Thoracic osteochondrosis is one of the most common diseases of the spine in humans, affecting the intervertebral discs and causing degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine.
With osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity and are unable to perform shock absorption. Discs can be thinned, layered and bent. The pulposus nucleus shrinks and the amortization function becomes impossible or minimized, and the fibrous ring loses elasticity and gradually collapses, which can lead to the formation of an intervertebral hernia.
Thoracic osteochondrosis causes vertebral displacement and nerve root compression, which affects the function of internal organs and limbs.
Osteochondrosis of the thorax is less common due to the fact that the thoracic region is less mobile than the cervical and thoracic regions due to its physiological characteristics.
Thoracic osteochondrosis mainly develops in people over 40 years of age, but can also affect young people and children. The cause of the disease may be congenital problems in the spine or poor metabolism.
Symptoms of thoracic lumbar osteochondrosis appear at different stages of disease development. What you need to pay attention to in order to diagnose the disease in time and prescribe treatment.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is often confused with other diseases, for which it is called pathological chameleon.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is a slow-growing disease, and at different stages there are specific symptoms that you need to pay attention to in order to detect the disease in time and start treatment.
There are 4 stages of the disease, the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis will be different.
1st stage
The first stage of the disease is characterized by internal cracks in the fibrous ring penetrated by the pulp nucleus. Grade 1 osteochondrosis can cause the following symptoms:
- Painful pain in the thoracic spine. This is the first sign of changes in the body. Chest pain with osteochondrosis affects only the area of the spine. Unpleasant pain occurs after physical exertion, monotonous work or inactivity. Patients often associate such feelings with general fatigue and extreme stress, but in fact - this is an opportunity to see a doctor for an examination;
- Muscle spasms and minor convulsions in the heart area. As the intervertebral disc begins to deform, this usually causes the small nerve endings and blood vessels to constrict. This can be caused by sharp shooting pains or convulsions in the chest. They pass quickly, but appear after the next load on the spine.
Stage 2
Grade 2 thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by the appearance of pathologies in the spine that cause excessive mobility of the spine. The discs lose their previous structure and shape, and each vertebra acquires poorly controlled movement. This condition can cause the following symptoms:
- There is subluxation of the vertebrae in the chest. Subluxations are accompanied by constant pain, as in cold muscles. Temporarily, the patient loses the ability to move fully, turn right and left;
- Pain when walking or doing nothing. In osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the pain is exacerbated by long walks or reading a book when the body is in a position.
3 stages
Grade 3 thoracic osteochondrosis causes more complex changes in the form of rupture of the fibrous ring and the exit of the pulposus nucleus, forming intervertebral hernias. These changes cause symptoms:
- Compressed nerve roots. Hernias can cause serious disorders of the body. It all depends on which vertebrae the annulus splits between. There may be problems with the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, and digestive system. If there is a hernia between the 1st and 2nd vertebrae of the chest, then the hands and fingers can tolerate and even hurt.
- Compression of the spinal cord. Compression of the spinal cord in the spinal canal can lead to irreversible consequences up to disability;
- Muscle tension in the chest. Pathological processes in the spine cause constant tension in the muscles and ligaments that support the mobility of the thoracic region;
- Development of kyphosis or scoliosis. Osteochondrosis of the thorax can cause pathological changes in the spine in the form of kyphosis or scoliosis. The spine may be deformed in the damaged area and become immobile.
4 stages
Symptoms of stage 4 osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine worsen, the patient may bend, and may become depressed. The patient is constantly worried about the pain that has been bothering him for a long time. Ability to work decreases, fatigue begins quickly after a little physical exertion. Stage 4 osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine causes abnormalities in the functioning of internal organs.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis are the same in men and women, because if you have one or more manifestations of poor health or pain in the thoracic spine, you need to seek help from a specialist.
What can cause the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. To prevent the symptoms and treatment of this dangerous disease, it is necessary to pay attention to what moments in a person's life.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The main reason for the development of pathology is the lack of physical exercise, as a result of which the muscles and ligaments that support the work of the thoracic region weaken and the spine experiences an increased load.
