Thoracic osteochondrosis is a rather dangerous pathology, which is explained by the difficult diagnostic process, so the disease can often be detected only in advanced stages. Initially, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine was considered a disease of the elderly, but recently there has been a certain tendency towards a significant "rejuvenation" of this disease, so it is important to know the main symptoms and treatment in order to improve the clinical picture of theDisease. The difficulty of diagnosis lies in the fact that the vertebrae in the thoracic region are the least susceptible to stress and injury. However, limited mobility is not a guarantee of safety, therefore pathologies also occur very often in this department. Statistics show thatthis disease is not directly related to the aging process and gender.
Peculiarities of the disease
This disease is characterized by pathological processes that lead to negative changes in the structure of tissues. This can lead to destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc and thus 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. The progression of the disease in childhood can lead to premature aging of the musculoskeletal system even before it is fully developed. For this reason, timely diagnosis of pathology in the early stages, when the destruction of the vertebrae and adjacent tissues has not yet occurred, is extremely important.
Clinical symptoms
Depending on the stage, this disease manifests itself in completely different ways. Therefore, we will highlight the general symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region:
- Pain. It can occur not only when performing any actions, but also when staying in static positions for a long time.
- Stiffness of movement that prevents free rotation of the body.
- Difficulty breathing caused by a strong feeling of pressure in the middle of the back.
- Problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs.
Very often the disease is manifested by pain on the left side of the chest, which can be interpreted as symptoms of heart disease. This complicates the diagnosis, but the specialist assesses the totality of all the patient's complaints, which allows a correct interpretation of all the symptoms present. Knowing what symptoms occur with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, you can immediately seek qualified help. We recommend that you pay more attention to your body's signals.
When diagnosing it, it is important to know how osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifests itself, since this disease is insidious and therefore can easily be confused with other diseases. Based on the nature of the pain, we can distinguish the main types of osteochondrosis. One disease is characterized by persistent pain in the damaged area of the spine, the second by the occurrence of acute attacks that literally hinder a person's movements and complicate his respiratory functions.
Causes of the disease
The following causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can be identified:
- Pathological processes that negatively affect the structure of the intervertebral discs. In particular, there is a certain genetic predisposition to this disease.
- Lack of activity related to the performance of one's work functions and leisure activities.
- Scoliosis, which causes increased stress on certain areas of the spine.
- Mechanical damage to the chest.
- Strength training involving lifting large loads.
- Regular stressful situations.
- hypothermia of the body.
- Lack of calcium.
- Hormonal disorders.
Classification of the disease
Intervertebral osteochondrosis develops in stages, each of which is characterized by its own negative manifestations:
- First degree.The initial stage is characterized by a condition in which there is a loss of moisture in the intervertebral disc. Elasticity decreases, low-intensity pain appears, which completely disappears when the person takes a comfortable position.
- Second degree.The loss of moisture in the intervertebral disc continues. This makes it smaller and creates cracks, some of which are quite deep. The muscular corset tries to adapt and maintain the stability of the spine, causing cramps and quite severe pain in the back, chest and limbs.
- Third degree.At this stage, an outward breakthrough of the nucleus pulposus can be observed. Essentially it is an intervertebral hernia where the pain lasts all day. A person is forced to change his type of activity to one in which the unpleasant sensations are not so intense.
- Fourth degree.Extensive 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 by bone, which leads to severe stiffness in movement. The appearance of osteophytes and spinal deformities are also observed.
exacerbation period
The manifestation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region in the acute stage is characterized by the appearance of paroxysmal pain, which is extremely difficult to relieve with available means. Self-medication is unacceptable at this stage, so you should immediately consult a doctor or call emergency services 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 alleviate the patient's condition. Exacerbation of the disease can be caused by various factors, including stressful situations, hypothermia and activities associated with severe stress. In this condition, there is a significant deterioration in the patient's well-being, difficulty breathing and mobility may be limited. In some cases, an inpatient stay in a hospital may be necessary.
Basic diagnostic methods
Signs of osteochondrosis in the chest area include the appearance of pain in various places, stiffness of movement and difficulty breathing. The difficulty of diagnosis lies in the fact that a large number of diseases of different types fit this description. In particular, there is such a concept - "gastrological syndrome", which is characterized by the appearance of pain in the upper abdomen, which can be misinterpreted as a manifestation of gastritis or other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Only modern diagnostic methods allow an accurate diagnosis, on the basis of which the neurologist prescribes the appropriate therapy. It begins with a detailed discussion with the patient, during which existing complaints and concomitant illnesses are determined. After taking the anamnesis, the doctor proceeds directly to the actual examination with special tests. The patient then has to undergo theundergo necessary laboratory tests, as well as X-ray and MRI examinations. Magnetic resonance imaging allows you to examine the condition of the spine in more detail, identify existing pathologies, as well as the size and location of the hernia (if any).
How does the treatment process work?
It is extremely important to know what to do with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the patient an individual treatment regimen. It is necessary to take into account age and the presence of concomitant diseases, as well as allergies to certain medications. At the first stage, treatment is carried out with various medications: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and antispasmodics. The main goal at this stage is to alleviate the patient's condition, reduce pain and muscle spasms. In particularly severe cases, when immediate relief of acute pain is required, anesthetic blocks are used. Topical agents in the form of ointments and gels can also be used, but their effectiveness is somewhat lower due to the difficulty of delivering the agents 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 lead not to a one-time positive result, but to an improvement in the clinical picture over time.
physical therapy
Therapeutic exercises are performed after pain relief. It is extremely important to perform all movements slowly and avoid sudden movements to prevent the condition from worsening. Remember that if exercise causes you pain, you should stop immediately and seek medical attention.
Massage treatments
Muscle cramps, hypertension, pain – this is how the disease manifests itself. To eliminate these symptoms, massage can be used, which should be carried out 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 serious if you strictly follow certain medical recommendations. If a specialist has prescribed bed rest for you, you should definitely not ignore it, otherwise your condition may worsen. A person needs to limit himself to physical activity, so he must refuse to go to the gym or work with weights. An important component of primary prevention is the timely identification during medical examinations of people who have the first signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. Another, no less important point is proper nutrition, which avoids certain foods. It is necessary to limit salt consumption, so smoked meats, various hot spices and pickles must be eliminated from the menu.
It is very important to use chondroprotective drugs that slow down the progression of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, nourish and improve metabolic processes in cartilage tissue.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can be treated. To make this possible, you must strictly follow your doctor's recommendations and adhere to the established treatment regimen. Initial osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is best treated. Therefore, it is extremely important to pay more attention to the body and react to the slightest symptoms of illness. To avoid a possible relapse, you need to take preventative measures and monitor your posture, which is especially important if you work while sitting. Contact only qualified doctors, because only they can prescribe a competent treatment regimen and further recovery.