Thoracic osteochondrosis is an unpleasant disease that has a long and often imperceptible development. The disease occurs due to disturbances in the normal functioning and degenerative destruction of part of the spine. Unlike the cervical and lumbar regions, the thoracic region is much less prone to osteochondrosis due to its low mobility.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis grade 1
First-degree osteochondrosis does not show pronounced characteristic symptoms, so the person decides to seek medical help. Often the emerging disease is mixed with other pathologies in the body: arrhythmia, pneumonia, gastritis. Due to inactivity, the disease continues to develop, taking on a more serious clinical picture.
The almost asymptomatic course of stage 1 osteochondrosis is explained by the peculiarities of the structure of the spine. But still, there are a few symptoms that are best to look out for when they occur:
- Feeling of pain in the chest area. It can be confused with intercostal neuralgia;
- Unpleasant twitch in the shoulder;
- Tingling in the heart, kidneys or stomach;
- Absence of obvious symptoms of back pain.
In phase 1, there is only compaction and reduction of the elasticity of the cartilaginous intervertebral tissue. The spine remains quite mobile. Due to the fact that the disease manifests itself mainly in other parts of the body, and that the pathology does not manifest itself on the spot, making a diagnosis is difficult.
Symptoms of grade 2 thoracic osteochondrosis
The transition 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 gain unhealthy mobility. At this stage, patients feel severe pain, signaling problems with the spine.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region of the 2nd degree, unlike the disease of the 1st degree, is accompanied by pathological changes that are difficult to return to a healthy state. Morphological symptoms of the disease are manifested in the form of rupture of capsules and the formation of protrusions. 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, which makes the diagnosis greatly simplified. Clinically, such osteochondrosis looks like this:
- Recurrent chest pain;
- Tingling in the chest.
- When you stay in one position for a long time, discomfort occurs;
- When you try to put your hand behind your head, sharp pains appear;
- Decreased blood pressure;
- Occurrence of scoliosis.
The occurrence of grade 2 osteochondrosis is caused by the absence or poor treatment of grade 1 disease.
Symptoms of grade 3 thoracic osteochondrosis
If the treatment of osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree was carried out badly or not, then the disease passes to the next more dangerous phase 3.
Morphologically, in the spine of a sick person there is a partial or complete destruction of the fibrous ring. The ability to fix and amortize the vertebrae decreases sharply, which leads to the formation of intervertebral bulges and hernias, followed by nerve entrapment. The symptoms are permanent and severe, causing complete discomfort:
- Occurrence of sharp pains at the moment of coughing, deep breathing or just laughing;
- Constant aching pain in the affected area of the back;
- Intercostal neuralgia;
- Feeling of pain in the heart;
- Possible numbness and limb cramps;
- Limitations of discomfort in hand mobility;
- Signs of biliary dyskinesia and pancreatitis;
- Painful tingling in the solar plexus.
All of the above symptoms are mostly of a permanent obsessive nature. After each dynamic or static load, there is a sudden increase in pain that lasts even in the supine position. If this phase also begins, there is a change in bone marrow and disability.
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis 2, 3 degrees
There is only a small part of the chance that the disease will go in the opposite direction. Basically, in the treatment of osteochondrosis, which has a grade of 2 or 3, the degenerative development of the disease is slowed down or stopped.
All proposed methods and methods of treatment are divided into drug and non-drug therapy.
- Medical. The main direction of medication prescribed by a doctor is to relieve pain, stimulate tissue microcirculation and reduce inflammation. Medications alleviate 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 can:
- Relieve persistent pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed;
- Retain fluid in the cavity of the intervertebral disc. The use of papain is recommended;
- Relieve cramps and pinching. Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics help;
- Restore healthier cartilage. The reception of chondroprotectors is shown.
- Non-drugs. This type of therapy has a positive effect both alone and in combination with traditional treatment. There are a huge number of ways in the world to improve the condition of a person with osteochondrosis. The main ones are:
- Preparation of funds according to the recommendations of traditional medicine. It is used in infusions and decoctions of celery root or sunflower, various ointments.
- Acupuncture;
- Assistance in manual and postisometric therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- Plastic massage;
- Correction of the patient's lifestyle and diet;
- Traction and fixation of vertebrae.
In the case of grade 3 osteochondrosis, in addition to other methods, it is often necessary to resort to surgery. Also, these drugs can be combined with taking hormonal drugs such as prednisone.
Osteochondrosis is a serious disease that requires attention. In order to prevent its development, it is recommended to carry out various preventive procedures, add physical education to life and adhere to the rules of healthy eating.