Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine are a kind of payment for a person to walk upright. It is known that other mammals do not suffer from osteochondrosis, because the spine is horizontal to the ground. During walking, vertical loads lead to the gradual destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs and help to move the vertebrae to a dangerous place.
In the thoracic region, such processes are less common than in the sacral and cervical regions, but this does not reduce the risk of this disease. This article will discuss in detail the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region and the articles related to the prevention of this disease.
Features of thoracic osteochondrosis
The thoracic spine is characterized by low mobility and reduces the likelihood of degenerative processes in this region. However, cases of this disease are regularly reported by orthopedists and traumatologists in 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 a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition and the general environment 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 include: childbirth, walking on the heels, general weakness of the musculoskeletal system in women.
In both sexes, osteochondrosis of the breast causes painful symptoms and reduces range of motion. The development of pathology is necessarily accompanied by compression of the nerve endings, which 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, respiratory problems.
Anatomically, the 12 thoracic vertebrae are connected to the ribs and sternum in a strong and immobile frame that protects the internal organs from mechanical stress. In the initial stage, the disease almost does not cause severe symptoms, but in the later stages, the manifestations of the pathology are so diverse that sometimes prevent an accurate diagnosis. Not surprisingly, osteochondrosis is often referred to as "chameleon disease. "
The most common causes of thoracic osteochondrosis are trauma, muscle weakness, physical inactivity, metabolic disorders, back strain and genetic predisposition. The disease develops gradually, which, on the one hand, allows to start treatment on time and stop the degenerative processes, on the other hand, prevents the early detection of pathology.
Stages of the disease
Doctors classify thoracic osteochondrosis according to the stages of development:
Stage 1.Intervertebral discs lose their elastic properties, decrease in size, but have not yet returned to their anatomical position.
Stage 2.The discs become further reduced in height and the spine itself loses its stability. Cracks form in the annulus, discs change, and put pressure on nerve endings, blood vessels, and muscles. The second stage is characterized by severe back pain and neurological symptoms.
Stage 3.Degenerative processes can cause ring fibrosis to protrude and break. In such cases, herniated discs are diagnosed. The discs lose their cushioning properties and cease to perform their necessary anatomical functions. The vertebrae themselves also suffer - they come together, collapse and form osteophytes - dangerous bone growths.
In addition to hard tissues, muscles, ligaments and tendons are affected. Muscles are blocked, spasmodic phenomena occur. The body tries to immobilize the affected area as much as possible to reduce pain - this causes muscle contraction and muscle atrophy.
Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis
As already mentioned, in the initial stage, thoracic osteochondrosis shows little or no symptoms. As the pathology progresses, periodic pains appear between the shoulder blades: the symptoms intensify after physical activity or, conversely, after prolonged rest. Often the pain becomes bothersome after waking up in the morning and subsides within an hour. Sometimes the pain moves along the intercostal nerve, spreading to the chest when coughing, sneezing or running.
Typical signs
In stage 2-3, the most common symptom of osteochondrosis of the chest is persistent aching pain in the intercapular zone. Chest pain is also very typical: the sensations are similar to an attack of angina pectoris with coronary artery disease or heart failure.
The similarity of the symptoms to heart disease is a fairly common cause of misdiagnosis. However, in degenerative processes in the spine, it is very simple to distinguish pain from cardiac symptoms: nitroglycerin and similar drugs that stop angina attacks do not reduce the condition of a patient with osteochondrosis in any way.
Other characteristic symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Stiffness of the torso muscles during deep breathing (dorsalgia) - as if the body is compressed by a hoop;
- Dorsago - a sharp pain in the chest (called "chest lumbago");
- Flatulence and numbness in the hands (in the presence of radicular syndrome);
- Intercostal pain during walking and physical activity (intercostal neuralgia): pain becomes persistent with inflammation of the nerve endings;
- Spasms in the chest;
- Pain in raising arms, turning the body and breathing deeply.
Stages of the disease directly affect the intensity of symptoms. Therapeutically, it is important for patients to visit the clinic and find out the cause of the pain from the doctor, rather than relieving the pain with medications and non-traditional methods (analgesics, antispasmodics, various ointments, compresses and heating pads). Self-medication for osteochondrosis is rarely effective and in some cases exacerbates the disease.
Rare Symptoms
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is often hidden like other pathologies and causes symptoms. This complicates the diagnosis and is often the cause of inadequate treatment.
