Content
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1Thoracic radiculitis: symptoms, treatment
- 1.1Symptoms and treatment of thoracic radiculitis
- 1.2Clinical symptoms of thoracic radiculitis
- 1.3Treatment of thoracic radiculitis
- 1.4Examples of exercises with thoracic radiculitis
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2Symptoms and treatment of thoracic radiculitis with folk remedies, tablets, physiotherapy
- 2.1Causes of development and types of thoracic radiculitis
- 2.2Treatment of thoracic radiculitis.
- 2.3Treatment with folk remedies
- 2.4Medication
- 2.5Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- 2.6Vitamin Complexes
- 2.7Muscle relaxants
- 2.8Chondroprotectors
- 2.9Ointments and patches
- 2.10Physiotherapeutic procedures
- 2.11Surgery
- 2.12Physiotherapy
- 2.13Complications
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3Thoracic sciatica: localization of inflammation
- 3.1The causes of breast sciatica
- 3.2Diagnosis of thoracic radiculitis
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4Stages, symptoms and features of treatment of thoracic radiculitis
- 4.1Symptoms
- 4.2Stages of the disease
- 4.31-st - discalgic (neurological)
- 4.42nd - neurotic
- 4.5Causes
- 4.6Under what diseases is the thoracic radiculitis concealed?
- 4.7Treatment
- 4.8Prevention
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5Radiculitis in the thoracic region: causes, symptoms and treatment
- 5.1Symptoms of thoracic sciatica
- 5.2Causes of the disease
- 5.3Recommended by a doctor
Thoracic radiculitis: symptoms, treatment
The thoracic spine is a kind of forward line of our musculoskeletal system. Because of the fact that vital organs are attached to the chest, it is most strongly strengthened. Reinforcing the ribs turns it into a fairly fixed connection.
This leads to the fact that osteochondrosis and other degenerative processes rarely develop here, and if there is pain, it is more often associated with heart disease, respiratory system, or epigastric region.
However, one can not reject such a cause as thoracic radiculitis.
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic radiculitis
Diagnosis of thoracic radiculitis is always complicated by the fact that in the beginning it is necessary to exclude diseases internal organs as the most likely cause of pain, and only then undergo a vertebrology. Therefore, if you are sick in the chest, first of all you will have to look to the cardiologist, pulmanologist or gastrologist.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that thoracic radiculitis gives symptoms that are very similar to those that most induce horror to people:
- Sharp left-sided pain in the sternum, giving in the upper-humeral girdle, shoulder blade, arm - many such symptoms are immediately taken for a heart attack, ischemic disease, angina
- Right-sided pain in the chest and surrounding in the intercostal spaces, these symptoms are respectively regarded as pneumonia, pleurisy, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, etc.
If the diagnosis did not reveal any of the possible diseases suspected of the symptoms, then we should assume radiculitis.
However, even suspecting radiculitis, one must have water, that its nature can be completely different. There are two main types - primary and secondary.
Primary thoracic radiculitis
- Primary thoracic radiculitis can occur both due to simple hypothermia, and because of acute infectious and viral diseases:
Angina, meningitis, influenza, chickenpox, herpes, tuberculosis, etc. - It is manifested almost simultaneously with the main pathology
- If timely and correct treatment of the disease is carried out, the radiculitis is finally cured without requiring additional measures
Secondary thoracic radiculitis
- Secondary radiculitis is never the cause of a simple draft or some kind of infection. It is based on more complex, lengthy processes:
- Osteochondrosis
- Spondyloarthrosis
- Bechterew's disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Injuries
- Primary tumor and metastatic processes
- Thoracic radiculitis of a secondary nature does not appear externally immediately, but only when the process has reached the stage of irritation of the nerve root. From the onset of the disease to the first symptoms of sciatica, it may take a long time
- If secondary thoracic sciatica is diagnosed, treatment is prolonged and complex, since the disease tends to flow into a chronic form precisely because it reveals itself fairly late
Clinical symptoms of thoracic radiculitis
- The pain is paroxysmal, but it can also be permanent
- Strengthens with movement, breathing, and sometimes even from minor vibrations caused by coughing, sneezing, laughing
- The increase in the pain symptom is also fixed during palpation:
- spinous processes of the vertebrae
- points located in the region of the exit of the spinal nerves
- intercostal spaces
- When stimulating the roots of the lower thoracic region, there is often a muscle spasm of the anterior abdominal wall. This leads to a false symptom of the "acute abdomen"
- Infringement of the upper roots leads to the cases described above - imitation of heart attacks and pulmonary diseases
Treatment of thoracic radiculitis
How is radiculitis of the thoracic spine treated?
