and feel as if their heart is beating out of their chest.Initially, an elevated heart rate may be caused by spasmodic contractions of the muscles and chest or a violation of tissue nutrition, but over time, this dangerous symptom may actually develop into angina, coronary heart disease, or even lead to a heart attack.

In addition to an increased heart rate, patients often experience panic, fear of death, or an increase in background anxiety.In some cases, real panic attacks can be observed against the background of osteochondrosis of the chest.

chest pain

The most obvious symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis areFeeling of pain in sternum.These symptoms include severe stabbing pain and pressure in the chest, as well as intercostal pain when walking.Chest pain often worsens after staying in one position for a long time, hypothermia, turning the body, bending (especially turning), or raising the arms.Carrying heavy objects, exercising, breathing deeply, and sleeping can also increase pain.It is important to note that osteochondrosis in this part of the back is characterized by dull, aching, compressive, and throbbing pain due to the low mobility of the thoracic spine.Acute persistent pain in thoracic osteochondrosis is very rare, which is why patients tend to ignore pathological changes for a long time.

spinal painSpinal osteochondrosis is usually divided into back pain and back pain.dosago- These are spontaneous shooting pains that usually do not last long and disappear when changing position.dosago Often results in accidental root extrusion.back painIt lasts longer (about 2-3 weeks) and is associated with permanent disruption of blood circulation or nerve conduction.They make themselves feel burning and stinging.

Pain that worsens when coughing may be mistaken for a spinal hernia.However, hernias are extremely rare due to osteochondrosis of the chest.Don’t ignore key symptoms(Osteochondrosis of the chest causes sternum pain)Used for vertebral body displacement - Very unlikely compared to degenerative dystrophic changes!

Thoracic osteochondrosis cough

Chest osteochondrosis cough is common in people with sedentary lifestyles whose job duties involve sitting for long periods of time (office workers, operators, drivers).Maintaining this position is difficult on the human spine and can lead to chronic muscle strains, spasms, and tension.CrampThis is both a cause and a result of insufficient movement in the cervical spine and thoracic girdle areas.The spasm and irritation at the base of the spine only worsens at night, where it compresses the spine, leading to a severe cough.If the upper thoracic spine is affected, a cough caused by thoracic osteochondrosis may be accompanied by esophageal pain and a feeling as if something is stuck in your chest.

During a chest osteochondrosis cough attack, the patient will experience breathing pain; deep breathing becomes difficult.

Treatment and prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis

Conservative treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis aims to halt or at least slow degenerative changes, restore normal back mobility, and eliminate symptoms causing patient discomfort.

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis includes the simultaneous use of:

• drug(chondroprotective agents, neuroprotective agents, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory agents, analgesics);
• Comprehensive approach to physical therapy;
• therapeutic exercises;
• Orthopedic treatment options.

Patients are also advised to make dietary and lifestyle changes.

If severe and irreversible changes occur in the intervertebral jointsMedications cannot relieve pain and nerve conduction disorders,Advise patient to undergo surgery.It helps stop nerve tissue from dying and prevents the life-threatening or disabling consequences of thoracic osteochondrosis.Depending on the situation, the disc may need to be completely or partially removed or replaced with an artificial disc, narrowing of the spinal canal, or other surgery.

physiotherapy

The goals of physical therapy for thoracic osteochondrosis are to reduce pain and inflammation, relieve spasms, strengthen muscle bundles, restore nerve root function and normal blood circulation.

To relieve the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest, the following methods are successfully used:

• Magnet therapy- One of the most effective anti-inflammatory techniques.Improves tissue metabolic processes and relieves swelling.
• laser treatment.Promotes biological activation of regenerative processes.Helps eliminate the consequences of nutritional imbalances and relieves inflammation.
• drug electrophoresis.Allowing you to restore tissue nutrition and relieve inflammation - the effectiveness of this procedure depends on the medications used.
• drug infiltration therapy.Ensure that the active ingredients of the drug penetrate deeply into the soft tissues.
• therapeutic massage.Helps relax muscles, relieve tension and improve nutrient supply to spinal tissues.In the early stages, a few sessions can eliminate the main symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis - pain in the sternum.
• acupuncture.Stimulating muscles and nerve endings helps relieve pain, restore sensitivity, and eliminate swelling.
• ultra high frequency therapy.Increases the permeability of capillary walls, improving blood flow and ensuring the flow of protective cells to sites of inflammation.
• shockwave therapy.It initiates the repair process of bone and cartilage tissue and prevents calcium salts from being deposited on the surface of the vertebrae.
• Balneotherapy.Mud and ozokerite are usually used, and paraffin wax is less commonly used.Patients are also advised to take radon baths and hydromassage baths.They help improve metabolism and restore sensitivity to affected tissues.
• amplified pulse therapy.It has neurostimulating, analgesic and nutritional effects, activates metabolic processes, and promotes breathing.
• exercise therapy(Physical therapy, massage, traction therapy, kinesio tape).It can strengthen ligaments and skeletal muscles, restore back mobility, and even eliminate persistent spasms.Prevents the formation of osteophytes and the narrowing of the canals in which the roots of the spinal cord are located.

In addition to physical therapy, to treat osteochondrosis of the chest, patients may be advised to use an orthopedic bra to reduce the load on the spine.

Sports therapy and massage

Therapeutic exercises and massage can help strengthen your back muscles and relieve pressure on your spine.With daily treatment, they help achieve stable, drug-free remission, increase range of motion, and eliminate neurological manifestations of the disease.These treatments may also prevent complications of osteochondrosis..For example, the lungs are congested (osteochondrosis of the chest makes it difficult to breathe deeply), so the patient is susceptible to pneumonia and coronary heart disease.