Non-typical manifestations of the disease are very diverse:
- Ischemia, heart attack, signs of infarction (ECG or other tests should be performed for differential diagnosis);
- Pain reminiscent of breast disease in women: you should be examined by a mammologist to rule out the presence of neoplasms;
- Pain reminiscent of gastritis, colitis, gastric or intestinal ulcers, hepatitis - diagnosed by a gastroenterologist to rule out these diseases;
- Paroxysmal girdle pain in response to renal colic or other diseases of the urinary system.
Urinary tract and reproductive system diseases are also possible. Women experience anorexia, painful and heavy menstruation (menorrhagia), and sometimes infertility. Men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Doctors can not always find the real cause of these pathologies, and therefore the treatment of reproductive diseases does not give a positive dynamics.
Occasionally, with osteochondrosis of the chest, there is an increase in blood pressure, toothache and headache, sleep disorders, tinnitus. Psychoemotional disorders are not excluded - nervousness, depression, tears, anxiety.
Diagnosis, therapy and prevention
External examination, palpation and movement tests are performed to detect the disease. It is important to get detailed information from the patient about the duration of symptoms, the nature and the accompanying manifestations of the disease.
The following procedures are defined:
- radiography of the spine;
- MRI, CT and ultrasound examination of the abdomen (if necessary);
- Blood and urine tests;
- Myelography;
- ECG (to rule out heart pathology).
Once diagnosed, a treatment regimen is developed. There is no single protocol for the treatment of osteochondrosis: health procedures depend on the patient's condition, age, physical condition and the state of the immune system.
The main goal of treatment is to minimize the consequences of degenerative processes in cartilage tissue and prevent the development of complications. Therapy is generally outpatient, with the exception of severe clinical conditions. Mainly conservative therapy is applied.
Medication
Medications are prescribed only for severe pain syndrome and inflammatory processes. The use of drugs in the form of external ointments is preferred, fewer tablets are prescribed, intramuscular or epidural injections.
Most Topical Drugs:
- analgesics;
- Anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
- Vitamin complexes;
- Steroids.
Experienced therapists will never offer completely drug-based therapy. The drug is stopped after the pain and inflammation subside.
Physiotherapy, sports therapy, massage
These methods play a leading role in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the spine. These methods relieve pain, strengthen ligaments and muscles, restore and stimulate blood circulation and metabolic processes.
Popular physiotherapy methods:
- Magnetotherapy;
- Electro- and phonophoresis;
- Laser exposure;
- Amplipulse therapy;
- Ultrasound treatment;
- Paraffin applications;
- Kinesio filming;
- Mud treatment;
- Balneotherapy;
- Hypothermia;
- Hirudotherapy, treatment with bee venom.
The main advantage of physiotherapy is its safety. Procedures can be prescribed at any age, along with almost any concomitant diseases. A separate area of physiotherapy is reflexology (acupuncture). The method is effective, but requires a professional.
Physiotherapy is a mandatory step in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. Gymnastics strengthens the muscular apparatus, restores the normal anatomical position of the spinal structures, reduces the pressure on the nerve endings and prevents the development of protrusions and hernias of the intervertebral discs.
Complex exercises should be performed regularly and for a long time - only in this case it will have a significant therapeutic effect. Ideally, sessions should be conducted under the guidance of an instructor, as any wrong move can cause injury and pain.
Massage (hand and apparatus effects) has the same therapeutic functions as exercise therapy: reducing pain, improving blood flow, strengthening muscles. In addition to hitting with the hands of a specialist, they apply massage, application, the use of orthopedic devices.
Radical Treatment
Osteochondrosis of the sternum is used in modern medical institutions in exceptional cases - when there is a risk of spinal cord compression or a dangerous bulge and hernia. Spinal surgery is always an additional risk, so interventions are rarely performed and only by experienced surgeons.
Prevention
Prevention is easier than long-term (and sometimes lifelong) therapy. Unfortunately, modern medicine can not restore the degenerative processes, can only minimize the consequences of pathology and eliminate acute symptoms.
For this reason, prevention of osteochondrosis should be addressed from childhood. Prevents the development of the disease: proper posture, balanced diet, the right turn of physical activity and rest, sleeping in a comfortable bed. Timely diagnosis of the disease and strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations play a positive role.