- Calling a doctor at home at a temperature, severe chest pain and other anxiety symptoms, or an independent trip to a polyclinic with mild symptoms is the first thing to do
- Diagnosis with thoracic radiculitis should be performed immediately. The survey includes:
- ECG (electrocardiography)
- X-ray
- Ultrasound (ultrasound examination)
- MRI or CT scan (if necessary)
- Provide yourself a few days of bed rest with limited loads:
The surface on which you lie, in no case should sag under the weight of the body - Treatment entirely depends on the detected disease, which has caused radiculitis:
- If this is an infection, from the very first days a specific antibacterial treatment
- If secondary causes, then, if necessary, first anesthetic treatment is carried out with the help of:
- Non-steroid drugs (NSAIDs)
- Glucocorticosteroids
- Local anesthetics (novocaine, lidocaine)
- Muscle relaxants
- Vitamin preparations of group B
- Sedatives
The choice of an anesthetic is determined by the severity of the pain process and the diagnosis
- Chronic radiculitis of the thoracic vertebral department especially requires restorative treatment. In this case, the doctor can appoint:
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Physiotherapy
- Therapeutic physical training
- Physiotherapy in this case can provide an invaluable service
- Another possibility to maintain the stability of the spine and reduce pain in the thoracic radiculitis is the treatment with exercises
Examples of exercises with thoracic radiculitis
- Turn your face to the wall and lean against it with the hands bent at the elbows. With effort, we press on the wall, keeping the original position and not leaving the place
- The situation is the same. Approaching the wall and pushing it away with her hands
- Standing position, hands on the waist. We rotate the body alternately left and right, accompanying each turn with a sweeping motion of the outstretched arm
- On inhalation we rise on tiptoe, hands and face lift up. On inhalation we fall on the heels, hands - down, we bend in the lower back forward
- Lie flat on the floor, stretching socks. Deeply inhale and rest with all the strength of the back of the head, shoulder blades and buttocks on the floor. On exhalation slowly relax
- Lying on his back, pull up his hands bent at the knees to him. In this position, we swing in the longitudinal direction
- Hands are straightened to the sides, legs are bent at the knees. We lower them on the left side and on the right side, pressing the upper part of the trunk to the floor
- Lying, raise your straightened legs vertically upward and slowly, tearing off the pelvis and lower back from the floor, to lower them in the opposite direction, trying to get the floor behind your head
A source: https://ZaSpiny.ru/dorsopatiya/grudnoy-radikulit.html
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic radiculitis with folk remedies, tablets, physiotherapy
Thoracic radiculitis is an inflammation or clamping of the ends of the spinal nerves in the thoracic spine. Quite a rare ailment, which most often affects the male part of the population aged 40 to 60 years.
The main symptom - acute or paroxysmal pain in the back, localized in the thoracic region, is circumscribed and spreads along the intercostal nerves (from the back to the anterior sternum).
Excruciating pains intensify with inspiration, coughing, movement, pain points appear - body parts, with pressing on which the painful sensations are amplified or, conversely, there may be a loss sensitivity.
Also there is an irradiation of pain in the forearm, arm, muscle spasm is observed.
Thoracic radiculitis can be confused with intercostal neuralgia, but the radiculitis of the spine has its own additional symptoms, depending on the location of the affected roots.
- It can be:
- problems with swallowing food, the patient complains of a "lump in the throat
- disorders in the work of the stomach, intestines, gallbladder, manifested as nausea, vomiting, pain in the right upper quadrant - a symptom of "acute abdomen
- if the lesion of the nerve endings has occurred at the level of the heart muscle of the left part of the sternum, severe pain can be accompanied by numbness of the hand, palpitations - symptomatology similar to angina
- symptoms of right-sided thoracic radiculitis are similar to signs of pulmonary diseases (pleurisy, pneumonia).
In connection with the manifestations of different symptoms, it is often called radicular syndrome.
Causes of development and types of thoracic radiculitis
- The causes of this condition can be:
- osteochondrosis, scoliosis;
- trauma, sprains in the spine;
- hypothermia, viral infection;
- Bechterew's disease, rheumatoid arthritis;
- tumors, metastases.
- Breast radiculitis, depending on the cause of the onset, is divided into:
- Primary (neurological) - radicular syndrome developed as a result of a viral or bacterial disease of the body and is acute. The patient describes painful pains as a "count in the back". This type of radiculitis, with the elimination of the source, which caused its development, passes in 10-14 days.
- Secondary (neurotic) - the source of radiculitis became the ailments of the spine itself: curvature, trauma, tumor. This type of disease becomes chronic with frequent relapses.
Multiple Symptomsradiculitis of the thoracic or cervicothoracic part is not allowed immediatelyto diagnose, so the question of what to treat the pain that arises can be answeredspecialist only, and then after a full survey. In the first place, diseases with similar signs are excluded, and then with the help of additional clinical methods (palpation, general analysis of blood, radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) is diagnosed and methods are assigned cure.
To diagnose, to reveal the reasons of development and to pick up an adequate treatment can only the doctor.
Treatment of thoracic radiculitis.
First of all, it is necessary to stop the pain syndrome, to eliminate muscle spasm. Further, the therapy is aimed at the removal of antiphlogistic processes in the nerve roots, improvement of microcirculation and metabolism, restoration of fibers of nerve endings.
