Osteochondrosis of the chest: signs, causes, diagnosis

osteochondrosis– A range of articular cartilage dystrophic diseases. Typically, this disease affects men and women over the age of 30. But recently the condition has been found even in teenagers.Depending on the location of the joint injury, there are cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. In most cases, osteochondrosis presents with severe back pain, headaches, and dizziness.Osteochondrosis of the chestIt is less common than cervical cancer but is no less dangerous due to various complications.

Chest Osteochondrosis: What Is It?

In thoracic osteochondrosis, pathological changes in the spine occur in the thoracic region. The intervertebral discs are most commonly affected. The chest area is not as mobile as the neck area, so the characteristic symptoms of the disease are not immediately apparent. The diagnosis was at an advanced stage of the disease.Dystrophic diseases can affect the cartilage and connective tissue of muscles, causing complications and leading to other serious illnesses.

Patients are accustomed to treating osteochondrosis lightly, but if left untreated, thoracic osteochondrosis can be harmful to health. The disease typically affects the cervical and thoracic spine, affecting quality of life.

What is a degree?

Treatment of the disease begins with diagnosis and determining its stage.

1. The first stagePeople usually don't notice any changes and experience no pain, but the disc begins to lose its elasticity, causing the characteristic bulge that occurs when the disc herniates into the spinal canal without the annulus fibrosus rupturing.
2. second stage——The condition progresses and neurological symptoms such as pain and dizziness appear. The intervertebral disc is less elastic; if the annulus fibrosus ruptures, there is a risk of bulging into the spinal canal - forming a hernia.
3. The third phaseThis pain is very inconvenient and is exacerbated by the presence of a hernia.
4. Thoracic osteochondrosisStage 4Characterized by progressive neurological symptoms, the intervertebral discs completely lose their stiffness and elasticity. The destruction of the vertebrae begins.

Although osteochondrosis often accompanies another spinal pathology, scoliosis, which is evident by visual inspection, it is not possible to identify osteochondrosis by external signs.

what could be the reason

The cause of spinal diseases is insufficient nutrition of cartilage and vertebrae. It is impossible to say exactly why the body's functions undergo this malfunction.However, there are many factors that contribute to this:

1. A sedentary lifestyle leads to weak back muscles.
2. The posture is incorrect and the posture is uncomfortable.
3. Various back injuries, improper lifting (yanking from the floor), strenuous physical activity.

4. Other spinal disorders.
5. Nutritional deficiencies, in which the diet lacks essential vitamins and minerals, especially calcium, which is necessary for the formation of healthy bone tissue.
6. Pregnant. Women often notice signs of osteochondrosis in the chest area during pregnancy, when the load on the spine becomes higher; in addition, due to the additional cost of resources, the body is often deficient in vitamins and minerals.
7. genetics. The likelihood of developing this disease increases if you have a relative who has it. In this case, you need to worry about prevention.

Typically, when making a diagnosis, doctors identify a variety of factors: sedentary work, frequent inappropriate lifting, and poor posture.

Symptoms of chest osteochondrosis

In the early stages, the disease does not manifest itself in any way. Frequently, neurological disorders (dizziness, spots in the eyes, etc. ) appear even before the onset of a significant pain syndrome, and the patient does not associate this with back problems. When pain occurs, people begin to suspect a problem with the spine. Let's consider the main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest:

1. Severe, squeezing pain in the upper chest area, it gets worse after exercising, working hard, or being in awkward positions. It may be accompanied by shortness of breath, coughing, and breathing problems.
2. Feeling cold on hands and feetMy limbs are numb for no reason.
3. Headache, dizziness, foggy eyes, blurred vision, feeling tired, lack of air. When a disc shifts, nerve endings and blood vessels become compressed, which is why neurological symptoms occur.

Chest osteochondrosis can cause patients to experience heart or stomach pain, which makes diagnosing the disease very complicated.

These are the main symptoms of intervertebral osteochondrosis. Some patients experience gastrointestinal and cardiac pain, which often leads to incorrect diagnosis. The nature of pain also varies. For example, some patients experience long-term, non-acute pain—back painOr conversely, severe pain that stiffens muscles and makes breathing difficult -back.

