Thoracic osteochondrosis is an unpleasant disease that has a long and often invisible development. The disease occurs 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 developing disease is confused with other pathologies in the body: arrhythmia, pneumonia, gastritis. Due to inaction, the disease continues to develop taking on a more serious clinical picture.
The almost asymptomatic course of grade 1 osteochondrosis is explained by the structural features of the spine. However, there are some symptoms that it is better to pay attention to when they appear:
- Feeling of pain in the chest area. May be confused with intercostal neuralgia;
- Uncomfortable traction on the shoulder;
- tingling sensation in the area of the heart, kidneys or stomach;
- Absence of obvious symptoms of back pain.
In stage 1, only compression and a decrease in the elasticity of cartilaginous intervertebral tissue occurs. The back remains quite mobile. Due to the fact that the disease appears mainly in other parts of the body, without showing pathology at the immediate site, establishing a diagnosis is difficult.
Symptoms of second-degree thoracic osteochondrosis
The transition of the disease to stage 2 implies a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. As a result, the spine becomes less stable and the vertebrae gain unhealthy mobility. At this stage, patients feel severe pain, signaling problems with the spine.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region of the second degree, unlike the disease of the first degree, is associated with pathological changes that are difficult to return to a healthy state. The morphological symptoms of the disease are manifested in the form of rupture of capsules and the formation of extensions. A common occurrence at this stage is the appearance of a crack in the fibrous ring. Therefore, painful sensations are clearly felt directly in the affected area of the spine, due to which the diagnosis is greatly simplified. Clinically, such osteochondrosis looks like this:
- Recurrent pain in the chest area;
- Crushing 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 is sharp pain;
- Low blood pressure;
- The appearance of scoliosis.
The onset of second-degree osteochondrosis is caused by the absence or poor quality treatment of grade 1 disease.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis 3 degrees
If the treatment of grade 2 osteochondrosis is poorly performed, or out of time, then the disease progresses to the next most dangerous stage 3.
Morphologically, in the spine of a sick person, a partial or complete destruction of the fibrous ring occurs. The fixation and suction capabilities of the vertebrae are significantly reduced, leading to the formation of elongation and intervertebral hernias, followed by compressed nerves. The symptoms are permanent and severe, causing complete discomfort:
- The appearance of sharp pains at the moment of coughing, deep breathing or just laughing;
- Persistent pain in the affected area of the back;
- Intercostal neuralgia;
- Feeling of pain in the heart;
- Possible numbness and cramping of the limbs;
- Restrictions of disturbance in hand movement;
- Signs of biliary dyskinesia and pancreatitis;
- A painful tingling sensation 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 also begins, 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 possibility that the disease will go in the opposite direction. Basically, in the treatment of osteochondrosis, with a grade 2 or 3, either slowing down or stopping the degenerative development of the disease occurs.
All methods and methods of treatment proposed are divided into drug therapy and non-drug therapy.
- Medical. The main direction of the drugs prescribed by the doctor is pain relief, stimulation of tissue microcirculation and reduction of inflammation. Medications relieve unpleasant symptoms, helping to improve patient well-being. Depending on the manifestation of the disease, a person suffering from osteochondrosis may be prescribed drug therapy that may:
- Relieve persistent pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed;
- Keep fluids in the intervertebral disc cavity. The use of papain is recommended;
- Relieve spasms and cramps. Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics help;
- Restore a healthier state of cartilage tissue. Taking chondroprotectors is indicated.
- Non-drugs. This type of therapy has a positive effect both on its own and in combination with traditional treatment. There are a number of ways in the world to improve the condition of a person with osteochondrosis. The main ones are:
- Production of funds according to the recommendations of traditional medicine. 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;
- Pulling and fixing the beads.
In the case of grade 3 osteochondrosis, in addition to other methods, it is often necessary to resort to surgical intervention. Also, the listed medications can be combined with taking hormonal medications like prednisone.
Osteochondrosis is a serious disease that requires attention. To prevent its development, it is recommended to perform various preventive procedures, add physical education to life and follow the rules of a healthy diet.