Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine is a kind of human payment for upright walking. It is known that other mammals do not suffer from osteochondrosis, as their spine is located horizontally on the surface of the earth. Vertical loads during walking lead to the gradual destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs and contribute to the displacement of the vertebrae in a dangerous position.
In the thoracic region, such processes occur less frequently than in the sacrum and cervix, but this does not reduce the risk of this disease. This article will discuss in detail the issues of symptoms and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, as well as issues related to the prevention of this disease.
Characteristics of thoracic osteochondrosis
The thoracic spine is characterized by low mobility, which reduces the likelihood of degenerative processes in this area. However, cases of this disease are regularly recorded by orthopedists and traumatists in representatives of different age groups.In recent decades, there has been a steady increase in the incidence of osteochondrosis in civilized countries. Doctors believe that the main reasons for this trend are an inactive lifestyle, poor diet and the general environmental background on the planet.
Women suffer from thoracic osteochondrosis 2-3 times more often than men. This is due to the peculiarities of female anatomy and physiology. Additional factors that affect are: childbirth, walking on heels, the general weakness of the musculoskeletal system in women.
In both sexes, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region causes painful symptoms and reduces range of motion. The development of the pathology is fraught with compression of the nerve endings, which inevitably affects the condition of the internal organs. Advanced cases of the disease are often accompanied by disturbances in the work of blood vessels and the heart, breathing problems.
Anatomically, 12 thoracic vertebrae are connected to the ribs and sternum in a strong and inactive frame structure that protects the internal organs from mechanical stress. In the initial stage, the disease causes almost no serious symptoms, but in the later stages, the manifestations of the pathology are so different that sometimes this prevents an accurate diagnosis. There is no doubt that osteochondrosis is often referred to as "chameleon disease".
The most common causes of thoracic osteochondrosis are trauma, muscle weakness, physical inactivity, metabolic disorders, excessive back load and genetic predisposition. The disease develops gradually, which, on the one hand, makes it possible to start treatment early and stop degenerative processes, but on the other hand, prevents the early detection of pathology.
Stages of the disease
Doctors classify thoracic osteochondrosis by developmental stages:
Stage 1.The intervertebral discs lose their elastic properties, shrink in size, but have not yet moved from their anatomical position.
Stage 2.There is a further reduction in the height of the discs and the spine itself loses its stability. Cracks form in the ring, the discs shift and put pressure on the nerve endings, blood vessels and muscles. The second stage is characterized by severe back pain and neurological symptoms.
Stage 3.Degenerative processes can lead to the development of protrusions and ruptures of the fibrous ring. In such cases, discs are diagnosed. The discs lose their absorbent properties and cease to perform their proper anatomical functions. The vertebrae themselves also suffer - from joining, collapsing and forming osteocytes - dangerous bone growths.
In addition to hard tissues, muscles, ligaments and tendons are affected. Muscles block, spasmodic effects occur. The body tries to immobilize the affected area as much as possible to reduce pain - this leads to muscle congestion and muscle atrophy.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in the chest
As already mentioned, in the early stages, thoracic osteochondrosis manifests itself weakly or not at all. As the pathology progresses, periodic pain occurs between the shoulders: the symptoms intensify after physical activity or, conversely, after prolonged rest. Often, pain bothers patients in the morning after waking up and fades within an hour. Sometimes the pain moves along the intercostal nerve, radiating to the chest during coughing, sneezing or running.
Typical signs
In 2-3 stages, the most indicative symptom of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is the constant pain in the intracranial zone. Chest pain is also quite typical: the sensations look like an angina attack with coronary heart disease or heart failure.
The similarity of symptoms to heart disease is a fairly common cause of misdiagnosis. However, it is very simple to distinguish pain in degenerative processes in the spine from cardiac symptoms: nitroglycerin and similar drugs that stop angina, with osteochondrosis, in no way relieve the patient's condition.
Other typical symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Stiffness of the trunk muscles during deep breathing (snoring) - as if the body were compressed with a hoop.
- Dorsago - severe chest pain (the so-called "lumbago in the chest");
- Feeling of numbness and numbness in the hands (presence of radical syndrome).
- Intermittent pain when walking and physical activity (intercostal neuralgia): with inflammation of the nerve endings, the pain becomes constant
- Chest spasms?
- Pain when raising your arms, turning your torso and taking deep breaths.
