Osteochondrosis of the thoracic column: symptoms, treatment, grade, gymnastics

The "chameleon" disease, which disguises itself as dangerous diseases of the heart and lungs, causing panic attacks and a sense of lack of air, this is the osteochondrosis of the thoracic column.Their symptoms can be so diverse that an inexperienced doctor can, trying to find the cause, prescribe many tests and, sometimes, put an intensive care person.

We will talk about how to understand that it has precisely osteochondrosis of the thoracic region and how to solve it.

Reasons

The disease is quite rare.This is due to the fact that the spine, that is, the joints between the vertebrae, are created almost immobile in the thoracic region.And if a person makes an acute movement, or often moves against the axis of the intervertebral joints (for example, excavates or raises gravity with just one hand), then all the vertebrae of the chest ignites immediately.Separately, they don't work on each other.

The causes of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

• scoliosis in the thoracic or lumbosacra region;
• excessive or incorrect physical effort;
• thoracic column injuries;
• Excess weight: more than 10% of the "position" by complexion;
• Metabolism violation: as a result of endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, adrenal gland pathology and others) or inadequate nutrition;
• anomalies in the development of the thoracic column;
• Hypodinamia (intervertebral disc, which is destroyed with osteochondrosis, also works with the muscles of the back).

Degree of thoracic osteochondrosis

The doctors decided to distinguish the degree of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region so that one could understand how far the process of destruction of the disc has gone between the two vertebrae of the breast.

So, there are 4 degrees of breast osteochondrosis:

• 1 grade.The intervertebral album loses moisture, becomes more fragile, cracks appear in it.This is accompanied by a slight pain that disappears alone.
• 2 degrees.The amount of fluid in the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc becomes even smaller: the album height decreases, the cracks (especially one of them) are deepened.The defect fills the "nucleus" of the album, an octopoose core, which reverts even more the crack.The nucleus of the pulp does not penetrate abroad.The muscles of the back in the damaged intervertebral disc area are tense, trying to prevent the backbone from turning to the "filtered" disc.This causes severe back pain, so you have to make pauses at work.
• 3 degrees.The crack in the fibrous ring of the disc reaches the edge of the vertebra, the octopus core is rushed to it and begins to excel.Therefore, 3 degrees is an intervertebral hernia.With her, pain feels almost all the time, when doing the job.We have to change jobs to easier.Personal service is saved.
• 4 degrees.In the area of the affected discs, the connective tissue grows.She blocks the neighboring vertebrae.In addition, the vertebral bone tries to compensate for a decrease in the layer between the vertebrae, and grows.Bone "spikes" appear - osteophytes.

Symptoms

At first

While the pulp core has not completely made the path inside the surrounding ring, it almost does not manifest.Periodically, with inclined or elevation weights, pain can appear among the shoulder blades, which happens quite fast after the break.

The symptoms of the osteochondrosis of the thoracic column in the acute stage can be very diverse, that is:

Chest pain

More often it hurts and in the long term, but sometimes it can be acute.Location:

• back: among the shoulder blades;
• Heart Area;
• under a spoon;
• In the rib area, so it becomes painful to breathe.

The difference between this pain in osteochondrosis is that:

• It is not so strong that you can lose consciousness.This is characteristic of myocardial infarction;
• It does not arise in response to an emotional burden, only to physics;
• It does not appear when walking against the wind, climbing the stairs or when you reach the cold;
• It intensifies when lifting hands, tours and inclinations;
• It intensifies if you breathe deep;
• Pain attacks differ from each other in location and intensity (with angina pectoralis, for example, they will be stereotyped);
• It does not disappear if the load stops;
• It can be located if someone presses on the spine in the thoracic region: in a place it will be very painful;
• She yields in her hand, although more frequently, in 2 hands.But even if she gives to her left hand (as the pain of the heart does), then not to the little finger;
• It does not depend on meals, such as gastritis or angina of pectoris;
• not eliminated by nitroglycerin, which, on the contrary, helps with angina pectoris;
• It does not intensify when the chest gland feels (if it seems that it hurts).In this case, nodes or stamps are not felt in the chest;
• There is no such thing that pain gradually grew, but after stress stops or nitroglycerin has disappeared sharply.This is characteristic of angina pectoris;
• The pain is not accompanied by nausea, stomach acidity, scholar.This can talk about gastritis, as well as the angina of pectoris.