Treatment with folk remedies
To alternative medicine resorted to reduce pain syndrome, inflammation, eliminate spasms. When the patient has reached relief, he must necessarily consult with the therapist to identify the sources of the disease, eliminate them and further prevent them.
- For the treatment of this disease apply:
- Compresses from grated potatoes, garlic or radishes. The resulting gruel is applied to the sore spot for several hours, covered with cellophane and wrapped in a wool product.
- Honey-mustard compress: grind the pain area with honey, cover with several layers of gauze, put mustard plasters on top and wrap it well for 2-3 hours.
- Razirki. Painful place rubbed with camphor, fir oil, tincture of eucalyptus, propolis.
- Baths with horseradish. Grated horseradish put in a bag, put in hot water (38-39 degrees) in a bath. The procedure should be carried out before bedtime.
- Baths with a pine: a kilogram of shoots pour a liter of water. Boil 10 minutes, insist 2 hours, add infusion to the bath.
When using traditional medicine, it is necessary to remember the existence of contraindications (allergic reactions, individual intolerance, etc.), which should be read before application.
Medication
Treatment with medicines includes the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets or injections, vitamin B preparations, as well as the use of warming ointments, plasters.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- In tablets:
Diclofenac: 100 mg once a day;
Ibuprofen: 1 tablet 2 times a day, for 10-14 days.
Analgin, Aspirin for 1-2 gr. per day for 3 hours.
Applied with the first painful sensations, do not require the appointment of a doctor. Contraindications for use are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. - In the injection: the steroid preparations in the form of injections are prescribed by the doctor, with a strong pain syndrome, for a short course, in connection with possible side effects. They help only to temporarily stop pain, since they do not eliminate the root cause of the disease. Injections of Diclofenac are performed intramuscularly once a day, no more than 2 days. Injections Analgina intramuscularly, intravenously on 250-500 ml 3 times a day.
Novokainovye blockades are conducted by a doctor for the rapid removal of acute pain syndrome.
Vitamin Complexes
Vitamins of group B are prescribed by a doctor, as an additional remedy for the basic treatment.
Injections of Neurorubin, duration: 30 days, 3 ml of medication administered intramuscularly once a day. Course: 10 days.
After taking Neurovitan: 1 piece. 3 times a day.
Muscle relaxants
Tolpiril is first prescribed in injections: 1 ml of the drug intramuscularly 2 times a day. Course: 10 days. Next, the drug is taken in the form of tablets of 1 pc. 1 time per day for a month.
It is prescribed by the therapist for acute pain syndrome and severe muscle spasms.
Chondroprotectors
Injections Chondroitin sulfate: 1 ml injected intramuscularly every other day. Course: 20 - 25 injections.
The drug contains chondroitin - a substance with analgesic effect, removes inflammation, restores damaged tissue. Pricks are prescribed by a doctor.
Additional forms of medicinal substance are available in the form of tablets, ointments.
Ointments and patches
Anti-inflammatory analgesic ointments: Fastum gel, Voltaren, Nurofen gel - depress substances causing symptoms of inflammation. Apply up to 4 times a day.
Warming Ointments: Finalgon, Kapsikam, Gevkamen, due to the irritating effect improve blood circulation, quickly stop pain. Rub 3 times a day.
Warming ointments based on bee and snake venom: Viprosal, Virapin applied to the harassing site 2 times a day for 10 days.
Increase the permeability of the vessels, thereby quickly relieve swelling and pain. Do not require the appointment of a doctor, but before using, you need to make sure that there are no allergic reactions of the body to the components.
Plaster with the content of Voltaren, Fastumgel or Olten.
Applied in the form of applications to the thoracic spine for the whole night. Course: 10 applications. The same scheme applies pepper plaster.
Physiotherapeutic procedures
Physiotherapy is prescribed by a physician and is based on the effect of any physiological factor on the human body, resulting in the restoration of damaged anatomical structures.
- Electrophoresis - helps to carry out a medicine (anti-inflammatory, analgesic) with the help of a current directly to the sites of inflammation.
- Phonophoresis is based on the introduction of drugs with ultrasound, which contributes to their better absorption.
- Laser therapy - laser beams penetrate deep layers of the skin, relieve inflammation, painful sensations.
- Electrostimulation allows using an electric current to excite the activity of certain body systems (nerve, muscle), thereby restoring their structure and work.
- UHF-therapy consists in the action of an ultrahigh-frequency magnetic field on the patient's body. The procedure well removes swelling, inflammation, improves blood circulation in the affected areas.
- EHF-therapy is based on the use of high-frequency waves for the treatment of the spine and other organs.
- Shockwave therapy is a method of affecting the body with single acoustic impulses or shock waves. Shock waves have analgesic, anti-phlogistic action, improve metabolism in tissues, accelerate regeneration.
