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 experts believed that osteochondrosis affects only areas of the spine, but now that view has changed. Osteochondrosis can certainly be called a systemic disease, because the spine is not only a support to 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 osteochondrosis of the breast is a violation of the metabolic process in the body, associated with a deterioration in the blood supply.
Thus, the main signs of the development of osteochondrosis:
- Physically strenuous work.
- Nervous effort and stress.
- Curvature of the spine.
- Obesity.
- Intense physical training, improper performance of exercises.
- Bad ecology.
- Smoking.
- Back injury.
- Improper diet.
- Sedentary lifestyle of a person (physical inactivity).
- Constant vibration effect on the spine (extended ride).
- Hypothermia.
- Changes related to age and so on.
Symptoms
It should be emphasized that the cause of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is scoliosis, the preconditions of which are formed in school. The chest is a sitting area, so 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 dull or aching pain is present.
The main symptoms are as follows:
- Chest pain. Significantly worsens during breathing or movement. In most cases, pain from osteochondrosis in the chest area has shingles;
- Symptoms of numbness. There is a feeling that the geese are crawling into the chest;
- Pain in the stomach, liver and heart. Osteochondrosis of the breast is disguised as other diseases, which indicate symptoms of gastritis, heart attack, angina pectoris, peptic ulcer and so on;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Pain in the scapular area (there is lumbago at the level of the intercostal nerves, this condition is called intercostal neuralgia);
- Decreased control of the thoracic spine (symptoms are characteristic of Forestier's, Bekhterev's, Scheerman-Ma'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 an inclined position for a long time (for example, welders), after which they are abruptly straightened. The pain syndrome in Dorsag is strong enough, even during breathing. Muscle tone is tense, which causes restriction of movement in certain parts of the spine.
Dorsalgia manifests itself gradually and imperceptibly, lasting 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, bending forward or sideways. The muscles are tense.
Movement is limited in the upper dorsalgia (cervicothoracic region) or lower dorsalgia (lumbar-thoracic region). The pain intensifies at night, in the waking period, the pain syndrome goes away on its own by a short walk. With deep breathing or prolonged body position in one position, the pain intensifies again.
Diagnosis
A feature of osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine is the amazing ability to confuse it with the symptoms of another disease. It is not without reason that medical experts called this disease "chameleon disease".
Osteochondrosis is disguised as a painful syndrome of cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris, heart attack, appendicitis and cholecystitis, gastrointestinal diseases, namely gastritis, peptic ulcer, renal or hepatic colic. Experienced experts conduct extensive diagnostics to discover 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, etc. In the future, the method of treatment will take into account the concomitant diseases.
The diagnosis of thoracic spine osteochondrosis is made on the basis of an X-ray, where an increase in the body of the spine or a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs is clearly visible.
Methods of treatment
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine in the thoracic spine mainly depends on the stage of the pathological process and is limited to conservative treatment. Surgeons' surgical operations are used extremely rarely, usually with complications, ie spinal hernia.
In the period of exacerbation, treatment is aimed at relieving pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as analgesics are prescribed. In order to increase the movement of the thoracic spine and relax muscle tone, muscle relaxants are prescribed. To improve blood flow in the spine - vasodilators. Medications are combined with massage and physical therapy.
In the relapse phase, treatment is aimed at stretching the muscular system of the thoracic region in the spine. The most effective method is kinesitherapy.
In the period of remission, treatment is aimed at improving the mobility of the intervertebral discs of the spine, strengthening the muscles of the spine and restoring the posture of the spine.
In addition, there are the following methods:
- Laser therapy;
- Acupuncture treatment;
- Pharmacopuncture treatment;
- Magnetopuncture treatments;
- Vacuum therapy.
Treatment by folk methods
- Raw potatoes dominate as an excellent painkiller. To treat recurrence of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, a compress is prepared that is rubbed on a grater (1: 1), mixed with honey. The resulting mass is applied to the affected area, where it stays for about two hours.
- The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the affected spine in the acute phase effectively alleviate the mixture of internal and external use. Prepared with honey in half a glass, 50 gr. vodka, two tablespoons of salt and ¼ glasses 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 crushed strawberry leaves, taking one tablespoon at a time. This mixture is poured for ten minutes.
- The symptoms of rheumatism, gout, and osteochondrosis of the thoracic region are well treated with an ointment consisting of fat (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.