Osteochondrosis is a dystrophic change in the spine, where the structure of the intervertebral disc changes, with subsequent deformation, stratification and violation of boundaries and height.
Previously, medical specialists believed that osteochondrosis exclusively affects areas of the spine, now this opinion has changed. Osteochondrosis can be confidently called a systemic disease, since the spine is not only a support for the motor system, but also affects all organs of the human body.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a pathological change characterized by a degenerative-dystrophic process in the intervertebral disc of the thoracic spine.
Signs and Causes
The main cause of breast osteochondrosis is a violation of the metabolic process in the body, associated with a deterioration in blood supply.
So, the main signs of the development of osteochondrosis:
- Physical hard work.
- Nervous strain and stress.
- Curvature of the spine.
- Obesity.
- Intense physical training, improper exercise performance.
- Bad ecology.
- Smoking.
- Back injury.
- Improper nutrition.
- Sedentary lifestyle of a person (physical inactivity).
- Constant vibrating effect on the spine (prolonged driving).
- Hypothermia.
- Age-related changes and so on.
Symptoms
It should be emphasized that the cause of the formation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is scoliosis, the prerequisites for which are formed at school. The chest is a sedentary area, and therefore, the symptoms have noticeable differences from other types of osteochondrosis. In most cases, the main difference between osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is the absence of acute pain syndrome, but dull or aching pain is present.
The main symptoms are as follows:
- Chest pain. Significantly worse during breathing or movement. In most cases, the pain of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region has a shingles in nature;
- Numbness symptoms. There is a feeling that goosebumps are creeping in the chest;
- Stomach, liver and heart pains. Osteochondrosis of the breast is disguised as other diseases, indicating symptoms of gastritis, heart attack, angina pectoris, peptic ulcer and so on;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Pain in the area of the shoulder blades (there is a lumbago at the level of the intercostal nerves, this condition is called intercostal neuralgia);
- Reducing the maneuverability of the thoracic spine (symptoms are characteristic of Forestier, Bekhterev's, Scheerman-Mao's disease and scoliotic deformity, using radiography to determine the true cause).
In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis has two vertebral syndromes - dorsalgia and dorsago.
Dorsago has a characteristic sharp chest pain. It is usually found in those who are in a tilted position for a long time (for example, welders), then a sharp straightening. Dorsago pain syndrome is strong enough, even during breathing. Muscle tone is tense, which causes limitation of movement in certain parts of the spine.
Dorsalgia manifests itself gradually and imperceptibly, lasts up to three weeks. There is not a pronounced pain syndrome in the affected area of the spine and discomfort. The pain increases with deep breathing, bending forward or to the side. Muscles are tense.
Movement is limited in the upper dorsalgia (cervicothoracic region) or lower dorsalgia (lumbar-thoracic region). The pain intensifies at night, during the period of awakening, the pain syndrome passes on its own with a short walk. With deep breathing or prolonged position of the body in one position, the pain intensifies again.
Diagnostics
A feature of osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine is the incredible ability to be confused with the symptoms of another disease. It is not for nothing that medical specialists call this malaise "disease - a chameleon".
Osteochondrosis is disguised as a pain syndrome of cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris, heart attack, appendicitis and cholecystitis, gastrointestinal diseases, namely gastritis, peptic ulcer, renal or hepatic colic. Experienced specialists carry out comprehensive diagnostics in order to find the differences between breast osteochondrosis and similar diseases. In this regard, it is recommended to undergo not only X-ray examination, but also MRI, gastroduodenoscopy, ultrasound, and so on. In the future, the treatment method takes into account concomitant diseases.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is carried out on the basis of an X-ray image, where an increase in the vertebral body, or a decrease in height in the intervertebral discs, is clearly visible.
Treatment methods
Treatment in the thoracic spine for osteochondrosis of the spine mainly depends on the stage of the pathological process and is limited to conservative treatment. Operational actions of the surgeon are used extremely rarely, usually with complications, that is, a spinal hernia.
During an exacerbation, treatment is directed to relieve pain. Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs are prescribed, as well as analgesics. To increase the movement of the thoracic spine and relax muscle tone, muscle relaxants are prescribed. To improve blood flow in the spine - vasodilators. Medication is combined with massage and physical therapy.
In the relapse phase, treatment is directed at stretching the muscular system of the thoracic region in the spine. The most effective technique is kinesitherapy.
During the period of remission, treatment is aimed at improving the maneuverability of the intervertebral discs of the spine, strengthening the spinal muscles, and restoring the posture of the spine.
In addition, there are the following methods:
- Laser therapy;
- Acupuncture treatment;
- Pharmacopuncture treatment;
- Magnetopuncture treatment;
- Vacuum therapy treatment.
Treatment with folk methods
- Raw potatoes predominate as an excellent pain reliever. For the treatment of recurrence of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, a compress is prepared, rubbed on a grater (1: 1), mixed with honey. The resulting mass is applied to the affected area, where it is located for about two hours.
- Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the affected spine in the stage of exacerbation, effectively relieves a mixture of internal and external use. Prepared with honey in half a glass, 50 gr. vodka, two tablespoons of salt and ¼ glass of radish. The resulting mass is used by rubbing the affected area twice a day or inwardly before meals twice a day.
- Osteochondrosis is treated with tea. The infusion is prepared from the fruits and crushed leaves of strawberries, taken one spoon at a time. This mixture is poured for ten minutes.
- Symptoms of rheumatism, gout and osteochondrosis of the thoracic region are well treated with an ointment consisting of lard (one tablespoon) and hop cone powder (one tablespoon).
Complications
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine has the following complications:
- Intervertebral hernia of the thoracic spine;
- Disc protrusion;
- Radiculopathy (sciatica);
- Sciatica;
- Schmorl's hernia;
- Lumbago;
- Spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis;
- VSD;
- Osteophytosis, spondylosis;
- Stenosis in the spinal canal of the spine.