Osteochondrosis is a dystrophic change in the spine, in which the structure of the intervertebral disc changes, with the subsequent deformation, stratification and violation of boundaries and height.
Medical professionals used to believe that osteochondrosis only affects areas of the spine, now that opinion has changed. Osteochondrosis can confidently be called a systemic disease, as the spine is not only a support for the motor system, but affects all organs of the human body.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a pathological change that is 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 disruption of the metabolic process in the body, which is associated with a deterioration in the blood supply.
So, the main signs of the development of osteochondrosis:
- Physical hard work.
- Nervousness and stress.
- Curvature of the spine.
- Obesity.
- Intense physical training, poor training performance.
- Bad ecology.
- Smoking.
- Back injury.
- Wrong diet.
- Lack of exercise in a person (physical inactivity).
- Constant vibration 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 chest region is scoliosis, the prerequisites of which are formed in school. The chest is a sedentary area and therefore symptoms are very different from 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 as follows:
- Chest pain. Significantly worse when breathing or moving. In most cases, the pain of osteochondrosis of the chest region is shingles in nature;
- Numbness symptoms. There is a feeling of goosebumps creeping into the chest;
- Stomach, liver and heart pain. Breast osteochondrosis is disguised as other diseases, which indicates symptoms of gastritis, heart attack, angina, peptic ulcer, etc. ;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Pain in the area of the shoulder blades (there is lumbago at the level of the intercostal nerves, this condition is called intercostal neuralgia);
- Decrease in maneuverability of the thoracic spine (symptoms are characteristic of Forestier, Bechterew, Scheerman-Mao disease, and scoliotic deformity, the real cause being determined by x-rays).
In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis has two vertebral syndromes - dorsalgia and dorsago.
Dorsago has a characteristic sharp pain in the chest. It is usually found in people who have been in a tilted position for a long time (such as welders) and then straightened up sharply. The dorsal pain syndrome is severe enough even while breathing. The muscle tone is tense, which leads to restricted mobility in certain parts of the spine.
Dorsalgia manifests itself gradually and imperceptibly and 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, bending forward or sideways. Muscles are tense.
Movement is restricted in the upper dorsalgia (neck-thorax region) or the lower dorsalgia (lumbar-thorax region). The pain intensifies at night, during the waking phase the pain syndrome disappears by itself with a short walk. The pain intensifies again with deep breathing or prolonged posture in one position.
diagnosis
A characteristic of osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine is the incredible ability to be mistaken for the symptoms of another disease. It is not for nothing that doctors call this malaise "disease - a chameleon".
Osteochondrosis is disguised as a pain syndrome from cardiovascular diseases, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, appendicitis and cholecystitis, gastrointestinal diseases, namely gastritis, gastric ulcer, kidney or hepatic colic. Experienced specialists conduct comprehensive diagnostics 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 treatment method will take concomitant diseases into account.
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is made on the basis of an X-ray, in which an increase in the vertebral body or a decrease in height of the intervertebral discs is clearly visible.
Treatment 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. Operative measures of the surgeon are used extremely rarely, usually with complications, that is, a spinal hernia.
During the exacerbation period, treatment is aimed at relieving the pain. Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs, as well as analgesics, are prescribed. To increase the movement of the thoracic spine and relax muscle tone, muscle relaxants are prescribed. To improve blood circulation in the spine - vasodilators. Medicines are combined with massage and physiotherapy.
In the relapse phase, the treatment aims to stretch the muscles of the thoracic spine. The most effective method is exercise therapy.
During the remission phase, 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.
There are also the following methods:
- Laser therapy;
- Acupuncture treatment;
- Pharmacopuncture treatment;
- Magnetopuncture treatment;
- Treatment with vacuum therapy.
Treatment with folk methods
- Raw potatoes predominate as an excellent pain reliever. To treat the recurrence of osteochondrosis of the chest region, a compress is made, which is rubbed on a grater (1: 1) and mixed with honey. The resulting mass is applied to the affected area, where it will be for about two hours.
- Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the affected spine in the acute stage, effectively relieves 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 twice a day before meals.
- Osteochondrosis is treated with tea. The infusion is made from the fruits and crushed strawberry leaves, each taking a spoon. 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;
- Disc supernatant;
- Radiculopathy (sciatica);
- Sciatica;
- Schmorl's hernia;
- Lumbago;
- Spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis;
- VSD;
- Osteophytosis, spondylosis;
- Stenosis in the spinal canal of the spine.