- Ultrasonic therapy - apply elastic vibrations of sound waves. The impact of sound waves contributes to the creation of a thermal effect in tissues, which improves metabolism, blood circulation, has an anesthetic, anti-inflammatory effect.
- Magnetotherapy is based on the action of a permanent or alternating magnetic field. It improves microcirculation, regenerative processes in tissues, relieves pain, swelling, inflammation.
- Vacuum therapy - one of the effective methods of cure with the help of vacuum cans, which allows you to quickly stop pain syndrome and improve blood circulation in tissues.
- Pharmacopuncture is the administration of a medicament to acupuncture points. Helps to relieve muscle spasms, reduce pain.
- Magnetopuncture - the effect of a permanent or alternating magnetic field on the acupuncture points, it pains the pain syndrome well.
- Laser puncture - the laser beams are sent to the acupuncture points, which makes it possible to enhance the effect of laser therapy.
- Therapeutic massage of the thoracic region is carried out by a specialist, helps to reduce muscle tension, Improving blood circulation, lymphatic flow in affected areas, increasing the tone, overall strengthening organism. Also serves as a preventive method, preventing recurrence of the disease.
- Manual therapy resembles massage, but unlike the second, the effect occurs on a certain limited area of the body with different strengths, which allows to increase the effect of treatment.
- Mud treatment is a thermal method of treatment, in which the healing properties of mud of various species are used. Cure is based on mechanical, thermal and chemical effects of dirt on the human body. Dirt has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, absorbable effect. The procedure is most effective at the final stage of therapy, with slightly antiflogistic processes.
Surgery
In the absence of positive results of therapy by folk or medicamental means, the doctor prescribes surgical intervention. Under general anesthesia, the operating method makes it possible to eliminate the compression of nerve endings.
Physiotherapy
Physical culture is a preventive method that avoids subsequent relapses. Exercises help to strengthen the spine, increase its elasticity, improve metabolism, blood circulation, thereby stop the inflammatory processes.
Therapeutic gymnastics is appointed by the doctor and is performed in the remission stage, when acute pain syndrome is removed.
The complex of exercises is developed by a specialist, depending on the degree and nature of the course of the illness.
The most part of exercises is spent lying on a back, without sharp movements, inclinations. If discomfort occurs, the pain should stop exercising.
Complications
When untimely referral to a doctor or improperly selected therapy of thoracic radiculitis, the disease becomes chronic.
Due to the prolonged lesion of the nerve roots, tissue atrophy is observed, painful symptoms become more frequent and become more prolonged.
A life-threatening complication of thoracic paralysis is paralysis of the diaphragm, which results in suffocation.
Only timely access to a doctor, well-chosen treatment and prevention of the disease, will help to avoid radicular syndrome and make your life healthy and comfortable!
A source: http://zdorovya-spine.ru/bolezni/radikulit/grudnoi-2.html
Thoracic sciatica: localization of inflammation
Thoracic radiculitis- an inflammatory process, localized in the spinal roots of the thoracic spine.
His clinic consists of an intense pain syndrome affecting the chest and capable of simulate somatic diseases, limitations of locomotor activity and symptoms of local prolapse sensitivity. In diagnosis, radiography, CT scan or MRI of the spine, examination of internal organs. Treatment consists in the appointment of anti-inflammatory drugs, paravertebral blockade and physiotherapy procedures, stretching the spine.
Thoracic radiculitis is an inflammatory lesion of one or more spinal roots located in the thoracic spine. The most common among men in the age range from 45 to 65 years.
In this category of persons, thoracic radiculitis occurs 2-3 times more often than in all other combined categories of the population.
A distinctive feature, in comparison with cervical and lumbar radiculitis, is the presence in the clinic pain syndromes, imitating the defeat of internal organs (heart, stomach, 12 duodenum, lungs).
This phenomenon is associated with the defeat of vegetative fibers that leave the spine in the thoracic spinal roots and innervate the organs of the chest and upper abdominal cavity.
In this regard, thoracic radiculitis often requires attention not only specialists in the field of vertebrology and neurology, but also therapists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists.
The causes of breast sciatica
These factors are various effects that lead to irritation and inflammation of the thoracic spinal roots.
Depending on the type of etiofactor, thoracic radiculitis can be primary and secondary.
Primary sciatica occurs with hypothermia or direct exposure to the spine of infectious agents (more often with herpetic infection, influenza, chicken pox and other acute respiratory viral infections).
If the inflammation in the root occurs as a result of the spread of the inflammatory process against the background Bekhterev's disease, spinal tuberculosis, spondylarthrosis, this spine injury is considered secondary.
Secondary radiculitis develops as a result of stimulation of the spinal root with various pathological processes arising in close proximity to it, for example, with neoplastic lesions of the vertebrae (osteome, osteoblastoma, spinal hemangioma) and near-vertebral tissues (ganglioneuroma), spinal cord tumors, osteophytic sprouting in osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia thoracic department. Secondary lesion of the root can occur when the mutual arrangement of the anatomical structures of the thoracic spine changes. For example, with spinal injuries (subluxation of the vertebrae, fracture of the thoracic spine), developmental abnormalities and curvature of the spine.
