Due to the relative inactivity and anatomical features, osteochondrosis rarely affects the thoracic region, but this disease cannot be called rare. Therefore, if you feel stiffness and pain in the area of the shoulder blades, it is worth finding out what osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is, what are its symptoms and methods of treatment.
Indeed, the disease is rarely localized in this part of the spine, but brings unpleasant consequences and sensations no less than damage to the neck and lower back. Its peculiarity can be safely called "nebulousness" of symptoms, in which even an experienced doctor can get confused at the beginning of the disease.
What is thoracic osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis - degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the discs between the vertebrae and the vertebrae themselves.
As already mentioned, the disease manifests itself in the thoracic region much less often than in the lumbar or cervical due to such features:
- the thoracic region is inactive;
- it is well fixed by the ribs and the entire chest;
- due to kyphosis (that is, the physiological bending of the spine back) in the thoracic region, the vertebrae experience maximum stress in the anterior, more durable part.
But, unfortunately, everyone can develop an ailment, especially if there are prerequisites for this.
What does an MRI of the thoracic spine show?
Diagnosis of a disease that has formed in the thoracic region must be carried out in a comprehensive manner, and MRI shows the true picture better than most studies.
How is an MRI done?
Everything is simple and painless - you need to lie down on a bench, which enters a special spherical chamber, and wait for the allotted time until the equipment "enlightens" the body. It is worth removing all metal objects in advance and warn the staff in case of the presence of pacemakers, prostheses and other foreign things in the body.
In general, osteochondrosis was previously diagnosed exclusively with the help of palpation - they probed the vertebrae, there is pain, which means that osteochondrosis is present. Now doctors supplement their knowledge with special studies, among them the most informative is MRI, which makes it possible to establish degenerative phenomena in the cartilage and vertebrae, to determine the presence of hernias, the peculiarities of their development.
If you are not afraid of confined spaces, you can even take a nap.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Symptoms of insidious osteochondrosis in the thoracic region are able to successfully hide for a long time, without manifesting themselves and without causing pain or even discomfort. And later, when the damage is already causing obvious manifestations, it is sometimes difficult to determine the source of painful sensations - they can give to the heart, internal organs, legs. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze this issue in detail.
So, doctors distinguish several types of symptoms.
Reflex reactions are directly related to the negative effects of the disease on various receptors.
As a result, the patient feels:
- pain in the area of the shoulder blades or just below, often encircling and squeezing "like a hoop";
- the focus of pain can be localized in different parts of the body - in the sternum, simulating heart attacks, in the right side, disguising itself as a liver, and even in the lower back, like renal colic, therefore, when diagnosing, it is often necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination of internal organs in order to conclude that there is a problemin back.
Compression symptoms appear due to squeezing or stretching of the nerve roots,
as a result, there may be:
- weakness in the legs, they seem to refuse;
- loss of sensitivity in the limbs;
- numbness in the pinched area, feeling of "goose bumps";
- feeling of a coma in the chest;
- the tension of the surrounding muscles, which can be found when massaging;
- deterioration in the work of organs, fortunately, such neglected cases are rare.
Given the peculiarities of the physiology of women, sometimes the symptoms of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region are confused with other diseases.
Often, pain radiates to the mammary glands, which automatically makes a woman think about breast problems.
Pulling, regular pains resemble fibrosis, tumors and other problems with the gland, which makes you run to a mammologist for a consultation. And if the doctor, after the tests, examination and mammography, does not find any abnormalities in the structure and functioning of the mammary glands, one can safely assume the presence of osteochondrosis.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
The causes of osteochondrosis for the thoracic and other regions are the same, but for the problem to be localized exactly here, clear prerequisites are needed:
- curvature of the spine, in particular the thoracic region;
- the presence of bad habits;
- wearing high-heeled shoes;
- being in an unnatural position for a long time, for example, at a computer, a sewing machine, weeding a garden;
- huge physical activity;
- hereditary predisposition to back diseases;
- pregnancy causing a shift in the center of gravity;
- flat feet and refusal to wear special orthopedic insoles;
- spinal injury.
Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Signs of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region are pain, stiffness, muscle tension in this area. As we have already established, reflex and compression syndromes are distinguished, the former need to be discussed in more detail.
Dorsago and dorsalgia
The most obvious reflex syndromes of the disease are dorsago and dorsalgia. What is it?
Dorsago - cutting, severe, sharp pain in the spine, as if someone had thrust a knife into the back. Sometimes painful sensations spread to the heart or sternum.
The sensations are so "rainbow" that the patient is afraid to make any movement and even breathe deeply. When palpating, you can notice muscle tension near the spinal column. Most often, an attack appears after prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable position and a sharp change in it. Because of the severity of the pain and its localization in the chest, dorsago is often mistaken for a heart attack, but the removed cardiogram clarifies the picture.
