Thoracic osteochondrosis is an unpleasant disease that has a long and often unnoticeable development. The disease appears due to disruption of normal functioning and degenerative destruction of part of the vertebrae. Unlike the cervical and lumbar regions, the thoracic region is much less likely to undergo osteochondrosis due to its low mobility.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis 1 degree
First-degree osteochondrosis does not show pronounced characteristic symptoms, so a person decides to seek help from a doctor. Often the emerging disease is confused with other pathologies of the body: arrhythmia, pneumonia, gastritis. Due to inertia, the disease continues to develop, taking on a more serious clinical picture.
The almost asymptomatic course of 1st degree osteochondrosis is explained by the peculiarities of the structure of the spine. However, there are several symptoms to look out for when they appear:
- Sensation of pain in the chest area. It can be confused with intercostal neuralgia;
- Unpleasant kickback in the shoulder;
- Tingling in the heart, kidney, or stomach area
- Absence of obvious symptoms of pain in the spine.
In stage 1 only compaction and a decrease in the elasticity of the cartilage intervertebral tissue occurs. The spine remains quite mobile. Due to the fact that the disease occurs mainly in other parts of the body, without manifesting pathology immediately, making a diagnosis is difficult.
Symptoms of 2nd degree thoracic osteochondrosis
The passage of the disease to stage 2 means a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. As a result, the spine becomes less stable and the vertebrae acquire unhealthy mobility. At this stage, patients experience severe pain, signaling spinal problems.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region of the 2nd degree, in contrast to the disease of the 1st degree, is accompanied by pathological changes that are difficult to restore to a healthy state. Morphological symptoms of the disease are manifested in the form of rupture of the capsules and the formation of protrusions. A frequent occurrence at this stage is the occurrence of a crack in the fibrous ring. Thus, painful sensations are clearly felt directly in the affected area of the spine, thanks to which the diagnosis is greatly simplified. Clinically, such osteochondrosis looks like this:
- Recurring pain in the chest area;
- Pinching in the chest.
- When you stay in one position for a long time, discomfort appears;
- When you try to put your hand behind your head, there are sharp pains;
- Decrease in blood pressure;
- The appearance of scoliosis.
The onset of 2nd degree osteochondrosis is caused by the absence or poor quality treatment of 1st degree disease.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis 3 degrees
If the treatment of osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree was carried out poorly or out of time, the disease passes to the next more dangerous stage 3.
Morphologically, partial or complete destruction of the fibrous ring occurs in the spinal column of a sick person. The holding and shock absorbing abilities of the vertebrae are greatly reduced, which leads to the formation of protrusion and intervertebral hernia, followed by pinched nerves. Symptoms are permanent and severe, causing complete discomfort:
- The appearance of sharp pains at the time of coughing, deep breathing or just laughing;
- Constant aching pain in the affected area of the back;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- Feeling pain in the heart
- Possible numbness and cramps in the limbs;
- Restrictions of discomfort in the mobility of the hands;
- Signs of biliary dyskinesia and pancreatitis;
- Painful tingling in the solar plexus.
All of the above symptoms are for the most part a permanent obsessive character. After each dynamic or static load, there is a sharp increase in pain that persists even in the supine position. If this stage is also initiated, a change in the bone marrow occurs and disability appears.
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis 2, 3 degrees
There is only a small fraction of the chance that the disease will go in the opposite direction. Basically, in the treatment of osteochondrosis, with a degree of 2 or 3, slowing or stopping the degenerative development of the disease occurs.
All proposed methods and methods of treatment are divided into drug and non-drug therapies.
- Doctor. The main direction of drugs prescribed by a doctor is pain relief, stimulation of tissue microcirculation and reduction of inflammation. Medicines relieve unpleasant symptoms, helping to improve the patient's well-being. Depending on the manifestation of the disease, a person suffering from osteochondrosis may be prescribed drug therapy, which can:
- Relieves persistent pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed;
- Keep fluids in the intervertebral disc cavity. It is recommended to use papain;
- Relieves spasms and pinching. Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics help;
- Restores a healthier state of cartilage tissue. Reception of hondroprotectors is shown.
- Not drug. This type of therapy has a positive effect both alone and in combination with traditional treatment. In the world there are a huge number of ways to improve the condition of a person with osteochondrosis. The main ones are:
- Production of funds according to the recommendations of traditional medicine. The application is found in infusions and decoctions of celery root or sunflower root, various ointments.
- Acupuncture;
- Assistance in manual and post-isometric therapy;
- Physiotherapy;
- Plastic massage;
- Correction of the patient's lifestyle and nutrition;
- Traction and fixation of the vertebrae.
In the case of grade 3 osteochondrosis, in addition to other methods, it is often necessary to resort to surgery. Also, the listed drugs can be combined with taking hormonal drugs such as prednisone.
Osteochondrosis is a serious disease that requires attention. To prevent its development, it is recommended to carry out various preventive procedures, add physical education to life and follow the rules of a healthy diet.