Degenerative and dystrophic diseases of the spine are a kind of human payment for walking upright. It is known that other mammals do not suffer from osteochondrosis, since their spinal column 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 to a dangerous position.
In the thoracic region, these processes occur less frequently than in the sacral and cervical, but this does not reduce the danger of this disease. This article will discuss in detail the problems of symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, as well as the elements related to the prevention of this disease.
Characteristics of thoracic osteochondrosis
The thoracic spine is characterized by low mobility, which reduces the probability of degenerative processes in this area. However, 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 an inactive lifestyle, poor nutrition and the general environmental 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 in heels, general weakness of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus in women.
In both sexes, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region causes painful symptoms and reduced range of motion. The progression of pathology is fraught with compression of nerve endings, which inevitably affects the state of internal organs. Advanced cases of the disease are often accompanied by disturbances in the functioning of the blood vessels and the heart, respiratory problems.
Anatomically, 12 thoracic vertebrae are connected to the ribs and sternum in a strong, dormant framework structure that protects internal organs from mechanical stress. In the initial stage, the disease almost does not cause severe symptoms, but in the later stages, the manifestations of the pathology are so diverse that sometimes this prevents an accurate diagnosis. Not surprisingly, osteochondrosis is often referred to as "chameleon disease. "
The most common causes of thoracic osteochondrosis are trauma, weakness of the muscular apparatus, physical inactivity, metabolic disorders, excessive load on the back, genetic predisposition. The disease develops gradually, which, on the one hand, makes it possible to start treatment in time and stop the degenerative processes, but on the other hand, it prevents early detection of the pathology.
Stages of the disease
Doctors classify thoracic osteochondrosis by developmental stages:
Stage 1.The intervertebral discs lose their elastic qualities, decrease in size, but still do not move from their anatomical position.
Stage 2.There is a further decrease in the height of the discs and the spine itself loses its stability. Cracks form in the annulus, 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 bulges and ruptures of the annulus fibrosus. In such cases, herniated discs are diagnosed. Disks lose their cushioning properties and stop performing their proper anatomical functions. The vertebrae themselves also suffer, join together, collapse and form osteophytes, dangerous bone growths.
In addition to hard tissue, muscles, ligaments, and tendons are affected. The muscles are blocked, spasmodic phenomena occur in them. The body tries to immobilize the affected area as much as possible to reduce pain; This causes congestion in the muscles and muscle atrophy.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis
As already mentioned, at the onset stage, thoracic osteochondrosis manifests itself weakly or not at all. As the pathology progresses, periodic pains appear between the shoulder blades: the symptoms intensify after physical activity or, conversely, after a long rest. Often the pain bothers patients in the morning after waking up and fades within an hour. Sometimes the pain moves along the intercostal nerve and radiates to the chest when coughing, sneezing, or running.
Typical signs
In stages 2-3, the most indicative symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis is constant pain in the interscapular area. Chest pains are also quite typical: the sensations resemble an angina attack with coronary artery disease or heart failure.
Symptom similarity to heart disease is a fairly common cause of misdiagnosis. However, 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, do not in any way alleviate the patient's condition.
Other characteristic symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Stiffness of the trunk muscles during deep breathing (back pain), as if the body were tightened with a ring;
- Dorsago - a sharp pain in the chest (the so-called "lumbago of the chest");
- Feeling of goose bumps and numbness in the hands (in the presence of radicular syndrome);
- Intercostal pain when walking and physical activity (intercostal neuralgia) - with inflammation of the nerve endings, the pain becomes constant;
- Spasms in the thoracic back;
- Pain when raising the arms, turning the trunk and breathing deeply.