Dorsalgia is an aching pain that manifests itself gradually, covers the thoracic back, chest, it intensifies with movement, especially bending and turning the body, even from sneezing or riding over bumps.
It is unpleasant that sometimes it is difficult to determine the most painful area - these are superficial or deep tissues, back or chest, which complicates the establishment of the correct diagnosis.
What is called intercostal neuralgia?
Sometimes pain is noticed in the intercostal spaces, then the symptom is called intercostal neuralgia, this symptom characterizes:
- severe pain, covering the intercostal space, sometimes radiating to the lower back, arm or shoulder blade, and it lasts for hours, or even days;
- soreness when feeling the ribs;
- redness or pallor of the skin in the focus of inflammation, a burning sensation, or vice versa, numbness;
- the inability to breathe evenly and deeply - every breath brings torment;
- some muscles in the chest or back twitch spontaneously.
How to treat intercostal neuralgia at home
Before treating intercostal neuralgia, you need to correctly determine the diagnosis, since its symptoms are similar to heart ailments, and if you start to fight the disease at home with a real myocardial problem, you can get huge problems.
If this is not the first attack and the doctor confirms the diagnosis, you can resort to home methods of treatment, among them the most important are:
- bed rest for 2-3 days;
- taking a sedative to relieve pain and relieve spasm;
- the use of local analgesics in gels and ointments;
- the use of warming agents - mustard plasters and pepper plasters;
- restoration of nerve tissues by taking B vitamins;
- fixation of the spine, for this purpose a corset is used that holds the body in the correct position and reduces compression of the vertebrae.
Back pain can really be removed in a couple of days, but in order to avoid relapses, you will have to fight the cause itself for several months.
Atypical signs of breast osteochondrosis
In addition to clinical manifestations, thoracic osteochondrosis can have completely atypical signs, which are so easy to confuse with other ailments. Among them:
- imitation of pain in the heart or chest in women, discomfort can torment for weeks, but additional examinations do not reveal problems with the heart and chest;
- localization of pain in the iliac region, as in gastritis or colitis, or on the right side, as in the case of liver dysfunction, diagnosis is complicated by deterioration of digestion due to a failure in the conduction of impulses along the nerves, and here it is difficult to determine the primacy;
- disruptions in urination and erectile function, which also occurs due to a failure in the conduction of nerve endings.
But there is a little clue - the aggravation manifests itself closer to the night, growing every hour after waking up due to pinching of the nerves in the back, and after rest it passes, while disturbances in the work of the heart or other internal organs are noticeable around the clock.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine?
Treatment of osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine is a long matter, moreover, it is impossible to restore tissues, it will only be possible to slow down the process, not let it get worse. But this does not mean that you can calm down, reconcile and do nothing, realizing the futility of efforts, because treatment will give you the opportunity to live and work fully, and although neglected forms will not end fatally, they will significantly spoil life.
Medication treatment
At the first symptoms of osteochondrosis, drug treatment involves the use of drugs that eliminate pain, for these purposes it is best to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
They are prescribed for 1-2 weeks, during which time, as a rule, the pain goes away.
You can combine taking pills, capsules or suppositories with local analgesics or compresses (although they can cause allergies, so before using you need to drip onto a small area of the skin and wait half an hour), similar ointments are also suitable.
Sometimes, with pains of particular strength, anti-inflammatory drugs are powerless, and then analgesics in the form of droppers are saved.
In some cases, you have to inject pain relievers right along the spine, the procedure is called paravertebral blockade and is performed by a doctor in a hospital.
Later, muscle relaxants are used to relax the muscles, diuretics are prescribed against edema around the nerve endings, and blood circulation and tissue regeneration restore trophies. In the future, to prevent relapses, you will have to drink chondroprotectors for several months.
Home treatment
At home, you can resort to many non-drug methods of treating osteochondrosis, these are:
- massage;
- Exercise therapy;
- stretching exercises;
- compresses and infusions to normalize the metabolism in the vertebrae.
As for the last point, here you can advise such folk remedies:
- rub with calendula tincture, for this, take 200 grams of vodka, cologne of triple and camphor alcohol per 100 grams of a flower, insist for 14 days and rub into the affected area before going to bed, wrapping it with a warm scarf;
- mix the same amount of orange skins and lemon balm herb and pour a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour, strain, add 1 tsp each. tincture of valerian and honey, drink ½ glass twice a day for a month.
Exercises for the thoracic region
Perhaps it is the exercises for osteochondrosis in the thoracic region that will be most effective in preventing subsequent complications.
