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 affected areas of the spine, now this opinion has changed. Osteochondrosis can be 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 of blood supply.
So, the main signs of the development of osteochondrosis:
- Hard physical work.
- Nervous tension and stress.
- Curvature of the spine.
- Obesity.
- Intense physical training, inappropriate exercise performance.
- Bad ecology.
- Smoking.
- Back injury.
- Bad nutrition.
- Sedentary lifestyle of a person (physical inactivity).
- Constant vibratory effect on the spine (prolonged driving).
- Hypothermia.
- Age-related changes and so on.
Symptoms
It should be emphasized that the cause of the formation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is scoliosis, the prerequisites for which are formed in school. The chest is a sedentary area and therefore the symptoms are noticeable compared to other types of osteochondrosis. In most cases, the main difference between osteochondrosis of the chest region is the absence of acute pain syndrome, but dull or aching pain is present.
The main symptoms are:
- Chest pain. Significantly worse during breathing or movement. In most cases, the pain of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region has a shingles character;
- Symptoms of numbness. There is a feeling that goosebumps are crawling in the chest;
- Pain in the stomach, liver and heart. Osteochondrosis of the breast is disguised as other diseases, indicating symptoms of gastritis, heart attack, angina, peptic ulcer, etc.
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Pain in the shoulder blades (there is lumbago in the intercostal nerves, this condition is called intercostal neuralgia);
- Decreased maneuverability of the thoracic spine (symptoms are characteristic of Forestier's, Bekhterev's, Scheerman-Mao's disease and scoliotic deformity, using x-ray to determine the true cause).
In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis presents two vertebral syndromes - back pain and back pain.
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), and then stand up sharply. Dorsago pain syndrome is quite strong even during breathing. Muscle tone is tense, resulting in restriction of movement in certain parts of the spine.
Back pain manifests itself 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 the side. The muscles are tense.
Movement is limited in the upper back pain (cervico-thoracic region) or lower back pain (lumbar-thoracic region). The pain intensifies at night, during the awakening period the pain syndrome passes by itself with a small walk. With deep breathing or prolonged positioning of the body in one position, the pain intensifies again.
Diagnostic
A hallmark of osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine is the incredible ability to be mistaken for symptoms of another disease. It is not for nothing that medical specialists call this discomfort "disease - a chameleon".
Osteochondrosis is disguised as pain syndrome of cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris, heart attack, appendicitis and cholecystitis, gastrointestinal diseases, namely gastritis, peptic ulcer, renal or hepatic colic. Experienced specialists carry out comprehensive diagnostics in order 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.
Processing methods
Treatment of the thoracic spine for osteochondrosis of the spine depends mainly on the stage of the pathological process and is limited to conservative treatment. Operational actions of the surgeon are used extremely rarely, usually with complications, that is, spinal hernia.
During the period of exacerbation, treatment is aimed at relieving pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, as well as analgesics. To increase movement of the thoracic spine and relax muscle tone, muscle relaxants are prescribed. To improve blood circulation in the spine - vasodilators. Medication is combined with massage 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 physiotherapy method.
During the period of remission, the treatment is aimed at improving the maneuverability 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;
- Pharmacopunction treatment;
- Magnetopuncture treatment;
- Vacuum therapy treatment.
Treatment with folk methods
- Raw potatoes predominate as an excellent pain reliever. For the treatment of recurrent osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, a compress is prepared, rubbed on a grater (1: 1), mixed with honey. The resulting mass is applied to the affected area, where it stands for about two hours.
- Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the affected spine in the acute stage effectively relieve 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 inwardly before meals twice a day.
- Osteochondrosis is treated with tea. The infusion is prepared from the fruits and leaves of crushed strawberries, taken one spoon at a time. This mixture is poured for ten minutes.
- Symptoms of rheumatism, gout and osteochondrosis of the chest 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;
- protrusion of the disc;
- Radiculopathy (sciatica);
- Sciatica;
- Schmorl's hernia;
- Lumbago;
- Spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis;
- VSD;
- Osteophytosis, spondylosis;
- Stenosis in the spinal canal of the spine.