Moderate physical activity can help relieve nerve root compression and improve blood circulation and nutrition in the intervertebral disc.The optimal frequency and duration of gymnastics sessions are determined by the athletic therapy coach.Generally speaking,Practicing for 10-15 minutes 3-4 times a day is enough.

Recommended exercises for treating thoracic osteochondrosis include the following:

1. Stand up straight with your feet together and your hands at your sides.As you exhale, raise your arms and bend them back, then take a deep breath.Lower your arms and lean forward, slightly arching your back in a dome-like manner (to do this, lower your head and shoulders as you exhale).
2. Sit in a chair and place your hands behind your head as you inhale.Bend back, rest your shoulder blades against the back of the chair, and exhale.
3. Get on all fours and arch your back.After holding this position for 3 seconds, use crampons to bend your back.
4. Lie on your stomach on the floor, place your palms on the floor, and use your arms to lift your body up, trying to move your head as far back as possible and lift your chest off the floor.
5. Lie on your stomach and extend your arms to your sides.Perform a "yoke" exercise where you try to lift your head and legs at the same time.
6. Sit on the floor and stretch your legs out in front of you.Extend the fingers of your right hand toward the toes of your left foot and vice versa.
7. Do plank exercises (about 30 seconds).
8. Hang from a pull-up bar (or, without a pull-up bar, pin your fingers to a doorframe and try to extend your back as far as possible).

It can also be helpful to bend to the side as you lift your arms.All exercises should be completed8 to 10 times.

To treat osteochondrosis of the chest, various massage techniques can be used, including massage.Shiatsu and vacuum massage.For self-massage at home, patients are advised to do the following:

• Caress the neck, shoulder blades, and armpit areas;
• Squeeze with thumb and index finger(grasp skin and soft tissue);
• Grind;
• Knead(It should be done with great caution; it is recommended to entrust this technique to experts).

Massage should not be performed during periods of exacerbation of the disease or severe inflammation.

Drug treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis

To treat the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest, the following groups of drugs are used:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)- Helps relieve pain, calm inflammation, and reduce swelling.They are available both systemically (in the form of tablets, capsules, and injections) and topically (in the form of ointments, gels, creams, compresses, and medicinal electrophoresis solutions).
• Hormone drugs- Eliminate acute and chronic nerve pain.Used when NSAIDs are not effective enough.
• muscle relaxants- Used to reduce muscle tone and eliminate skeletal muscle spasms.This helps reduce pain and positively affects tissue nutrition.
• loop corrector- Strengthens the walls of blood vessels and improves blood circulation in small capillaries, nourishes the periosteum and other structural elements of the vertebral joints.Reduce discomfort and reduce the risk of complications.
• neuroprotective agent- Preserves and restores sensitivity and relieves neurological symptoms during periods of nerve root compression.This group also includes cholinesterase inhibitors, which improve nerve impulse transmission and help restore normal muscle tone.

In order to restore the structure of tissues affected by degenerative processes, the following methods are used to treat osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine:

• chondroprotectant- Essential bioactive substances that trigger the regeneration process of cartilage and bone tissue.Helps prevent osteophyte growth and spinal stenosis.They help a weakened body grow stable and elastic cartilage cells.Taking cartilage protectants can significantly improve the shock-absorbing performance of the intervertebral disc, making the intervertebral disc more elastic and more resistant to damage;
• vitamin complex- Helps normalize metabolic processes and prevent excessive oxidation of tissues.

To relieve severe pain that interferes with a patient's daily activities, a doctor may recommend a medical blockade using an anesthetic.Diuretics are used to reduce swelling and relieve compressed nerves and blood vessels.

Prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis

To prevent symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, you should:

1. Pay attention to maintaining healthy posture.This can be facilitated by strengthening the muscles of the back, chest, abdominals, and shoulder complex through walking, swimming, and therapeutic exercises.
2. When working sedentary for long periods of time, arrange your workplace properly and warm up your body once your back and neck begin to stiffen (it is best to bend to both sides, stretch, and rotate your shoulders every 2 hours).
3. Avoid back injuries and seek immediate help from an orthopedic traumatologist, even for seemingly minor bruises.You should not induce other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, especially of the joints of the lower limbs.
4. If possible, take the load off your spine during the day (to do this, just lie on the floor for 40 minutes).
5. Protect yourself from hypothermia and stress.
6. Take a chondroprotectant for at least 3 months a year to protect your joints.Regardless of the strength of the muscle corset, the human spine is not anatomically adapted to vertical loads and therefore requires additional support.
7. If it is overweight, adjust the weight.In addition to maintaining a low-carbohydrate diet, you should also eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals.Tablets can be taken in spring and autumn.
8. Physical activities involving jumping from heights or lifting weights should be restricted.
9. It is recommended to sleep on a semi-hard bed and choose hard furniture for long periods of sitting.This helps maintain muscle tone and relieves stress on the spine.If possible, you should purchase an orthopedic mattress and insoles.
10. Do not lift loads weighing more than 10 kg.The load should be evenly distributed, with muscle tension and not shifting to one side.If necessary, use a special sports corset.It is not advisable to hold heavy objects with your arms extended for long periods of time.
11. Women should avoid wearing high heels.The optimal heel height is 2-4 cm.

These recommendations are also useful for those who are already ill - they will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the spine and help to significantly slow down pathological changes.

Remember: The main way to prevent osteochondrosis of the chest is to consistently practice healthy habits.

Let chest pain no longer bother you!