Gymnastics relieves stiffness, relaxes muscles, strengthens them, and increases a person's physical activity. Constant and regular training accelerates blood circulation, removes inflammation of the nerve roots, reduces stress on the spine, and this exercise therapy is suitable not only for damage in the thoracic region, but also for any part of the spine.
But doctors do not recommend using such a set of exercises during periods of severe exacerbations, with general poor health, problems with coordination, high blood pressure and arrhythmias.
Before training, it is better to take a shower, stretch your muscles with massage and warm-up.
So, the best exercises:
- raise your shoulders in turn 10 times;
- turn your head to the sides, freezing at extreme points for a few seconds;
- put your hands on your back under the shoulder blades, bend over and freeze for 10 seconds;
- in a standing position, bend to the side, touching the knee with your shoulder, repeat in the other direction;
- lying on the floor, we put a roller under the thoracic region, put our hands behind our head and raise our shoulders, then move the roller a little higher, this movement is intended to stretch this section of the spinal column;
- lying on our stomach, we raise the chest above the floor, first with our arms extended forward, then with our arms extended at the sides, and finally with those connected at the back into a lock.
Such charging helps to forget about back problems for many months.
Massage
Massage in case of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region helps to relieve pain, improve blood circulation and lymph outflow, relieve muscle spasm, improve their tone, and enhance trophism in the intervertebral cartilage.
As a rule, the course does not start immediately on the first day, but after 3-4 days, when the main unpleasant sensations have already disappeared, in rare cases the masseur can help during the exacerbation period.
The first sessions must be made gentle, without excessive pressure on the tissues; both skillful hands and special massage machines are suitable as tools. It is not worth performing massage without proper experience and education - you can only aggravate the problem, so do not skimp on a course from a professional.
Manual therapy
At first glance, manual therapy is similar to massage - the same stroking with your hands, but in reality, a chiropractor, unlike a massage therapist, acts not on the muscles and skin, but on the vertebrae themselves, which requires more strength and skill.
It uses percussion techniques, alternating tension and relaxation of muscles, flexion of the spine to eliminate disorders in the structure of the spine and instrumental methods in the treatment of elderly patients.
A manual therapy professional is able to improve the tone of the back muscles, restore mobility to the spine, correct its curvature and prolapse of the vertebrae, and improve blood circulation.
Prevention is the best treatment
In order to prevent the occurrence of this unpleasant disease, you will have to make an effort, but it will be worth it. Recommended:
- monitor weight, since additional kilograms are an extra burden for the spine;
- eat well and varied;
- avoid hypothermia of the spine;
- go in for sports, especially when sedentary work, swimming is perfect;
- take breaks and warm up at work (some exercises from the above complex will do);
- change poses when you are at a computer for a long time, a table;
- avoid excessive stress on the spine.
Nutrition adjustment
The condition of joints, blood vessels and bones directly depends on nutrition, and if symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, it is worth correcting it. So, it is worth excluding:
- smoked meats that clog the body;
- fried, causing the appearance of extra pounds;
- sweet;
- soda, especially sweet.
Instead, go to:
- boiled meat and broths from pork, chicken and rabbit meat;
- vegetables;
- greens;
- dairy products, especially kefir, cheese and cottage cheese;
- boiled fish at least once a week;
- fruits, apples are better.
Correct postures in a dream
Osteochondrosis of the chest dictates its own rules even in a dream, requiring you to choose the most correct postures. You will have to give up your favorite rest on your stomach - in this position, the head is thrown back, and the blood vessels are compressed, impairing the blood circulation in the brain.
The best poses for illness are:
- on the side, when all organs and limbs are resting and not compressed;
- on the back;
- in the fetal position with bent legs pulled up to the chest, the muscles of the back relax well in it.
I note that no less attention will have to be paid to the bed, it should be with a solid base, a hard orthopedic mattress and a small pillow on which only the head without shoulders is placed, supported at body level. We'll have to say goodbye to our favorite soft mattress and a huge down pillow.
Sitting posture
Even sitting with chronic osteochondrosis should be correct! Tips that must be strictly followed:
- avoid upholstered furniture;
- select a chair so that the legs reach the floor, and the depth is 2/3 of the thigh;
- there should be a lot of space under the table when sitting so that you do not have to bend your legs;
- with prolonged sitting every 10-15 minutes, change your posture, warm up, walk;
- make sure that the back rests on the back;
- do not bend forward to avoid muscle strain;
- while driving, place a roller under the lower back to preserve the physiological bend;
- even while relaxing on a sofa or bed, change your position every hour, relax your back muscles, and stretch.
Osteochondrosis is not a fatal, but a very unpleasant disease that must be taken under control from the first manifestations. Now you know what to look for, how to recognize by multiple symptoms, what exercises to do with osteochondrosis and defeat it. Dare and be healthy!