Osteochondrosis is a chronic pathological process in which the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs located between them undergo degenerative-dystrophic changes. Most often this disease affects the cervical and lumbar vertebrae. The thoracic spine is affected much less frequently, but this pathology presents some difficulties in terms of differential diagnosis, as it can be confused with heart, lung or other diseases. In this article, we will look at thoracic osteochondrosis in terms of symptoms and treatment.
Clinical picture of osteochondrosis of the chest
The leading clinical sign of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the chest is the pain syndrome, located between the shoulder blades, in the chest, along the ribs, etc.
Some patients report moderate pain, others report extremely severe pain. The pain syndrome is aggravated by deep breathing, twisting or tilting the torso, raising the arms, and other types of physical activity. Due to the location of the pain, osteochondrosis can be confused with angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, pancreatitis and some other diseases. It is extremely important to make an in-depth differential diagnosis.
Due to severe pain, the patient cannot take a deep breath, which causes shortness of breath. In parallel, there are often sensitive disorders of the upper extremities in the form of their tingling, numbness and much more, muscle tension in the back. In some cases, the clinical picture is supplemented by disorders of the digestive system, such as bloating, epigastric pain, heartburn, etc.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest
First of all, during the period of exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the chest, it is recommended to stick to the bed or at least half a bed.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain.
In 2014, scientists from the Kazakh National Medical University published an article, the results of which established the effectiveness of complex treatment of osteochondrosis with the use of muscle relaxants.
As for muscle relaxants, they are aimed at stopping muscle spasm.
The treatment plan must be supplemented with B vitamins, physiotherapy procedures. Electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, phonophoresis, etc. can be used as physiotherapeutic methods.
After stopping the acute process the patient may be prescribed courses of massage, therapeutic exercises.
In some cases, surgery may be considered, for example in the presence of an intervertebral hernia that compresses the spinal cord.