These sensations can be felt in the stomach, the patient misinterprets them and is sent for examination of the liver, pancreas, etc. , without suspecting that the cause of the pain is osteochondrosis in the chest area. With the combination of various forms of rickets (cervical and thoracic rickets), people complain of a foreign body sensation in the throat that becomes noticeable after physical exertion or being in an uncomfortable position.

complication

• During the development of the disease, accompanying diseases are added to the main disease. Therefore, prolonged compression of blood vessels in the spinal area can lead toleading to cardiovascular system failure, which in particularly severe cases can disrupt heart function.
• Another common complication, especially when osteochondrosis of the chest and neck is combined, isvegetative vascular dystonia. The blood vessels and nerve endings are compressed, disrupting the normal nutrition of the brain, causing patients to suffer from long-term and severe headaches, dizziness, foggy eyes, blurred vision and other symptoms. In advanced cases, fainting may occur due to back disease.
• May come from nervous systempanic attack, this happens when the mind or body is overly stressed or severely fatigued. During these moments, patients will notice a rapid heartbeat and breathing problems: difficulty breathing, not enough air.
• Another complication that creates difficulties not only for patients but also for doctors isIntercostal neuralgia.Compression of the thoracic nerve roots can produce a specific pain syndrome reminiscent of the sensations associated with heart disease. Patients with heart disease visit their doctors, which complicates diagnosis. This disease is accompanied by various pathologies of the spine, but usually, its symptoms disappear with the onset of treatment.

If you do not pay attention to the development of osteochondrosis of the breast, then after a while it will begin to significantly affect the quality of life, limiting activity and range of motion.

diagnosis

Because of the variety of symptoms, doctors often suspect gastrointestinal or neurological disorders, preventing a correct diagnosis. To avoid mistakes, an orthopedic surgeon or neurologist will order a thoracic spine X-ray and often an MRI or CT scan to confirm the diagnosis.To rule out heart disease, the patient undergoes an electrocardiogram. Treatment is given only after diagnosis.

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis

Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. When pain occurs, the changes that occur in the spine cannot be corrected. However, modern medicine can relieve pain and thereby improve quality of life. Properly chosen treatment and a healthy lifestyle can prevent the condition from getting worse.

Treatment involves multiple factors that work together. To relieve symptoms and prevent the condition from getting worse, medications and physical therapy are often used. Surgery is only needed if a herniated disc occurs. There are dozens of home treatments, but each should be discussed with your doctor to avoid worsening the condition.

medical treatement

Medications for osteochondrosis are used to relieve pain; anti-inflammatory analgesics are often used for this purpose. In later stages or when the condition has seriously deteriorated, the patient will be given anesthetic block. To relieve neurological symptoms, take medications that improve circulation to the brain.

physiotherapy

Effective non-drug ways to relieve back muscle pain and tension:Magnet therapy, laser therapy, acupunctureetc. After several comprehensive surgeries, positive results will be apparent. Please consult your doctor before use!

massage

The most popular and affordable way to home. Massage can relieve pain by relieving muscle tension. The best results can be obtained from a specialist, but self-massage of the collar area can also bring benefits. The effect on muscles helps relax sore areas. Massage is recommended during the course.

exercise therapy

Comprehensive treatment for osteochondrosis includes physical therapy. Moderate exercise can strengthen the back muscles and improve the flexibility and mobility of the spine. Regular physical activity will help avoid worsening of the disease and may even delay the appearance of the first symptoms for decades. Many doctors recommend the method of doctors, who offer their own programs to help fight the disease with the help of specialized exercise equipment.

Every treatment hasContraindications, consult a doctor before use. In addition, vitamin and mineral complexes have a complex effect on diseases and can be used to restore the proper nutrition of cartilage tissue and joints.

What to do when osteochondrosis gets worse

The progression of osteochondrosis catches you off guard: You need to go to work, but your back can't be straight, your neck has trouble turning, and you feel dizzy. It usually occurs due to excessive physical exertion, prolonged exposure to uncomfortable positions (sitting in front of a computer, working in the garden, etc. ). Exacerbations are characterized by severe back pain or headache, limited movement, dizziness and even fainting.What should you do to relieve these symptoms? Gentle exercise, massage and sleeping in fresh air can help. Severe pain can be treated with medication. Only a doctor can prescribe medicine! When using the medication, improvement occurs within two hours.

folk remedies

Although there are folk remedies, they need to be used with caution. All of this is to get rid of the pain. For this, use various compresses, such as those made from raw grated potatoes and honey. Apply the paste to the painful area and wrap it in a film. The compress should be left on for a few hours, preferably overnight, and then rinsed off.To relieve neurological symptoms and manifestations of vegetative vascular dystonia, infusions of soothing herbs are helpful: chamomile, lemon balm, sage, peppermint, bilberry leaves.

There are contraindications and it is necessary to consult a specialist.

When fighting osteochondrosis, only one set of procedures will help: proper nutrition, physical therapy, massage, avoidance of excessive physical activity and an active lifestyle. If the disease has manifested itself, it is impossible to get rid of it completely, but it is possible to put the disease into long-term remission.