Osteochondrosis is a dystrophic change in the spine in which the structure of the intervertebral disc changes, resulting in subsequent deformation, stratification, and disruption of the borders and neck.
Previously, medical experts believed that osteochondrosis affected only the lumbar region, but now this has changed. Osteochondrosis can be confidently called a systemic disease, because the spine affects not only the support of the motor system, but also all organs of the human body.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a pathological change characterized by a degenerative-dystrophic process in the lumbar intervertebral disc.
Signs and reasons
The main cause of thoracic osteochondrosis is a violation of the metabolic process in the body associated with the deterioration of blood supply.
Thus, the main symptoms of the development of osteochondrosis:
- Physical labor.
- Nervous tension and stress.
- Curvature of the spine.
- Obesity.
- Strong physical training, improper training performance.
- Bad ecology.
- To smoke.
- Back injury.
- Malnutrition.
- A person's sedentary lifestyle (physical inactivity).
- The effect of constant vibration on the spine (prolonged driving).
- Hypothermia.
- Age-related changes, etc.
Symptoms
It should be noted that the cause of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is scoliosis. The chest is a sedentary area and therefore the symptoms are significantly different from other types of osteochondrosis. In most cases, the main difference between osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is the absence of acute pain syndrome, but there is dull or aching pain.
The main symptoms are:
- Chest pain. Significantly worsens when breathing or moving. In most cases, the pain of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is zonal in nature;
- Symptoms of insomnia. There is a feeling that the caterpillars are crawling in the chest;
- Stomach, liver and heart pain. Osteochondrosis of the breast is hidden like other diseases, gastritis, heart attack, angina pectoris, peptic ulcer, etc.
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Pain in the area of the shoulder blades (there is a 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, Bekhterev, Scheerman-Mao disease and scoliotic deformity using radiography to determine the true cause).
There are two vertebral syndromes of thoracic osteochondrosis - dorsalgia and dorsago.
Dorsago has a characteristic sharp chest pain. Generally in those who have been in a bent position for a long time (for example, welders), it is then sharply corrected. Dorsago pain syndrome is quite strong, even during breathing. Muscle tone is tense, which leads to restriction of movement in certain parts of the spine.
Dorsalgia manifests itself gradually and imperceptibly, lasting up to three weeks. There is no obvious pain syndrome in the affected area of the spine and discomfort. The pain increases as you take a deep breath, leaning forward or sideways. Muscles are tense.
Movement is limited in the upper dorsalgia (cervicothoracic region) or lower dorsalgia (lumbar-thoracic region). The pain intensifies at night, and during waking up the pain syndrome goes away on its own with a short walk. The pain intensifies again with deep breathing or stretching the body in one position.
Diagnostics
One feature of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is its incredible ability to be confused with the symptoms of another disease. It is not for nothing that medical experts call this disease "disease - chameleon".
Osteochondrosis is disguised as cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris, heart attack, appendicitis and cholecystitis, gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, renal or hepatic colic pain syndrome. Experienced specialists conduct a comprehensive diagnosis to find the differences between osteochondrosis of the breast and similar diseases. In this regard, not only X-ray examination, MRI, gastroduodenoscopy, ultrasound, etc. In the future, the method of treatment will take into account the accompanying diseases.
Diagnosis of thoracic lumbar osteochondrosis is based on an X-ray examination that clearly shows an increase in the vertebral body or a decrease in the neck in the intervertebral discs.
Methods of treatment
Treatment of thoracic spine in osteochondrosis of the spine depends mainly on the stage of the pathological process and is limited to conservative treatment. The surgeon's surgical procedures are rarely used, usually with complications, such as a spinal hernia.
In the period of exacerbation, treatment is aimed at relieving pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics are prescribed. Muscle relaxants are prescribed to increase thoracic lumbar movement and relax muscle tone. To improve blood flow in the spine - vasodilators. The drug is combined with massage and physiotherapy.
In the relapse phase, treatment is aimed at lengthening the muscular system of the thoracic region in the lumbar region. The most effective method is kinesitherapy.
In remission, treatment aims to improve the maneuverability of the intervertebral discs of the spine, strengthen the spinal muscles and restore the position of the spine.
In addition, there are the following methods:
- Laser therapy;
- Acupuncture treatment;
- Pharmacopuncture treatment;
- Magnetopuncture treatment;
- Vacuum treatment.
Treatment with folk remedies
- Raw potatoes are an excellent painkiller. To treat recurrence of osteochondrosis of the breast, it is mixed with honey and rubbed on a grater (1: 1). The resulting mass is applied to the affected area, where it is located for about two hours.
- Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the affected spine in the acute stage effectively eliminates the mixture of internal and external use. Made with half a cup of honey, 50 gr. vodka, two tablespoons salt and ¼ cup radish. The resulting mass is used twice a day before meals by rubbing or rubbing the affected area.
- Osteochondrosis is treated with tea. The infusion is made from strawberries and crushed leaves, taking a spoonful each time. Pour this mixture for ten minutes.
- Symptoms of rheumatism, gout and osteochondrosis of the thoracic region are best treated with an ointment containing pork (one tablespoon) and hop cone powder (one tablespoon).
Complications
There are the following complications of thoracic lumbar osteochondrosis:
- Thoracic lumbar intervertebral hernia;
- Disk protrusion;
- Radiculopathy (sciatica);
- Sciatica;
- Schmorl hernia;
- Lumbaqo;
- Spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis;
- VSD;
- Osteophytosis, spondylosis;
- Stenosis in the spinal canal of the spine.