Thoracic osteochondrosis is a rather dangerous pathology, which is explained by the difficult process of diagnosis, so it is often possible to identify the disease only in advanced stages. At first, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine was considered a disease of elderly people, but recently there is a certain tendency of significant "rejuvenation" of this disease, so it is important to know the main symptoms and treatment in order to improve the clinical picture of the disease. The difficulty of diagnosis is due to the fact thatvertebrae located in the thoracic region are the least susceptible to stress and injuries. However, limited mobility is not a guarantee of safety, so the occurrence of pathologies in this department is very common. Statistics show that this disease is not directly related to the aging process and gender.
Specificities of the disease
This disease is characterized by pathological processes that lead to negative changes in tissue structure. As a result, there may be destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc and, as a result, protrusion of the nucleus pulposus. This condition is dangerous because there is a risk of compression of the spinal cord and further disability of the person. Progression of the disease in childhood can lead to premature aging of the musculoskeletal system even before its final formation. That is why timely diagnosis of the pathology in the early stages, when the vertebrae and adjacent tissues have not yet been destroyed, is extremely important.
Clinical symptoms
This disease manifests itself in completely different ways, depending on the stage. Therefore, we will highlight the general symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region:
- Pain. It can appear not only when performing any actions, but also when staying in static positions for a long time.
- Stiffness of movement prevents free rotation of the body.
- Difficulty breathing caused by a feeling of strong pressure in the middle of the back.
- Problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs.
Very often, the disease manifests itself as pain on the left side of the chest, which can be interpreted as symptoms of heart pathologies. This complicates the diagnosis, but the specialist assesses the totality of all the patient's complaints, which enables the correct interpretation of all existing symptoms. Knowing what symptoms exist for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, you can immediately seek qualified help. We advise you to pay more attention to the signals your body gives you.
When making a diagnosis, it is important to know how osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifests itself, because this disease is insidious, so it is easy to confuse it with other diseases. Based on the nature of the pain, we can distinguish the main types of osteochondrosis. One condition is characterized by long-term pain in the damaged area of the spine, and the other is characterized by the appearance of acute attacks that literally hinder a person's movement, complicating his respiratory functions.
Causes of disease
The following causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can be identified:
- Pathological processes that negatively affect the structure of the discs. In particular, there is a certain genetic predisposition to this disease.
- Lack of activities related to the performance of one's work functions and activities in one's free time.
- Scoliosis, which causes increased stress on certain parts of the spine.
- Mechanical damage to the chest.
- Strength training that involves lifting heavy weights.
- Regular stressful situations.
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Lack of calcium.
- Hormonal disorders.
Classification of diseases
Intervertebral osteochondrosis develops in stages, each of which is characterized by its own negative manifestations:
- First degree.The initial stage is characterized by the loss of moisture in the intervertebral disc. Elasticity decreases, there is pain of low intensity, which disappears completely when the person takes a comfortable position.
- Second degree.Disc moisture loss continues. As a result, it becomes smaller and cracks appear, some of them quite deep. The muscle corset tries to adapt, trying to maintain the stability of the spine, which leads to spasms and quite severe pain in the back, chest and limbs.
- Third degree.In this phase, a breakthrough of the nucleus pulposus to the outside is observed. At its core, it is an intervertebral hernia, in which the pain lasts all day. A person is forced to change his type of activity to one in which unpleasant sensations will not be so intense.
- Fourth degree.Prolonged osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is dangerous because serious restructuring of all tissues begins at the site of damage. There is a natural replacement of the fibrous ring tissue of the bone, which leads to severe stiffness of movement. The appearance of osteophytes and deformation of the spine is also observed.
Exacerbation period
The manifestation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region in the acute phase is characterized by the appearance of paroxysmal pain, which is extremely difficult to relieve with available means. Self-medication at this stage is unacceptable, so you should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance to relieve the pain. Only a neurologist can correctly interpret your complaints and prescribe appropriate further examination and treatment. During an exacerbation, it is extremely important to ease the patient's condition. Exacerbation of the disease can be caused by various factors, including stressful situations, hypothermia and activities associated with intense stress. In this condition, there is a significant deterioration in the patient's well-being, breathing may become difficult, and mobility may be limited. In some cases, hospitalization in a hospital may be required.
Basic diagnostic methods
Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region are the appearance of pain in different locations, stiffness of movements and difficulty breathing. The difficulty of diagnosis lies in the fact that a large number of diseases of a different nature fit this description. In particular, there is such a concept - "gastrological syndrome", which is characterized by the appearance of pain in the epigastrium, which can be misinterpreted as a manifestation of gastritis or other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Only modern diagnostic methods will make it possible to make an accurate diagnosis, on the basis of which the neurologist prescribes appropriate therapy. It all starts with a detailed conversation with the patient, identifying existing complaints and accompanying diseases. After collecting the medical history, the doctor proceeds directly to the examination itself with special tests. The patient must then undergo the necessary laboratory tests, as well as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance allows you to study the condition of the spine in more detail, identify existing pathologies, the size and location of the hernia (if any).
How does the treatment process work?
It is extremely important to know what to do for osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes an individual treatment regimen for the patient. It is necessary to take into account age and the presence of accompanying complaints, as well as allergies to certain drugs. In the first phase, the treatment is carried out using different drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and antispasmodics. The main goal in this phase is to ease the patient's condition, reduce pain and muscle spasms. In particularly severe cases, when immediate relief of acute pain is needed, anesthetic blocks are used. Local agents in the form of ointments and gels can also be used, but their effectiveness is somewhat lower, due to difficulty in delivering the active substances to the lesions. In general, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is an integrated approach that combines the use of several techniques. Only such therapy can give not a one-time positive result, but an improvement of the clinical picture over time.
Physiotherapy
Therapeutic exercise is carried out after pain relief. It is extremely important to perform all movements slowly, avoiding sudden movements, in order to prevent worsening of the condition. Remember that if exercise causes you pain, you should stop immediately and consult a doctor.
Massage treatments
Muscle spasms, hypertonicity, pain - this is how the disease manifests itself. To eliminate these symptoms, massage can be used, which should be performed by a qualified specialist. These procedures can be used not only for therapeutic purposes, but also as a good preventive measure.
Prevention
The consequences of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine will not be so strong if you strictly follow certain medical recommendations. If the specialist has prescribed bed rest, you must not neglect it under any circumstances, otherwise your condition may worsen. A person must limit himself in physical activity, so he will have to refuse to go to the gym or work with weights. An important component of primary prevention is the timely identification of persons who have initial signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine during medical examinations. Another, no less important point is proper nutrition, which implies avoiding certain foods. It is necessary to limit the consumption of salt, so smoked meat, various hot spices and pickles will have to be removed from the diet.
It is very important to use chondroprotective drugs that slow down the progression of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, nurture and improve metabolic processes in cartilage tissue.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can be treated. To make this possible, you must strictly adhere to the recommendations of your doctor, as well as adhere to the established treatment regimen. Initial osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is best treated, so it is extremely important to be more attentive to your body, reacting to even the smallest symptoms of the disease. In order to avoid a possible recurrence, it is necessary to follow preventive measures and pay attention to posture, which is especially important when working in a sitting position. Contact only qualified doctors, because only they can prescribe a competent treatment regimen and further recovery.