Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine are a type of human payment for upright walking. It is known that other mammals do not suffer from osteochondrosis, because their spinal column is located horizontally on the surface of the earth. Vertical loads during walking lead to the gradual destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs and contribute to the movement of the vertebrae in a dangerous position.
In the thoracic region, such processes occur less frequently than in the sacral and cervical, but this does not reduce the risk of this disease. This article will discuss in detail the issues of symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, as well as the points related to the prevention of this disease.
Features of thoracic osteochondrosis
The thoracic spine is characterized by low mobility, which reduces the likelihood of degenerative processes in this area. Nevertheless, orthopedists and traumatologists regularly report cases of this disease 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 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 influencing factors are: childbirth, walking in heels, 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 progression of the pathology is burdened by the compression of the nerve endings, which inevitably affects the condition of the internal organs. Advanced cases of the disease are often accompanied by disorders of the blood vessels and heart, breathing problems.
Anatomically, 12 thoracic vertebrae are connected to the ribs and sternum into a strong and inactive frame structure that protects the internal organs from mechanical stress. In the initial phase, the disease almost does not cause serious symptoms, but in the later stages, the manifestations of the pathology are so diverse that sometimes it prevents an accurate diagnosis. No wonder osteochondrosis is often referred to as "chameleon disease. "
The most common causes of thoracic osteochondrosis are trauma, weakness of the muscular apparatus, physical inactivity, metabolic disorders, overload of the back and genetic predisposition. The disease develops gradually, which on the one hand allows to start treatment on time and stop degenerative processes, but on the other hand prevents early detection of pathology.
Stages of the disease
Doctors classify thoracic osteochondrosis according to stages of development:
Phase 1.Intervertebral discs lose their elastic qualities, decrease in size, but do not yet move from the anatomical position.
Phase 2.The height of the discs decreases further, and the spinal column itself loses stability. In the ring form, cracks appear, the discs move and put pressure on the nerve endings, blood vessels and muscles. The second stage is characterized by severe back pain and neurological symptoms.
Phase 3.Degenerative processes can lead to the development of protrusions and rupture of the annular fiber. In such cases, a herniated disc is diagnosed. The discs lose their cushioning properties and cease to perform their proper anatomical functions. The vertebrae themselves suffer - they coalesce, collapse and form osteophytes - dangerous bone growths.
In addition to hard tissue, muscles, ligaments and tendons are affected. Muscles are blocked, spasmodic phenomena occur in them. 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 thoracic osteochondrosis
As already mentioned, in the onset phase, thoracic osteochondrosis manifests poorly or does not manifest at all. As the pathology progresses, periodic pains appear between the shoulder blades: the symptoms intensify after physical activity or, conversely, after a longer rest. Often the pain bothers patients in the morning after waking up and weakens within an hour. Sometimes the pain moves along the intercostal nerve, radiating to the chest when you cough, sneeze, or run.
Typical characters
In 2-3 phases, the most indicative symptom of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is constant painful pain in the interscapular zone. Chest pain is also quite typical: the feelings are reminiscent of an attack of angina pectoris with ischemic disease or heart failure.
The similarity of symptoms with heart disease is a fairly common cause of misdiagnosis. However, it is quite simple to distinguish pain in degenerative processes of the spine from cardiac symptoms: nitroglycerin and similar drugs that stop angina attacks, with osteochondrosis, do not alleviate the patient's condition in any way.
Other characteristic symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Stiffness of the trunk muscles during deep breathing (dorsalgia) - as if the body is compressed by a hoop;
- Dorsago - sharp chest pain (so-called "lumbago in the chest");
- Feeling of goosebumps and numbness in the hands (in the presence of radicular syndrome);
- Intercostal pain during walking and physical activity (intercostal neuralgia): with inflammation of the nerve endings, the pain becomes constant;
- Spasms in the thoracic back;
- Pain when raising arms, turning torso and taking deep breaths.
The stages of the disease directly affect the intensity of the symptoms. It is important for patients in the treatment plan not to remove the pain with drugs and unconventional methods (analgesics, antispasmodics, various ointments, compresses and heaters), but to visit the clinic and find out the cause of the pain from the doctor. Self-treatment of osteochondrosis is rarely effective, and in some cases even worsens the course of the disease.