The stages of the disease directly affect the intensity of symptoms. For patients on the therapeutic plan, it is important not to eliminate pain with unconventional drugs and methods (painkillers, antispasmodics, various ointments, compresses and heating pads), but to visit the clinic and find out the cause of the pain with a doctor. Self-treatment of 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 its symptoms. This complicates the diagnosis and is often the cause of inappropriate 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 diseases in women: to exclude the presence of neoplasms, it should be examined by a mammologist;
- Pains that resemble gastritis, colitis, stomach or intestinal ulcers, hepatitis - to exclude these diseases, a gastroenterologist prescribes a diagnosis;
- Paroxysmal waist pains corresponding to renal colic or other diseases of the urinary system.
Urinary and reproductive system disorders are also possible. Women have anorgasmia, heavy and painful menstruation (menorrhagia), and sometimes infertility. Men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Doctors cannot always find the true cause of these pathologies, and therefore the treatment of reproductive diseases does not give a positive dynamic.
Sometimes with osteochondrosis in the thoracic region, pressure spikes, toothaches and headaches, sleep disturbances, tinnitus are observed. Psycho-emotional disorders are not excluded: irritability, depression, crying, anxiety.
Diagnosis, therapy and prevention
External examinations, palpation, and range-of-motion tests are performed to detect disease. It is important to know the patient in detail about the duration of the symptoms, their nature and the concomitant 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 exclude cardiac pathologies).
Once the diagnosis is made, 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 objective of treatment is to minimize the consequences of degenerative processes in cartilage tissue and prevent the development of complications. Therapy is usually outpatient, except in particularly severe clinical situations. Conservative therapy is mainly practiced.
Medications
Medications are prescribed only for severe pain syndrome and inflammatory processes. It is preferable to use drugs in the form of external ointments, less often tablets, intramuscular or epidural injections are prescribed.
More topical drug types:
- Painkillers;
- Anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
- Vitamin complexes;
- Steroids.
Experienced therapists will never provide purely drug-based therapy. Once the pain and swelling are gone, the medicine is stopped.
Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage
These methods play a major role in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the thoracic spine. These techniques eliminate pain, strengthen ligaments and muscles, restore and stimulate blood circulation, metabolic processes.
Popular physical therapy methods:
- Magnetotherapy;
- Electrophoresis and Phonophoresis;
- Laser exposure;
- Amplipulse therapy;
- Ultrasound treatment;
- Paraffin applications;
- Kinesio tape;
- Mud therapy;
- Balneotherapy;
- Hypothermia;
- Hirudotherapy, treatment with bee venom.
The main advantage of physical therapy is its safety. Procedures can be prescribed at any age, with almost any concomitant illness. A separate area of physical therapy is reflexology (acupuncture). The method is effective, but requires the presence of a professional specialist.
Physiotherapy is an obligatory stage in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. Gymnastics strengthens the muscular apparatus, restores the normal anatomical position of the vertebral structures, reduces pressure on nerve endings, and prevents the development of protrusions and hernias of the intervertebral discs.
Complex exercises must be performed regularly and over a long period of time; only in this case will they produce a remarkable therapeutic effect. Ideally, sessions should be done under the guidance of an instructor, as any wrong movement can cause injury and pain.
Massage (manual and hardware effects) has the same therapeutic tasks as exercise therapy: pain relief, improved blood flow, muscle strengthening. In addition to the impact with the hands of a specialist, they practice the use of massagers, applicators, orthopedic devices.
Radical treatment
Surgery for osteochondrosis of the breast is resorted to in modern medical institutions in exceptional cases, when there is a real danger of pinching the spinal cord or there are dangerous lumps and hernias. Spinal surgery is always an additional risk, so interventions are rarely performed and only by experienced surgeons.
Prevention
Disease prevention is much easier than long-term (and sometimes life-long) therapy. Unfortunately, modern medicine cannot reverse degenerative processes, it can only minimize the consequences of pathology and eliminate acute symptoms.
For this reason, the prevention of osteochondrosis must be approached from childhood. The development of the disease is hampered by: correct posture, balanced nutrition, correct alternation of physical activity and rest, sleeping in a comfortable bed. Timely diagnosis of the disease plays a positive role and the strict implementation of the doctor's recommendations.