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 safely 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 the blood supply.
So, the main signs of the development of osteochondrosis:
- Hard physical work.
- Stress and nervous tension.
- Curvature of the spine.
- Obesity.
- Intense physical training, inadequate exercise performance.
- Bad ecology.
- Of smoking.
- Back injury.
- Inadequate nutrition.
- Sedentary lifestyle of a person (physical inactivity).
- Constant vibrating effect on the spine (prolonged driving).
- Hypothermia.
- Age-related changes, etc.
Symptoms
It should be emphasized that the cause of the formation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is scoliosis, the prerequisites of which are formed at school. The chest is a sedentary area, and therefore the symptoms are markedly different 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 there is dull or aching pain.
The main symptoms are the following:
- 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 of goose bumps on your chest;
- Stomach, liver and heart pains. Osteochondrosis of the breast masquerades as other diseases, indicating symptoms of gastritis, heart attack, angina, peptic ulcer, etc.
- 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);
- Decreased maneuverability of the thoracic spine (symptoms are characteristic of Forestier, Bekhterev, Scheerman-Mao disease and scoliotic deformity, using radiography to determine the true cause).
In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis has two vertebral syndromes: dorsalgia and dorsagus.
Dorsago has a characteristic sharp pain in his chest. Usually it is found in those who are in an inclined position for a long time (for example, welders), and subsequently straighten sharply. Dorsago pain syndrome is strong enough, even during breathing. Muscle tone is tense, which causes limitation of movement in certain parts of the spine.
Back pain manifests gradually and imperceptibly, lasts up to three weeks. There is no pronounced pain syndrome in the affected area of the spine and discomfort. The pain increases with deep breathing, leaning forward or to one side. The muscles are tense.
Movement is limited in upper back pain (cervicothoracic region) or lower back pain (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 positioning 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. Not for nothing medical specialists call this discomfort "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, kidney or liver colic. Experienced specialists conduct comprehensive diagnostics to find the differences between breast osteochondrosis and similar diseases. In this regard, it is recommended to undergo not only an X-ray examination, but also an MRI, gastroduodenoscopy, ultrasound, etc. In the future, the method of treatment takes into account concomitant diseases.
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is made on the basis of an X-ray, where an increase in the vertebral body or a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs is clearly visible.
Treatment methods
Treatment in the thoracic spine for osteochondrosis of the spine depends mainly on the stage of the pathological process and is limited to conservative treatment. Operative actions of the surgeon are used very rarely, usually with complications, that is, a spinal hernia.
During the period of exacerbation, treatment is aimed at relieving pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, as well as pain relievers. To increase the movement of the thoracic spine and relax muscle tone, muscle relaxants are prescribed. To improve blood flow in the spine: vasodilators. The medication is combined with massages and physical therapy.
In the relapse phase, treatment is aimed at stretching the muscular system of the thoracic region of the spine. The most effective is the kinesitherapy method.
During the remission period, treatment aims to improve the maneuverability of the intervertebral discs of the spine, strengthen the spinal muscles, and restore 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 with a grater (1: 1) and 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 acute stage are effectively relieved by 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 inward before meals twice a day.
- Osteochondrosis is treated with tea. The infusion is prepared from the fruits and the crushed leaves of strawberries, taken one tablespoon 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 bulge;
- Radiculopathy (sciatica);
- Sciatica;
- Schmorl's hernia;
- Lumbago;
- Spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis;
- VSD;
- Osteophytosis, spondylosis;
- Stenosis in the spinal canal of the column.