A provocative trigger that causes chest sciatica may be excessive load on the thoracic spine, associated with professional activities, weightlifting, lifting heavy weights, sharp twisting trunk movement etc. Predisposing factors are disorders of posture, thoracic kyphosis, scoliosis, dysmetabolic processes (hypothyroidism, diabetes, obesity).
The main clinical manifestation is intercostal neuralgia - intense paroxysmal pain, Spreading from the spine along the intercostals, due to what it often has a shingles character.
The pain can be of a shooting, baking, cutting nature. In chronic course, the pain syndrome is characterized by a constant and aching type of pain.
The pain increases with an increased excursion of the chest due to intense deep breathing, coughing, sneezing.
Patognomonichnym symptom is the emergence of sharp pain in the intercostal space with pressure on the trigger points, localized in the intercostal spaces on the lateral surface of the chest and at the exit points of the affected roots from the spine.
In some cases, patients note the presence of a zone of numbness on the surface of the chest.
In a neurological study in this area, there is a hypoesthesia - a decreased skin sensitivity.
Trying to reduce pain, patients usually avoid sudden movements, take a forced posture with a torso tilt towards the lesion.
Often, thoracic radiculitis simulates the pathology of various somatic organs, for example, pleurisy, gastritis, duodenitis, acute pancreatitis.
With left-sided radiculitis, the pain may have the appearance of cardialgia and resemble angina.
When the roots of the lower segments of the spine are inflamed, the pain may resemble the clinical picture of the acute abdomen.
Diagnosis of thoracic radiculitis
Diagnosis of radiculitis, as a rule, does not cause difficulties for the neurologist.
However, in the course of diagnostic search it is important to establish its cause and exclude the presence of pathology of internal organs.
It should be noted that the diagnosis of "thoracic radiculitis" does not exclude the possibility of a simultaneous existence of a somatic disease with a similar pain syndrome.
Radiography of the spine in the thoracic region allows us to identify the signs of osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, "see" the deformation of the spine and the consequences of his injury.
CT of the spine gives more detailed information about the state of its bone structures, allows to diagnose the intervertebral hernia.
MRI of the spine better visualizes the soft tissue structures, makes it possible to assess the degree narrowing of the spinal canal, size and structure of volumetric spine formations (hernias, tumors, hematoma).
For the purpose of elimination / confirmation of somatic pathology, depending on the symptomatology, consultations of narrow specialists are appointed, ECG, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, gastroscopy, duodenal sounding, radiography of chest organs, ultrasound of the pleural cavity and other
Therapy is carried out mainly by conservative methods. Surgical intervention may be required to eliminate the cause of radiculitis in case of volumetric education, instability of the spine.
Possible discectomy or microdiscectomy, removal of the tumor, fixation of the spine.
With the persistent nature of the pain syndrome, a facetectomy or laminectomy is performed to decompress the affected spinal root.
The main components of conservative therapy are the elimination of pain syndrome and anti-inflammatory treatment. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals (voltaren, diclofenac, ketorolac, meloxicam, nimesulide, etc.) reduce inflammation and pain.
If they are not enough to stop the pain, additionally paravertebral blockades are performed using local anesthetics (lidocaine) and corticosteroids (diprospan, hydrocortisone), sedatives facilities.
The treatment of inflammation is facilitated by physiotherapy: UHF and hydrophoretic hydrophoresis. Perhaps using reflexotherapy. According to the indications for removing the compression of the spine, traction therapy can be carried out - dry or underwater traction of the spine.
The effectiveness of treatment is significantly increased when neurometabolic therapy is prescribed along with NSAIDs: intramuscular administration of vitamins B1, B6 or intake of combined preparations of B vitamins. In chronic radiculitis, during remission, mud therapy and hydrotherapy (hydrogen sulphide, radon baths) are indicated.
Acute pain syndrome in primary radiculitis lasts an average of 5-7 days, with the treatment of the disease, usually passes after 7-14 days.
Chronic thoracic sciatica is characterized by a prolonged course with periods of exacerbation of the pain syndrome and a relatively favorable condition - remission.
The main cause of the chronic course is the retention of the irritant effect on the spinal root of the etiofactor.
A source: http://www.krasotaimedicina.ru/diseases/zabolevanija_neurology/thoracic-radiculitis
Stages, symptoms and features of treatment of thoracic radiculitis
Speaking of radiculitis, an association of the human figure bent in three deaths with a hand on the lower back, with a grimace of pain on the face and unable to move from the place immediately appears before your eyes.
It is in this guise that radiculitis is familiar to many of us.
However, in medical practice there are also quite rare forms of radiculitis - cervical and thoracic.
Diagnosis of thoracic radiculitis is associated with a risk of misdiagnosis, which, in turn, can be fraught with serious problems.
The word radiculitis, like many medical terms, is of Latin origin and is derived from the wordradicula - spine.
