Anyone who has ever suffered intercostal neuralgia, knows how much pain can occur at the same time. Get rid of the intercostal neuralgia, when she appeared at least once, it is also very easy: the pain come back again and again. Only long-term systemic treatment helps to cope with them.

Features of the structure of the spine and causes infringement

Osteochondrosis, degenerative disease that leads to destruction of the intervertebral discs, the widening of the bone in the vertebrae and pinched nerves, is the main cause pinched nerves in the chest. Starting torque for development are often cold, exercise, acute illness. Thoracic spine has the features of the anatomical structure and, consequently, its manifestations particular infringements.

Rarely causes displacement of the vertebrae and trauma and physical activity, as a sudden (such as lifting weights over the head), and chronic, permanent, as awkward postures. The main manifestation of pinched nerves in the thoracic region is intercostal neuralgia Intercostal neuralgia - learn to distinguish between pain . Most intercostal neuralgia sick elderly people who have changes in the spine are joined also vascular disorders.

Symptoms

The most common manifestation of a pinched nerve in the thoracic spine is pain along the edges, worse towards the spine. However there is a sensation of pain chest stiffness. On the intercostal muscles are often painful nodules can be felt. Pain in the intercostal neuralgia can be sharp, burning, or aching, dull, aggravated by any movement or coughing, sneezing. It appears it is usually in the form of attacks, which are often accompanied by jerking the intercostal muscles, severe sweating, reddening of the skin over the ribs. But there may be persistent pain.

There are definitely more painful points located in the thorax, spine and intercostal spaces. It may occur as a violation of the sensitivity of the skin over the painful spot, which is manifested by numbness and pins and needles sensation in the body.

But these are more persistent pain associated with movement and not removed nitroglycerin (in contrast to the pain associated with angina).

May appear and pains in the stomach, mimicking pain in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. And there is a difference from the true stomach pain: pain related to the spine, can not be removed by means of antispasmodics (eg, no-spa), whereas the true stomach pain, these drugs always help. All these pains associated with involvement in the process of autonomic nerve branches that go to the composition of the spinal nerves (autonomic nervous system innervates internal organs and blood vessels).

Infringement of the intercostal nerve is often accompanied by a protective spasm of muscles - back, shoulder and scapula, which amplifies pain.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis is based on a survey of the patient, his complaints and characteristic picture of disease. It confirms the diagnosis by means of X-ray studies. In some cases, further diagnosis is carried out magnetic resonance or computed tomography. Held as myelography - X-ray using a contrast agent that is injected into the spinal canal.

It starts with the removal of the complex treatment of paroxysmal pain and eliminate the cause of the infringement of the intercostal nerves. Provide medical treatment - pain relievers drugs (diclofenac, nize, indomethacin), drugs, remove the protective muscle spasm of the chest (for example, Mydocalmum), B vitamins (they contribute to the restoration of metabolic processes in the nerve cells). For pain relief methods used reflexology Reflexology - a policy of non-drug therapies   (acupuncture, acupressure Acupressure - Eastern practices in the service of modern science , Moxibustion), physiotherapy (electrophoresis with painkillers).

When the pain subsides, prescribe sessions of manual therapy Chiropractic: the main thing - to choose the competent expert , Massage and therapeutic gymnastics - it helps to restore the correct physiological position of the spine, improves circulation, increases range of motion in the chest. But massages and therapeutic exercises should only be an experienced professional, or the patient's condition can rapidly deteriorate.

Galina Romanenko

The sciatic nerve is one of the largest in the human body. It stretches from the lumbosacral region to the popliteal region, and then divided by the nerves that innervate the lower leg and foot. Passes sciatic nerve deep in the muscle, so it is not easy to damage.

The anatomy of the sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve is a mixed, ie it consists of sensory and motor nerves. He is the longest branch of the lumbosacral plexus and contains nerve fibers that extend from the lumbar and sacral vertebrae. These fibers are combined to form the sciatic nerve in the pelvis. Then, the nerve leaves the pelvis through Subpiriforme hole in the pelvis, along with its accompanying artery and vein. The gluteal sciatic nerve located under the gluteus maximus, giving this dream branches to the hip joint.

In the gluteal fold sciatic nerve lies superficially, then he runs down the midline of the back of the thigh between muscles located in this area. Throughout the sciatic nerve is formed around the vascular network, which carries out its blood supply. In the course of the nerve of him depart numerous branches to the muscles.

In the upper part of the popliteal fossa in most people sciatic nerve divides into two terminal branches - tibial and common peroneal nerves that innervate the shin. But such a division could happen elsewhere, including the aforementioned lower leg nerves may extend directly from the sacral nerve plexus.

The tibial nerve supplies the posterior group of the leg muscles, the muscles of the sole, the rear side of the lower leg skin, leather heel, the outer edge of the foot and the fifth toe, leather sole and the plantar part of all five fingers, sends branches to the knee and ankle joints.

Common peroneal nerve is divided into deep and superficial peroneal nerve. The deep peroneal nerve supplies the muscles of the lower leg front, rear foot muscles and skin of the rear toe in the first interdigital spaces.

The superficial peroneal nerve supplies the muscles of the outer skin of the leg and the rear toes (except the first interdigital spaces).

Lesions of the sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve may be affected by a variety of reasons, it can be a variety of infections, intoxication, hypothermia, trauma, inflammatory processes in the pelvis, degenerative-dystrophic (exchange) or an inflammatory disease of the spine, abnormal development of the spine and so on.

Damage to the sciatic nerve arise from bruises, sprains, fractures, dislocations Dislocation - Prevention and Treatment , Surgical procedures and edema Prevention and treatment of edema - it is important to understand the root cause   After these tissues, tumor compression. There damaging the sciatic nerve after injections in the gluteal region, when the nerve is injured needle or with the rapid introduction of a toxic substance. When a complete break of the sciatic nerve in the buttocks and upper thigh lost active movements of the foot and toes, disturbed sensitivity over the entire surface of the foot and perednenaruzhnoy the lower third of the tibia. Bending the knee usually is not affected, walking is difficult, but possible.

When neuralgia Neuralgia - the scourge of the elderly   in the pathological process involved only the shell of the nerve, and with neuritis Neuritis - nerve damage   - And the shell, and the nerve itself. The main feature of neuralgia is severe aching and stabbing pains that occur at the beginning of hamstring and then extend to the lower leg and foot. If the sciatic nerve is affected above the gluteal fold, the pain occurs in the buttock, is given in the lower back, thigh and lower leg. When neuritis dominated by signs of a decline or loss of nerve function. So, with the defeat of the nerve above the gluteal fold reduced amount of the gluteal muscles, disrupted posterior thigh muscles, which is why it is impossible to bend the leg.

Tumors can show up at any level of the sciatic nerve. They can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors (neurinoma, neuroma) or pushing the push unaffected portions of the nerve fibers of the sciatic nerve or surrounding nerves penetrate the fatty tissue (lipomas). Malignant tumor infiltrated fiber, wrapped germinate and destroy nerve fibers. When tumors did not grow into nerve fibers, symptoms of the disease is growing slowly and the pain almost never happens. If the tumor grows inside the nerve fiber, all signs of the disease are growing rapidly and accompanied by pain.

The sciatic nerve is playing a significant role in the human body and its destruction can deliver a man of great suffering.