Osteochondrosis is a dystrophic change in the spine where the structure of the intervertebral disc changes, later with deformation, stratification, and violation of boundaries and height.
Previously, doctors believed that osteochondrosis only affected certain areas of the spine, but now that view has changed. Osteopondrosis can be confidently called a systemic disease because the spine not only supports the motor system but also affects all organs of the human body.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a pathological lesion characterized by a degenerative-dystrophic process of 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, which is accompanied by a deterioration of the blood supply.
So the main signs of developing osteochondrosis are:
- Physical hard work.
- Nervous tension and stress.
- Curvature of the spine.
- Obesity.
- Intense physical training, improper exercise.
- Bad ecology.
- Smoking.
- Back injury.
- Improper nutrition.
- A sedentary lifestyle of a person (physical inactivity).
- Constant vibrating effect on the spine (prolonged driving).
- Hypothermia.
- Age-related changes and so on.
Symptoms
It should be emphasized that the cause of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is scoliosis, the preconditions for which develop at school. The chest is a sitting area, so the symptoms are noticeably different from other types of osteochondrosis. In most cases, the main difference in osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is the absence of acute pain syndrome, but dull or aching pain is present.
The main symptoms are:
- Chest pain. Significantly worse when breathing or moving. In most cases, the pain of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is shingle;
- Symptoms of numbness. There is a feeling that goosebumps are crawling in the chest;
- Stomach, liver and heart pain. Breast osteochondrosis is disguised as other symptoms that indicate symptoms of gastritis, heart attack, angina pectoris, peptic ulcer, and so on;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Pain in the shoulder blades (lumbago at the level of the intercostal nerves, this condition is called intercostal neuralgia);
- Decreased maneuverability of the thoracic spine (symptoms are characteristic of Forestier, Bekhterevre, Scheerman-Mao disease, and scoliotic deformity, X-rays are used to determine the true cause).
In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis has two vertebral syndromes - dorsalgia and dorsago.
Dorsago has characteristic sharp chest pain. It usually occurs in those who have been in a tilted position for a long time (such as welders), after which they straighten sharply. Dorsago pain syndrome is quite strong even while breathing. Muscle tone is tense, which restricts movement in certain parts of the spine.
Dorsalgia manifests itself gradually and unnoticed, lasting up to three weeks. There is no pronounced pain syndrome in the affected area of the spine and discomfort. The pain is exacerbated by deep breathing, leaning forward or sideways. The muscles were tense.
Movement is restricted in the upper dorsalgia (cervicothoracic region) or lower dorsalgia (lumbar-thoracic region). The pain intensifies at night, during the period of awakening the pain syndrome goes away on its own with a short walk. With deep breathing or a prolonged position of the body in one position, the pain intensifies again.
Diagnostics
One feature of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is the incredible ability to be confused with the symptoms of another disease. It is not in vain that doctors call this malaise a "disease - a chameleon. "
Osteochondrosis is a syndrome of cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris, heart attack, appendicitis and cholecystitis, and gastrointestinal diseases, namely gastritis, peptic ulcer, renal or hepatic colic pain. Experienced professionals perform comprehensive diagnostics in order to find the differences between breast osteochondrosis and similar diseases. In this regard, it is recommended to perform not only X-rays but also MRI, gastroduodenoscopy, ultrasound, etc. In the future, the method of treatment will take 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 intervertebral height is clearly visible.
Treatment methods
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine in the thoracic spine depends primarily on the stage of the pathological process and is limited to conservative treatment. The surgeon’s surgical procedures are used extremely rarely, usually with complications, i. e. , spinal hernia.
During the period of exacerbation, treatment is aimed at relieving pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics are prescribed. Muscle relaxants are prescribed to increase the movement of the thoracic spine and relax muscle tone. Improving blood flow in the spine - vasodilators. Medication is combined with massage and physiotherapy.
In the relapse phase, treatment is aimed at stretching the muscular system of the thoracic region of the spine. The most effective method is kinesitherapy.
During the remission period, the goal of treatment is to improve the maneuverability of the intervertebral discs of the spine, strengthen the spinal muscles, and restore the posture of the spine.
In addition, the following methods exist:
- Laser therapy;
- Acupuncture treatment;
- Drug treatment;
- Magnetopuncture treatment;
- Vacuum therapy treatment.
Treatment with folk methods
- Raw potatoes are an excellent painkiller. To treat recurrence of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, a compress is made, which is rubbed on a file (1: 1) mixed with honey. The resulting mass should be applied to the affected area for about two hours.
- Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the affected spine in the acute stage are effective in relieving the mixture of internal and external use. Half a glass of honey, 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 inwards, twice a day before meals.
- Osteochondrosis is treated with tea. The infusion is made from strawberry fruits and crushed leaves with a spoon. This mixture was poured for ten minutes.
- Symptoms of rheumatism, gout, and osteochondrosis of the chest region can be treated well with an ointment consisting of fat (a tablespoon) and hop cone powder (a tablespoon).
Complications
Complications of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine include:
- Intervertebral hernia of the thoracic spine;
- Disc protrusion;
- Radiculopathy (sciatica);
- Sciatica;
- Schmorl injured;
- Lumbago;
- Spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis;
- VSD;
- Osteophytosis, spondylosis;
- Stenosis in the spinal canal of the spine.