As for the medicine itself,radiculitis is the lesion of the roots of the spinal cord, which is manifested by motor disorders, pain syndromes, reflex and muscle weakness, and a decrease in sensitivity in the focal region directly affected by spinal cord injury nerve.
Most often, radiculitis affects the roots of the spinal cord in the sacro-lumbar, thoracic, cervicothoracic, cervico-brachial and cervical spine.
In the diagnosis of radiculitis, radiography, computed tomography, MRI and some other procedures are used, such as myelography and puncture.
In the treatment, along with anesthetics and anti-inflammatory drugs, manual and physiotherapy, massage, spinal traction, physical education, etc. are used.
Symptoms
Thoracic radiculitis is one of the diseases of the peripheral nervous system.
This species is less common than other "fellow and its main symptom is pain - permanent or paroxysmal.
Thoracic radiculitis is still commonly called intercostal neuralgia, tk. amplitude of the spread of pain syndrome with this form of radiculitisis shrouded in nature.
Starting from the spinal column, pain through the intercostal nerves spreads to the front of the chest, covering the entire space and also touching the nearby organs of the human body.
Pain symptomatology with thoracic radiculitis manifests itself not only with movements (especially sharp ones), physical work, coughing, deep inspiration or sneezing, but also the appearance on the surface of the chest sensitive to touch painful points.
In such cases, even simple dressing and touching clothes to these pointscan cause an exacerbation of unpleasant pain in the sternum.
However, in a number of cases, instead of pain syndrome and hypersensitivity in the affected the nerve root may show insensitivity, a violation of muscle activity or something similar.
In the area affected by thoracic radiculitis (back, side and chest on the left side), skin rashes can occur.
The emergence of pain itself with thoracic radiculitis has two primary causes: it is eitherclamp of the nerve root by intervertebral discs, ornerve root inflammation.
In fact, the compression of the nerve root over time also develops into an inflammatory process, as if combining both factors into one continuous pain.
Stages of the disease
The variety of causes that can cause the manifestation of thoracic radiculitis caused the scientists to divide them intotwo main stages - primary and secondary.
The primary stage includes all the root causes associated with infectious diseases, which can be picked up at low temperatures - it's flu, angina, chicken pox, rheumatism, herpes, etc.
The secondary stage includes the root causes associated with the human chest osteochondrosis, a tumor of the spine or spinal cord. In this case, provoking moments can be the lifting of excessive weights, awkward movement, trauma, etc.
1-st - discalgic (neurological)
A distinctive feature of thoracic radiculitis of the 1st stage isacute leakage within 7-14 daysand not the resumption after removal of all the root causes that provoked his education.
During the 1 st stage of the patientMuscular hypertonia is observedin the area of lesion of the spinal nerve, and pain points are formed, touching which can cause coughing, sneezing, sometimes convulsions. The depressed nerve roots are felt by acute pain - this phenomenon has been calleddorsago (thoracic chamber).
2nd - neurotic
The 2nd stage (neurotic) of thoracic radiculitis is more dangerous than the 1st stage.
With it, the nerve root is in constant compression, which is transmitted to all nerve fibers, which do not receive the nutrition they need.
As a result,tissue exhaustion occurs, in which there is enough of the slightest reason that for the time being the "dozing" pain once again becomes acute chronic.
Causes
More often, the nature of thoracic radiculitis is the degenerative consequences of already existing diseases:
- Osteochondrosis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Bechterew's disease.
- Tumors of the spine or spinal cord.
Osteochondrosis, as the most frequent harbinger of thoracic radiculitis, Is a disease of the elderly, arising from the deterioration of the cartilaginous tissues of the intervertebral discs and the subsequent clamping of the nerve roots.
In a younger generation, the wear and tear of intervertebral discs with subsequent degenerative-deforming changes can be caused by:
- violation of posturebecause of a long stay in the same position;
- large workloads- especially this applies to those who have to work in a half-bent position: drivers, loaders, borers, seamstresses, motorists, etc .;
- metastases of malignant tumors- metastases of malignant tumors, as well as benign formations, very often affect the thoracic spine;
- pathological changes in bone tissue at the genetic level- Similar problems can arise in any age category.
There is an opinion that thoracic radiculitis can be "picked up" by a common cold at low temperatures. butsupercooling can only be an aggravating agentthose complications that are already present in the thoracic spine.
The fact that the cold provokes muscle spasms, and heat, on the contrary, helps the muscles to relax and, thus, to calm the pain.
Under what diseases is the thoracic radiculitis concealed?
Analyzing the pain symptoms of thoracic radiculitis, it should be remembered that almost identical symptoms are found in a number of other diseases not connected with the spine:
- Myocardial infarction.
- Pleurisy.
- Pneumonia.
- Acute pancreatitis.
If the thoracicradiculitis "is declared" between 5-9 pairs of ribs(which happens most often), then the spinal nerves have a close connection with the bronchi, esophagus, heart, as well as the stomach, duodenum, small intestine and gallbladder.