Feeling in the chest

Due to which an "incomplete breathing" can occur.In general, this symptom is accompanied by back pain, but even if there is no pain, then there is no poisoning, as in pneumonia (weakness, the desire to relax, a decrease in appetite).This can cause panic, but, having calmed down, tell your pulse.With thoracic osteochondrosis, it will not be more than 100 blows per minute, and with heart disease or lungs, it may well be.

Other symptoms

• Violation of sensitivity in the hand or in two hands: they become more "great", they freeze, "chicken skin runs along them."
• In some cases, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region resemble a panic attack (fear, heartbeat, sweating).In combination with the pain behind the sternum, this can indicate a myocardial infarction, so in this case it is better to take nitroglycerin (up to 3 tablets) and call an ambulance that will eliminate the cardiogram.
• Digestive system interruption: frequent exacerbations of gastritis, constipation, swelling, periodic abdominal pain, periodic diarrhea - without error in the diet.

With thoracic osteochondrosis, such symptoms last approximately 10-14 days, provided it has stopped bending temporarily and making torsion movements.The disease enters the subacute stage.

Signs in the subacute stage

There is still pain and difficulty breathing, but they are no longer so intense and less concerns.So, if in the acute stage you need to find a situation to reconcile the dream and not suffocate, then in the subacute period you do not need to apply such efforts.

The stage lasts 12 to 14 days.If you observe all the doctor's recommendations, do not increase weights, do not double and not hypothermia, the remission stage comes, when all symptoms leave.If the regime is altered, the disease can return to the acute stage.

Remission

During this period, there are no symptoms.Perhaps, of course, "shoot" under the ribs if he decides to work physically, but happens quickly.

The exacerbation of the disease can be caused:

• physical activity (especially raise pesos and inclinations);
• stress;
• hypothermia;
• an acute change in the fire to the cold (immerse yourself in a hole or bathe in the snow after a bath);
• Without successful campaign to a masseuse or manual therapy;
• prolonged finding in a folded position;
• alcohol intake (especially in combination with one of the above factors).

Diagnosis

The diagnosis and treatment of the osteochondrosis of the thoracic column are dedicated to a neurologist (neuropathologist).When you get to it, describing your complaints, perform an initial inspection: it probes the spaces between the vertebrae of the breast (with osteochondrosis, you can find a painful point) and determine the reflexes and the sensitivity of the hands.

To confirm the diagnosis, you need:

• ECG, possibly against the bottom of the load on the running tape (thread test).This will exclude angina pectoris;
• radiography or computed tomography of the thoracic column;
• In women, especially the elderly, mammography, since the symptoms of the breast osteochondrosis often accompany the diseases of the mammary gland, not always evil.

Treatment

How to treat the osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, the doctor will say, after confirming the diagnosis, determining the stage and nature of the violations (sensitivity of the hands, respiratory disorders).

In the acute stage, a minimum, or at least semi -se -flooring is recommended.In the future, the regime expands.In general, for the treatment of osteochondrosis, such methods are used (they need their complex):

Drug treatment

Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory They are analgesics. They can be drunk in the form of tablets or glued as a patch ("Alfen"), if the pain is tolerant.In the subacute period, they can be used as ointments for osteochondrosis.And in the acute period with severe pain, only as injections. This is Diclofenaco (Voltaren analogues, Almiral, Olfen, Naklofen, Diklak), the most "strong" of the NSAID group. This also includes ibuprof ", pray," Nise. Anesthetic drugs such as Kever, Ketanov or Ketalong are better not to use: they have a weak anti -inflammatory effect.

Musorelaxantes Its task is to relieve the muscle spasm that maintains the column from the turn and transmit the nerve endings and blood vessels.In the acute period, it is better to take them as injections for osteochondrosis, then change to tablets. This is Midokalm, Tizalud, Sirdalud.

Condroprotectors These are drugs whose effectiveness is still disputed.However, many doctors recommend using them a long course to give the intervertebral disc the opportunity to recover. This is Arthra, Alfltop, Don, Teraflex, Structures and others.

B Vitamins B vitamins They are needed to improve the transmission of the pulse of the nerve into the muscle.In the acute period, it is better to start with injections, for example, neurorrubin, then change to neurorrubin, milgamma, neuroinitano or others tablets.