However, in addition to poor physical fitness, the reasons may be:
- Hereditary and congenital problems with the spine. Spinal problems can be congenital. A baby's birth trauma (difficult birth or medical errors) and genetic predisposition to pathology contribute to the appearance of the disease. If the parents have osteochondrosis, the child may develop the disease under favorable conditions.
- Wrong posture. It is necessary to control posture from an early age. School-age children may be prone to scoliosis, followed by osteochondrosis and other changes in the spine. Adults should not forget about proper posture. If you do not pay attention to the condition of the spine while working, walking, reading and just sitting at the computer, osteochondrosis of the chest occurs. It is important to always keep your back straight, not to bend forward or backward while walking, and to avoid long poses in a bent position. You can ask online resources how to maintain your posture by looking at training photos.
- Nervous tension. Nervous tension always affects people's health and can lead to serious diseases. Stressful situations can lead to muscle stiffness and poor metabolism. Therefore, it is worth reconsidering your attitude to certain aspects of life and protecting yourself as much as possible from provocative factors.
- Traumatic injuries. Back and chest injuries can cause osteochondrosis. It is important to always treat even minor injuries in a timely manner, without allowing yourself to heal.
- Wear heavy weights and high heels. It is well known that each centimeter of the heel puts a load of 7 to 10 kilograms on the spine. If a woman is prone to spinal diseases, then high-heeled shoes should be avoided or worn. Pregnant women are at risk because the load on the spine in the last months of pregnancy is very large and uneven. Postpartum mothers should consult a doctor and undergo a spinal examination to prevent the development of pathology in a timely manner.
- Metabolic disease. Degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs are often caused by malnutrition caused by disruption of metabolic processes. To normalize your metabolism, you should first consult a doctor and find out the cause of such disorders.
- Infections and hypothermia. Untimely treatment of infectious diseases in the body can look bad not only on the thoracic spine, but also on the work of other vital organs. Hypothermia can cause inflammation of the nerve roots and muscles that support the function of the thoracic spine.
What methods are used to treat osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. What to do to eliminate the symptoms and treat the disease.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis should be carried out only under the supervision of an experienced specialist after a thorough examination and diagnosis of the stage of the disease.
Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are determined by a neurologist, and in extreme cases, a surgeon and a neurosurgeon join the treatment.
To treat the disease more effectively and quickly in the early stages, but it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner. It should be understood that the longer the pathology develops, the more consequences must be eliminated, and this will affect the financial costs and duration of treatment.
With timely consultation with specialists, it is possible to avoid spinal deformities with the help of vitamins and physical activity. To do this, the doctor will issue a special brochure, where the photo will show all the exercises. It is important to immediately review the photo and ask the doctor all the questions related to proper execution. The first session is best done under a doctor's supervision.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the breast
First of all, after the diagnosis of the disease, the doctor prescribes a treatment that eliminates the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis.
First, the neurologist eliminates the pain syndrome with the help of medication, and then continues treatment directly.
Drugs used for osteochondrosis:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Pain in the thoracic region is relieved with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Diuretics. When there is swelling in the nerve roots, diuretics are prescribed. Diuretics eliminate swelling, thereby improving the blood supply to the affected areas.
- Vitamins to nourish nerve tissue.
- Chondroprotectors. With the help of chondroprotectors, they try to restore the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc.
- Antispasmodics relieve spasms of tense muscles and increase the mobility of the thoracic region, thereby reducing pain syndromes.
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis do not always give a positive result, so if medication does not work, the doctor will suggest a surgical solution to the problem.
Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is an effective way to combat the disease.
This is due to the fact that during such procedures, the drug is injected only into the affected areas of the spine.
With the help of physiotherapy, pain, inflammation and tension in muscle mass and ligaments are eliminated.
Physiotherapy sessions should only be performed by an experienced physiotherapist. Properly performed procedures will bring the desired result and speed up the healing process.
Acupuncture for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
For the treatment of many diseases, this Chinese method is based on the introduction of special needles into the affected areas.
Through acupuncture, they tone the muscles and return them to their previous functions. Needles are placed strictly according to the growth of certain muscles, so you should not perform this procedure at home, based on a photo or video from the Internet.
The number of procedures is determined by a specialist based on the degree of compression of the muscle fibers. Acupuncture will be painless in a specially trained master and will restore muscle tone in a short time.