In the event that all these organs are affected, then there is tension in the muscles of the abdominal cavity, pathological sensations in the upper abdomen - it can be heartburn, nausea and so on.
Such symptomatology received a characteristic name"Acute abdomen".
Ifspinal cord injuries slightly higher, in the region of the 4th pair of ribs, then there is a risk of dysphagia - a violation of the swallowing function. The patient has a feeling of an eternal "coma" in his throat, making it difficult to swallow saliva, food and, as a consequence, causing a violation of the peristalsis of the esophagus.
Thoracic radiculitis in the area of 3-4 pairs of ribsmanifested by pain in the sternum, which is very easy to confuse with the heart.
A person can become numb in the left or right hand, which causes him a sense of fear and rapid heartbeat.
Than not angina pectoris especially, if thoracal radiculitis is left-sided? However, any ECG will not detect symptoms of coronary artery disease.
The symptomatology of right-sided thoracic radiculitis is very similar to a disease such aspleurisy.
Treatment
Radiculitis of the thoracic spine is not a life-threatening disease.
Thoracic radiculitis is a complication that arose on the basis of more serious problems with the spine, joints,
That is why the treatment of thoracic radiculitis depends entirely on the diagnosis of the underlying causes of its formation.
When the source of the origin of thoracic radiculitis are the degenerative-inflammatory processes occurring in the joints and ligaments, it is prescribedcomplex treatment, which includes:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Vitamin preparations, including vitamins of group B.
- Physiotherapy (appointed as the pain syndrome subsided).
By physiotherapy means massage, reflexology, manual therapy, stone therapy, as well as exercise therapy, the exercises of which are appointed individually.
With regard to thoracic radiculitis, which arose on the basis of osteochondrosis and its derivatives, in this case, the use of drug treatment should only be an explicit clinic of pain syndrome.
If there is a pain syndrome, the patient should find a position where the pain is least of all disturbed and remember this position. Postelliade, suffering from breast syndrome, should be rigid, tk. soft featherbeds contribute to exacerbation of pain.
Prevention
To avoid problems with radiculitis - including breast problems -should exercise regularly(swim, for example) or at leastdo exercises that strengthen the spine.
It is important to pay attention to your own posture, to move more, and also to eat properly so that you do not put off excess salts and kilograms of fat.
Summarizing all of the above-mentioned about thoracic radiculitis, there is only one thing to be said: if a chest appears in the chest stable (or periodic) pain syndrome, you should not engage in self-medication and drag in the mouth of any anesthetic tablet. There is no guarantee that we are treating exactly what hurts!
Let's remember, in fact in this area the nervous endings of many vital organs are "tied". The only correct solution will be to consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination involving X-rays, CT, MRI and other modern diagnostic methods.
A source: http://vashaspina.com/bolezni_spinyi/radikulit/grudnoy.html
Radiculitis in the thoracic region: causes, symptoms and treatment
Thoracic radiculitis is an ailment called radiculopathy, affecting the thoracic spine of a person, specifically, the roots of the spinal nerves.
It occurs much less frequently than the lumbosacral variety of this disease.
Most often occurs due to injuries, prolonged intense physical exertion, infectious diseases, stress, drafts, etc.
To better understand the essence of the disease, it is necessary to study the features of the device of the human spine.
Its main constituent elements are vertebrae and intervertebral fibrous-cartilaginous discs, intended for softening of vertebrae impacts against each other when lifting heavy objects and other physical spine.
However, the resource of disks is not infinite. Over time, they become thinner and lose moisture - they dry up, as a result of which the vertebrae seem to settle. Usually, with such changes, osteochondrosis appears.
In this scenario, as a rule, the disease develops in the elderly.
In young people, the pathology is most often caused by traumas and various kinds of metabolic disorders in the cartilaginous and bone tissues of the body.
A spinal cord passes through the human spine. From it branches the so-called nerve roots. The latter, in turn, become peripheral nerves.
Against the background of the abnormalities discussed above, the roots are under pressure by converging vertebrae or altered protruding discs. Because of this, there is a lot of pain.
Symptoms of thoracic sciatica
In most cases, the main symptom of thoracic radiculitis is severe pain. The mechanism of its appearance was considered above. As a result, any sharp movements made by the patient are accompanied by intense pain sensations.
Often, along with thoracic radiculitis develops intercostal neuralgia. It also manifests itself in the form of pain, which is permanent or paroxysmal. Often the pain is shrouded, i.e. it covers part of the trunk from the spine to the chest with a semicircle.
The intensity of pain increases with palpation. If the radiculitis assumes a cervicothoracic form, axillary, vertebral, peri-chest and paravertebral points begin to ache.
Also, a frequent symptom of thoracic radiculitis is hyperesthesia - a condition characterized by the hypersensitivity of some skin areas.
Touching such areas can give the opposite effect in the form of a sharp increase in pain or the disappearance of all types of sensitivity of the skin surface.