Rare symptoms
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic zone is often masked in other pathologies, which causes their symptoms. This complicates the diagnosis and is often the cause of inadequate treatment.
Atypical manifestations of the disease are very diverse:
- Signs of ischemia, heart attack, heart attack (ECG or other tests should be performed for differential diagnosis);
- Pain reminiscent of breast disease in women: to rule out the presence of tumors, you should be examined by a mammologist;
- Pain similar to gastritis, colitis, ulcer of the stomach or intestines, hepatitis - to rule out these diseases, the diagnosis is prescribed by a gastroenterologist;
- Paroxysmal pain in the waistline corresponding to renal wheelchair or other urinary tract diseases.
Urinary and reproductive disorders are also possible. Women have anorgasmia, painful and heavy menstruation (menorrhagia), and sometimes infertility. Men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Doctors are not always able to find the real cause of these pathologies, and therefore the treatment of reproductive diseases does not give positive dynamics.
Occasionally, osteochondrosis in the thoracic region causes pressure surges, toothaches and headaches, sleep disorders, and tinnitus. Psychoemotional disorders are not excluded - irritability, depression, crying, anxiety.
Diagnosis, therapy and prevention
To detect the disease, external examinations, palpation and range of motion tests are performed. It is important to learn in detail from the patient about the duration of the symptoms, their nature and the accompanying manifestations of the disease.
The following procedures are prescribed:
- X-ray of the spine; MRI, CT and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity (if necessary);
- Blood and urine tests;
- Myelography;
- ECG (to rule out cardiac pathology).
After diagnosis, a treatment regimen is developed. There is no single protocol for treating osteochondrosis: health procedures depend on the patient’s condition, age, physical condition, and the status 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 usually outpatient, except in particularly difficult clinical situations. Mostly conservative therapy is practiced.
Medications
Medications are prescribed only for severe pain syndrome and inflammatory processes. It is desirable to use drugs in the form of external ointments, tablets, intramuscular or epidural injections are prescribed less often.
Most current drug types:
- Analgesics;
- Anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
- Vitamin complexes; Steroids.
Experienced therapists will never offer drug-based therapy. When the pain and inflammation subside, the medication is stopped.
Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage
These methods play a leading role in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the thoracic spine. These techniques remove pain, strengthen ligaments and muscles, restore and stimulate blood circulation, metabolic processes.
Popular methods of physical therapy:
- Magnetotherapy;
- Electro- and phonophoresis;
- Laser exposure;
- Amplipulse therapy;
- Ultrasound treatment;
- Paraffin applications;
- Kinesio recording;
- Blatotherapy;
- Balneotherapy; Hypothermia;
- Hirudotherapy, treatment with bee venom.
The main advantage of physiotherapy is its safety. Procedures can be prescribed at any age, with almost all concomitant diseases. A separate area of physiotherapy is reflexology (acupuncture). The method is effective, but requires the presence of a professional expert.
Physiotherapy is a mandatory phase in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest. 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 over a long period of time - only in this case they will produce a noticeable therapeutic effect. Ideally, the sessions should be conducted under the guidance of an instructor, as any irregular movement can injure and cause pain.
Massage (manual and hardware effects) has the same therapeutic tasks as exercise therapy: reducing pain, improving blood flow, strengthening muscles. In addition to hitting the hands of experts, they practice the use of massagers, applicators, orthopedic aids.
Radical treatment
Breast osteochondrosis surgery in modern medical institutions is used in exceptional cases - when there is a real danger of constriction of the spinal cord or there are dangerous protrusions and hernias. Spinal surgery is always an additional risk, so interventions are rarely performed and only by experienced surgeons.
Prevention
Disease prevention is much easier than long-term (and sometimes lifelong) therapy. Alas, modern medicine cannot reverse degenerative processes, it can only reduce the consequences of pathology and eliminate acute symptoms.
For this reason, prevention of osteochondrosis should be addressed from childhood. The development of the disease is hampered by: proper posture, balanced diet, proper alternation of physical activity and rest, sleeping on a comfortable bed. A positive role is played by the timely diagnosis of the disease and strict implementation of the doctor's recommendations.