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 spine is located horizontally to the earth's surface. 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 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, as well as elements 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. Nevertheless, cases of this disease are regularly registered by orthopedists and traumatologists 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 the inactive lifestyle, poor nutrition and the general ecological environment of 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 on the heels, general weakness of the musculoskeletal system in women.
In both sexes, osteochondrosis of the chest area causes painful symptoms and reduces range of motion. The progression of the pathology is accompanied by contraction of the nerve endings, which inevitably affects the condition of the internal organs. More 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 in a strong and inactive frame structure that protects the internal organs from mechanical stress. In the initial stage, the disease causes almost no severe symptoms, but in the later stages the manifestations of pathology are so diverse that sometimes it interferes with an accurate diagnosis. No wonder osteochondrosis is often called "chameleon disease".
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the chest are trauma, weakness of the muscular system, physical inactivity, metabolic disorders, excessive strain on the back and genetic predisposition. The disease develops gradually, which, on the one hand, makes it possible to start treatment on time and stop the degenerative processes, but on the other hand, prevents the early detection of pathology.
Stages of the disease
Doctors classify thoracic osteochondrosis by stages of development:
Stage 1.The intervertebral discs lose their elastic properties, decrease in size, but still do not shift 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 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, a disc herniation is diagnosed. The discs lose their cushioning properties and cease to perform their proper anatomical functions. The vertebrae themselves also suffer - they shrink, collapse and form osteophytes - dangerous bone growths.
In addition to hard tissues, muscles, tendons and ligaments are affected. The muscles are blocked, spasmodic phenomena appear in them. The body tries to immobilize the affected area as much as possible to reduce the pain - this leads to muscle congestion and muscle atrophy.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis
As already mentioned, in the initial stage, thoracic osteochondrosis manifests itself weakly or does not appear at all. As the pathology progresses, pain between the shoulder blades periodically occurs: the symptoms intensify after physical activity or, conversely, after prolonged rest. Often the pain bothers patients in the morning after waking up and subsides within an hour. Sometimes the pain travels along the intercostal nerve, radiating to the chest when you cough, sneeze or run.
Typical characters
In 2-3 stages the most indicative symptom of osteochondrosis of the chest is constant pain in the interscapular area. Chest pain is also quite typical: the sensations resemble an attack of angina pectoris with coronary artery disease or heart failure.
The similarity of symptoms with heart disease is a fairly common cause of misdiagnosis. It is quite simple to distinguish pain in degenerative processes in the spine from cardiac symptoms: nitroglycerin and similar drugs that stop angina attacks, with osteochondrosis, in no way alleviate the patient's condition.
Other characteristic symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Stiffness of the trunk muscles during deep breathing (dorsalgia) - as if the body is pressed with a hoop;
- Dorsago - severe chest pain (so-called "chest lumbago");
- Feeling of tingling 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 chest and back;
- Pain when lifting arms, turning torso and deep breathing.
The stages of the disease directly affect the intensity of the symptoms. It is therapeutically important for patients not to eliminate pain with drugs and non-traditional methods (analgesics, antispasmodics, various ointments, compresses and heating pads), but to visit the clinic and find the cause of the pain by a doctor. Self-treatment for osteochondrosis is rarely effective and in some cases even aggravates the course of the disease.
Rare symptoms
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic area is often disguised as other pathologies, causing their symptoms. This complicates the diagnosis and is often the cause of inadequate treatment.
The 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 must be examined by a mammologist;
- Pain resembling gastritis, colitis, stomach or intestinal ulcer, hepatitis - to rule out these diseases, the diagnosis is prescribed by a gastroenterologist;
- Paroxysmal lumbar pain corresponding to renal colic or other diseases of the urinary system.
Disorders of the urinary tract and reproductive system 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 in osteochondrosis in the chest area there are pressure surges, toothache and headache, sleep disorders, tinnitus. Psycho-emotional disorders are not excluded - irritability, depression, crying, anxiety.
Diagnosis, therapy and prevention
Tests for external examination, palpation and range of motion are performed to detect the disease. It is important to find out 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 the treatment of osteochondrosis: wellness 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 to prevent the development of complications. Therapy is usually outpatient, except in particularly severe clinical situations. Conservative therapy is mainly practiced.
Medicine
Medicines are prescribed only for severe pain and inflammatory processes. It is preferable to use drugs in the form of external ointments, less often tablets, intramuscular or epidural injections are prescribed.
Most current types of drugs:
- Analgesics;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
- Vitamin complexes;
- Steroids.
Experienced therapists will never offer purely drug therapy. Once the pain and inflammation subside, the medicine is stopped.
Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage
These methods play a leading role in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the chest. These techniques eliminate 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;
- Capture kinesio;
- Mud therapy;
- Balneotherapy; Hypothermia;
- Hirudotherapy, treatment with bee venom.
The main advantage of physiotherapy is its safety. The 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.
Physiotherapy is a mandatory step in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. Gymnastics strengthens the muscular system, 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 period of time - only in this case they will cause a noticeable therapeutic effect. Ideally, sessions should be conducted under the guidance of an instructor, as any improper 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 the blow with the hands of a specialist, they practice the use of massagers, applicators, orthopedic devices.
Radical treatment
Surgery for osteochondrosis in modern medical institutions is resorted to in exceptional cases - when there is a real danger of pinching the spinal cord or there are dangerous protrusions and hernias. Spinal surgery is always an additional risk, so interventions are performed rarely and only by experienced surgeons.
Prevention
Preventing the disease is much easier than long-term (and sometimes lifelong) therapy. Alas, 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 should be dealt with from childhood. The development of the disease is hampered by: proper posture, balanced diet, proper alternation of physical activity and rest, sleep in a comfortable bed. The positive diagnosis of the disease and the strict implementation of the doctor's recommendations play a positive role.