Painful sensations can intensify with sudden movements, coughing, hypothermia. Often the pain extends to the immediate areas: arms and forelegs.
Among the additional symptoms of thoracic radiculitis can be identified:
- shortness of breath;
- Uncomfortable sensations in the area of the stomach, reminiscent of heartburn;
- constipation;
- bloating of the intestine;
- moist cough;
- increase in blood pressure.
It is important to understand: pain of this nature can appear against other diseases, for example, pleurisy, pneumonia, diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Therefore, self-diagnosis and self-treatment is strictly not recommended. When the first symptoms appear, consult a doctor.
The specialist diagnoses the disease, prescribes a treatment program, and also tries to establish the causes of the onset of the disease in order to give recommendations on prevention for your specific case.
Causes of the disease
- To the appearance of thoracic radiculitis lead:
- inflammatory diseases;
- hypothermia;
- other factors provoking compression of the nerve roots by strained muscles or proximal vertebrae.
- Infringement of nerve roots can be provoked by the following diseases:
- anomalies in the development of the spine, for example, scoliosis;
- inflammation of the spine of a tuberculous, syphilitic or gonorrheal nature;
- myositis - inflammatory muscular diseases in the thoracic part;
- Started pathologies developing against the background of hypothermia of the body;
- osteochondrosis;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- spondylosis in the thoracic region;
- Bechterew's disease.
The appearance of thoracic radiculitis can also lead to displacement of the vertebrae as a result of trauma and compression fractures of the spine, which are a consequence of osteoporosis.
Preliminary diagnosis is carried out by the therapist. The doctor listens to the patient's complaints and conducts an examination consisting of:
- pressure - palpation,
- tapping - percussion,
- listening with a phonendoscope - auscultation.
The doctor palpates the thoracic spine, the site of the exit of the spinal nerve roots. Due to this, the specialist determines the place of development of the disease.
Percussion allows you to exclude or confirm the presence of respiratory system diseases - the symptoms of thoracic radiculitis are largely similar to those of bronchitis and pneumonia.
Auscultation allows you to exclude or confirm the presence of diseases of the cardiovascular system - the signs of thoracic radiculitis are similar to those of infarction, angina.
Further the doctor appoints more detailed inspection, allowing precisely to confirm or exclude presence of thoracal radiculitis.
- Examination of the state
- it from the following activities:
- a common blood test.
It allows to determine the presence of inflammation in the body due to the increased content of leukocytes, an increase in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation, and a shift in the leukocyte formula; - Radiography of the thoracic spine.
It makes it possible to establish the place of appearance of the pathological process; - computed tomography.
It allows to determine the inflamed spinal root and establish the intensity of nerve compression; - magnetic resonance imaging.
It establishes the intensity of compression of the nerve and in most cases allows to determine the cause of the development of the disease; - electromyography. This examination also allows finding the damaged spinal root.
For the successful treatment of the ailment in question, conservative treatment is applied, primarily aimed at reducing the intensity painful sensations, improvement of metabolism and microcirculation in damaged areas, elimination of muscle spasms and normalization of the condition nerve fibers.
Conservative treatment includes a complex of medicines with the methods of physiotherapeutic effects, manual therapy, therapeutic massage and special exercises for the thoracic department the spine.
Write out any medicine can only be a qualified doctor after a preliminary examination and confirmation of the diagnosis.
Do not self-medicate - this you can only aggravate your condition.
Physiotherapy treatment is carried out in a hospital or, if the patient's condition allows, is outpatient and includes the following methods of exposure:
- electrophoresis;
- shock-wave therapy;
- acupuncture;
- magnetotherapy.
Additionally, a doctor can prescribe a diet. Typically, the recommendations of nutrition are as follows:
- The daily diet should be divided into 6 small meals;
- duration of food intake - from half an hour;
- it is allowed to eat the following foods: cereals, lean milk (kefir, sour cream, milk), stewed vegetables, beef, poultry, lean fish (pike-perch is optimal);
- It is forbidden to take any fatty, salty, smoked and spicy food, fatty fish and meat, any soda, spirits, coffee and other products containing caffeine.
If the above treatment methods do not give the desired effect, the doctor may prescribe surgical treatment, which is reduced to decompression of the compressed spinal root.
During the operation, the patient is under general anesthesia. The doctor gets access to the affected area and mechanically eliminates the cause of squeezing.
Recommended by a doctor
There are a number of preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of developing thoracic radiculitis. The recommendations are as follows:
- promptly treat any diseases;
- adhere to the normal mode of work and rest;
- sleep on a hard bed;
- adhere to diet and eat healthy foods;
- do sports;
- limit excessive physical activity.
If there is a predisposition to developing thoracic radiculitis, a doctor may recommend the wearing of corsets.
Respond in a timely manner to suspicious changes in your condition, follow the recommendations of your doctor and be healthy!
A source: http://pomogispine.com/zabolevaniya/radikulit/v-grudnom-otdele.html