The stages of the disease directly affect the severity of the symptoms. For patients in the treatment plan, it is important not to eliminate the pain with drugs and unconventional methods (analgesics, anticonvulsants, various ointments, compresses and heating pads), but to visit the clinic and find out the cause of the pain from a doctor. Self-medication for osteochondrosis is rarely effective and in some cases even worsens the course of the disease.
Rare symptoms
Atypical manifestations of the disease are very different:
Signs of ischemia, heart attack, heart attack (ECG or other tests should be performed for a differential diagnosis)- .
- Pain resembling breast disease in women: to rule out the presence of tumors, you should be examined by a mammologist.
- Pain resembling gastritis, colitis, stomach or intestinal ulcers, hepatitis - to rule out these diseases, a diagnosis is made by a gastroenterologist.
- Pain in the paroxysmal zone corresponding to renal colic or other diseases of the urinary system.
Urinary disorders and reproductive disorders are also possible. Women have anorexia, painful and heavy menstruation (menorrhagia) and sometimes infertility. Men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Doctors do not always manage to find the real cause of these pathologies, and therefore the treatment of reproductive diseases does not give positive dynamics.
Sometimes, with osteochondrosis in the chest area, there are increases in pressure, toothaches and headaches, sleep disturbances, tinnitus. Psychomotor disorders are not excluded - irritability, depression, tears, anxiety.
Diagnostics, treatment and prevention
External examination, palpation and range of motion tests are performed to detect the disease. It is important to know in detail from the patient about the duration of the symptoms, their nature and the consequent manifestations of the disease.
The following procedures are provided:
- X-ray of the spine?
- MRI, CT and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity (if necessary).
- Blood and urine tests?
- Myelography?
- ECG (to rule out heart disease).
Once diagnosed, a treatment regimen is developed. There is no single protocol for treating osteochondrosis: health procedures depend on the patient's condition, age, fitness and immune system condition.
The main goal of treatment is to minimize the effects of degenerative processes on cartilage tissue and prevent the development of complications. Treatment is usually outpatient, except in very severe clinical conditions. Mainly conservative treatment is practiced.
Medicines
Medications are only prescribed for severe pain syndrome and inflammatory processes. It is best to use medicines in the form of external ointments, tablets, intramuscular or epidural injections are less often prescribed.
Most current types of drugs:
- Analgesics?
- Anti-inflammatory drugs?
- Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics.
- Vitamin complexes?
- Steroids.
Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage
These methods play a leading role in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the thoracic spine. These techniques eliminate pain, strengthen ligaments and muscles, restore and stimulate blood circulation, metabolic processes.
Popular physiotherapy methods:
- Magnetotherapy?
- Electro- and phonophoresis?
- Laser exposure?
- Ampoule therapy?
- Ultrasound therapy?
- Paraffin applications?
- Chinese Kinesio?
- Mud treatment?
- Valnotherapy?
- Hypothermia?
- Hirudotherapy, treatment with bee venom.
The main advantage of physiotherapy is its safety. Surgeries can be prescribed at any age, with almost all concomitant diseases. A separate field of physiotherapy is reflexology (acupuncture). The method is effective, but requires the presence of a professional specialist.
Physiotherapy is a mandatory step in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. Exercise strengthens the muscular apparatus, restores the normal anatomical position of the vertebral structures, reduces the pressure on the nerve endings and prevents the development of protrusions and gardens of the intervertebral discs.Complex exercises must be performed regularly and for a long time - only then will they produce a remarkable therapeutic effect. Ideally, sessions should be conducted under the guidance of an instructor, as any incorrect movement can injure and cause pain.
Massage (manual and hardware effects) has the same therapeutic functions as exercise therapy: reducing pain, improving blood flow, strengthening muscles. In addition to the impact with the hands of a specialist, they practice the use of massage, applications, orthopedic devices.
Radical therapy
Breast osteochondrosis surgery in modern medical institutions is performed in exceptional cases - when there is a real risk of spinal cord injury or dangerous protrusions and hernias. Spine surgery is always an additional risk, so surgeries are rarely performed by experienced surgeons.
Prevention
Prevention of the disease is much easier than long-term (and sometimes lifelong) treatment. Unfortunately, modern medicine can not reverse the degenerative processes, it can only minimize the consequences of the pathology and eliminate the acute symptoms.
For this reason, the prevention of osteochondrosis must be addressed from childhood. The development of the disease is hindered by: proper posture, balanced diet, proper alternation of physical activity and rest, sleep in a comfortable bed. Early diagnosis of the disease and strict implementation of the doctor's recommendations play a positive role.