Sternum pain with osteochondrosis occursmuch less often than with a similar disease of the lumbar or cervical spine. In this regard, such a disease is quite difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages of its development. Therefore, we decided to devote this article to this topic. From it you will learn about what pain occurs in the sternum with osteochondrosis, as well as how to treat this disease.
general information
Термин «остеохондроз» пришел в медицину с Greek and literally means ὀστέον, that is, "bone", and χόνδρος, that is, "cartilage". In other words, it is a complex of dystrophic disorders in cartilage and joints. This disease can develop in almost any moving part of the skeleton. Often patients complain that they regularly feel pain behind the sternum. In osteochondrosis, this symptom manifests itself in every second patient. This fact is due to the fact that during the aforementioned disease intervertebral discs are affected, which, in contact with each other, cause discomfort giving to the sternum.
Types of lesions
Depending on where the intervertebral disc disorders are located, the following types of osteochondrosis are distinguished:
- thoracic;
- cervical;
- lumbar.
Should pay particular attention to the fact that painin the chest with osteochondrosis of the cervical region is practically no different from the unpleasant sensation that occurs with lesions of the thoracic vertebrae. That is why to identify this disease, you should definitely consult a doctor who will conduct a medical examination and make an accurate diagnosis.
How often does the disease develop?
As mentioned above, the pain in the sternum whenosteochondrosis occurs much less frequently than with other similar diseases. This is due to the fact that the human spinal column has several sections. Cervical - is the most mobile, and lumbar accounts for the greatest load. As for the thoracic, it helps to form a skeleton in which all the vital organs are located. It is for this reason that the vertebrae in this place are less mobile. Moreover, they rarely have a large load.
In connection with all of the above, it can be noted that the pain behind the sternum is not always indicative of the presence of osteochondrosis of the said section.
The beginning of breast osteochondrosis
How does this happen? If you regularly feel pain behind the sternum, you should immediately consult a doctor. Indeed, despite the rarity of this disease, it still occurs in some people.
In the initial stages of thoracic osteochondrosisintervertebral discs are gradually becoming thinner. Further protrusions often occur. At this stage, the discs begin to bulge sideways or inward, with the result that a hernia is formed.
As a rule, pain in the sternum with osteochondrosis(treatment will be presented below) becomes more pronounced during active movement or after exercise. However, it should be noted that in cases of lesions of the thoracic vertebrae, such sensations rarely disturb the patient. This is due to the fact that this department is strictly fixed. If the resulting changes in one way or another affect the fibers of the nervous vegetative system, then the patient may easily think that he has common problems with the digestive organs, heart, etc. Although the pain behind the sternum is actually only an echo from vertebrae. .
Causes
Why does this happen?What is the reason for chest pain in osteochondrosis? Above it was said that this disease is associated with the destruction of the articular and cartilaginous tissues of the spine. So why is it collapsing?
To date, the reasons that causechanges in the drives are not studied until the end. Most often, the pain in the sternum with osteochondrosis begins to be felt after 35 years. Exacerbation and development of this disease contribute to back injuries, vibrations, dynamic and static overload. Also, osteochondrosis, including thoracic, often appears due to:
- overweight;
- hereditary (or so-called genetic) predisposition;
- metabolic disorders, infection or intoxication;
- improper nutrition (lack of fluid and trace elements);
- age changes;
- spinal injuries (fractures and bruises);
- violations of posture, flatfoot;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- adverse environmental conditions;
- work related to weight lifting;
- a long stay in uncomfortable positions in a sitting, standing or lying position;
- excessive physical exertion;
- overloads of the spine associated with diseases of the foot;
- abrupt termination of regular training by professional athletes;
- nervous tension, stressful situations;
- smoking
Sternum pain in osteochondrosis: symptoms of the disease
Patients diagnosed with osteochondrosisregularly complain of aching pain in the back and behind the sternum. As a rule, subsequently feeling of aches in the limbs and numbness join these sensations.
What other symptoms occur besides the person who feels a pain in the chest? Osteochondrosis is almost always accompanied by such signs as:
- a marked increase in pain during sudden movements, lifting weights, exercise, sneezing and coughing;
- muscle spasms.
It should also be noted that damage to the chest, cervical and lumbar vertebrae can sometimes cause other symptoms. Consider them in more detail.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae
Всегда ли при таком отклонении возникает боль в rib cage? Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine may not be accompanied by the described sensations. But with such a deviation, patients almost always say that they periodically have pains in the shoulders, arms and headaches. Therefore, the development of vertebral artery syndrome is possible. With such a pathology, a person often has noise in the head, flashing of “flies”, dizziness or the appearance of colored spots before the eyes. The cause of this syndrome is a spasm of the vertebral artery in response to irritation of its sympathetic plexus.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic vertebrae
When does chest pain occur?Osteochondrosis of the thoracic vertebrae is the main cause of such unpleasant sensations. At the same time, the patient can claim that they have stuck a stake in him. Although it should be noted that sometimes these symptoms do not appear at all. In this regard, to diagnose such a disease is much more difficult than the lesion of the cervical or lumbar.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral vertebrae
With such a deviation of pain in the chestpractically do not arise. But at the same time, the patient may regularly complain of discomfort in the back, which is given to the sacrum, the pelvic organs, and the lower or upper limbs.
Sternum pain in osteochondrosis: the treatment of the disease
Before talking about the therapy givendisease, should reveal the essence of the problem. The fact is that it is impossible to completely cure osteochondrosis of the spinal column. This fact is due to the fact that it is a degenerative process occurring in the disks. In other words, they simply collapse. When this occurs, not only a violation of the biological mechanics of the spine, but the entire skeleton as a whole. Also during this disease, a lot of neurological abnormalities occur.
In connection with all the above, I would like to note that the complex therapy of the presented disease should:
- Stop the subsequent destruction of the disks, and ideally - to restore their previous structure.
- Restore the biological mechanics of the spinal column.
- Eliminate any disturbances in the nervous system.
Medication
How to remove chest pain?Osteochondrosis, the treatment of which must be complex, is always accompanied by unpleasant sensations. In this regard, the therapy of the presented deviations should be primarily directed to the fight against pain. After all, with the displacement of the disks and squeezing of the nerve root, a rather strong pain syndrome occurs that can cause spasms of the muscle tissue of the back. At the same time, it violates the biological mechanics of the spine. Thus, there is a vicious circle: pain noticeably increases muscle spasms, and cramps increase pain.
What medications should be taken?
As a rule, for osteochondrosis, accompanied by severe pain behind the sternum, back, limbs, etc., the following drugs are prescribed:
- Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal agents (for example, Diclofenac, Ketorolac, Ibuprofen). They suppress pain and partially relieve inflammation in the damaged nerve roots.
- Glucocorticosteroids (for example, drugs"Prednisolone", "Methylprednisolone", "Dexamethasone"). These are hormonal agents that have a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. However, it should be noted that the side effects of this type of medicine are much greater than those of NSAIDs.
- Diuretics, or so-called diureticsdrugs (for example, means "Furosemide", "Diakarb", "Hydrochlorothiazide"). These drugs relieve swelling from pinched nerve roots, and are also used as an adjunct to other medications. This medicine is used for a short time.
- Preparations to improve the metabolism of nerve tissue. These tools include vitamins B, Pentoxifylline, Actovegin, thioctic acid, and so on.
- Chondroprotectors (for example, Glucosamineor "Chondroitin sulfate"). Manufacturers of these funds claim that the presented group of drugs is able to restore the damaged cartilage of the vertebral discs. Although clear evidence in this regard has not yet been received.