Keep in mind: To relieve pain in breast osteochondrosis!Then you can breathe full validity, thus improving the nutrition of oxygen throughout the organism.In addition, the elimination of superficial breathing is the prevention of stagnant pneumonia.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

This treatment improves the effect of medications.Applied:

1. Electrophoresis with anesthetics and medications that improve local blood circulation.In this case, the drug is carried out by electric shock directly on the back of the back.
2. MagnetotherapyUnder the influence of the magnetic field, the work of the infringed nerve endings improves, the edema of the tissues is eliminated.
3. Phonoforesis (the introduction of ultrasound medications) helps to better anesthetize its back and eliminate inflammation of infringed tissues.It also has the ability to improve metabolism in the effect of exposure.
4. Acupuncture: The introduction of special sterile needles at active points responsible for the work of the thoracic column.
5. Laser therapy according to the external method: improves blood circulation in tense muscles and the intervertebral disc that suffers.

Massage

The massage for osteochondrosis is an effective procedure if a specialist does it.The massage session can improve blood circulation in the affected area, relax the spasmodic muscles, improve the exit of blood and lymphas of this area.This accelerates healing and reduces pain.

Important: in the acute period of the disease, massage, as well as the load by osteochondrosis, is contraindicated.You can proceed to the procedure 2 weeks after the sinking of acute pain and difficulty breathing.Massage should not cause unpleasant sensations or pain!

To reduce the amount of exacerbations, it is recommended that massage courses take place at least 2 times a year.Could be:

• Therapeutic manual massage: Exposure by hands on the dye of the muscles that have lost and lost their tone to normalize their condition;
• Hardware: Muscle study by various types of exciting manipulas.It can also resort to the services provided by cosmetologists: endobes and LPG massage.They also affect back pain;
• Point: In this case, the biologically active points are resolved manually, as a result, the condition of the internal organs is poured due to the spine turn;
• Small: the effect on the muscles that have changed the tone is produced using a vacuum.

Exercise therapy

Exercises for osteochondrosis can only begin to be done in the subacute and remission period, as well as 2 weeks after eliminating the hernia from the disc.

LFK is contraindicated, if the posterior muscles are still very tense, a vertebra is very tight towards another, which requires a surgical intervention, with severe pain.

It is recommended that gymnastics for osteochondrosis begin with the Auto -Sketching of the spine.To do this, you must take a wide and soft table, and attach at one end to the wall at an altitude of approximately 100 cm from the floor (to make an angle of 30-45 °).The lower edge is located on the floor.On the upper edge, on both sides, 2 leather straps are attached approximately 45 cm long, so that you can cross them yourself and then take your hands yourself.

The car -sketching method is that you go to this board with your back, head up, hands on straps.Place the soft fabric under the knees lifting it in a roller and fall for 10-15 minutes.It shouldn't be painful.If the pain is present, increase the angle of inclination of the board.If this does not help, you will have to do it differently:

• Make a blanket of blankets on the floor;
• Lie on the roller so that there is a blocked area on the top;
• Slightly dilute your legs;
• Cubits and knees - folded, touch the floor, the weight of the body is in them;
  The head must hang slightly or lie on folded brushes;
• If you do not feel for the column to stretch, you can increase the load: move your legs back and arms forward;
• 5 minutes of inspiration for 10 seconds to tighten the back muscles, in exhalation - relax
• Relax and breathe in the stomach, another 5 minutes.

Bridge

Instead of such efforts, you can use the simulator called "bridge to stretch the column."Stretch the spine and, first, stretch the damaged chest region, under the weight of its own body (it is a metal arch).

Using it in the referral period, only 5 minutes 2 times a day allows you to significantly extend the painless period.This simulator has many positive criticisms.

Complications of thoracic osteochondrosis

These include:

• Pneumosclerosis;
• arrhythmias;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• violation of digestive organs;
• Deterioration of sexual and reproductive function: both women and men.

Prevention

To never feel what osteochondrosis is (especially if there is little or there is already scoliosis), pay attention to such prevention measures:

1. Do not exaggerate.
2. Do not lift gravity abruptly: this should happen after preparation.
3. Follow your posture when you feel and walk.An ergonomic chair can be installed in the car, which will even admit the back.
4. Be sure to take breaks during the work: Get up, go, perform the car -Massage of the back, so that the column receives enough power.
5. Do not begin your scoliosis: Tract it in time.
6. Reduce the amount of salt and sugar in the diet.
7. Exclude dishes containing smoked meats, marinates, sharp seasoning.Fried products must also be eliminated.
8. Sleep in the orthopedic mattress and a low pillow (or also orthopedic).