Thoracic osteochondrosis is one of the most common diseases of the spine in humans, which affects the intervertebral discs and causes degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine.
With osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity and cannot perform a shock-absorbing function. Discs can become thinner, peel and warp. The nucleus pulposus decreases and the damping function becomes impossible or is reduced to a minimum, and the fibrous ring loses its elasticity and gradually collapses, which can lead to the formation of an intervertebral hernia.
Thoracic osteochondrosis causes displacement of the vertebrae and pinching of the nerve roots, which affects the functioning of internal organs and limbs.
Due to the fact that the thoracic region is less mobile in its physiological characteristics compared to the cervical and thoracic regions, thoracic osteochondrosis occurs much less frequently.
Chest osteochondrosis develops mainly in people over 40 years old, but young people and children can also get sick. The cause of the disease can be congenital problems with the spine or poor metabolism.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, appearing at different stages of the development of the disease. What you need to pay attention to in order to diagnose the disease in time and prescribe treatment.
Symptoms of chest osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the chest region is often confused with other diseases, for which the pathology is called chameleon.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is a slowly developing disease and at different stages there are special symptoms that you should pay attention to in order to diagnose the disease in time and start treatment.
There are 4 stages of the disease, the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis will be different.
1 step
The first stage of the disease is characterized by internal fissures of the fibrous ring, into which the pulpy nucleus penetrates. 1st degree osteochondrosis can cause the following symptoms:
- Aching pain in the region of the thoracic spine. This is the first sign that changes are occurring in the body. Pain in the chest with osteochondrosis affects only the region of the spine. Unpleasant painful sensations arise after physical exertion, monotonous work or inactivity. Often, patients attribute such sensations to general fatigue and overwork, but in fact this is an occasion to turn to the doctor for an examination;
- Muscle stitches in the region of the heart and small convulsive contractions. Since the intervertebral disc has started to deform, it usually causes pinching of small nerve endings and blood vessels. The reason for this may be sharp shooting pains in the chest or seizures. They quickly pass, but appear after the next load on the spine.
2 floors
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region of the 2nd degree is characterized by the appearance of pathologies of the spine, which leads to excessive mobility of the vertebrae. The discs lose their previous structure and shape, each vertebra has the possibility of poorly controlled movement. This condition can cause the following symptoms:
- There are subluxations of the vertebrae in the chest. Subluxations are accompanied by constant pain, as with cold muscles. Temporarily, the patient loses the ability to move fully, turn right and left;
- Pain when walking or doing nothing. Pain in osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is aggravated by long walks or when reading a book when the body is in one position.
3 steps
Thoracic osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree causes more complex changes in the form of rupture of the fibrous ring and protrusion of the pulpy nucleus, forming intervertebral hernias. These changes cause symptoms:
- Pinched nerve roots. Hernias can cause serious disturbances in the functioning of the body. It all depends on the vertebrae between which the ring breaks. Problems can arise with the work of the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, digestive tract. If a hernia has formed between the 1st and 2nd vertebra of the thoracic region, the hands and fingers can endure or even hurt.
- Pinching of the spinal cord. The pinching of the spinal cord in the spinal canal can lead to irreversible consequences that can go as far as disability;
- Muscle tension in the chest. Pathological processes in the spine cause constant tension in the muscles and ligaments that support mobility in the chest region;
- The development of kyphosis or scoliosis. Osteochondrosis of the chest can cause pathological changes in the spine in the form of kyphosis or scoliosis. The spine may be deformed in the affected area and become immobile.
4 steps
Symptoms of stage 4 osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine intensify, the patient may stoop, be constantly depressed. The patient is constantly worried about pain that bothers for a long time. Work capacity decreases, fatigue sets in quickly after a little physical exertion. Stage 4 osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine causes deviations in the work of internal organs.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in men and women are the same, because as soon as there are one or more manifestations of poor health or pain in the thoracic spine, one should seek help from aspecialist.
What can provoke the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. At what times in a person's life should you pay attention to avoid symptoms and treatment of this dangerous disease.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The main reason for the development of pathology is the lack of physical exercise, due to which the muscles and ligaments that support the work of the chest region weaken, and the spine experiences an increased load.
But in addition to poor physical condition, the reasons can be:
- Hereditary and congenital problems of the spine. Spinal problems can occur from birth. The birth trauma of the baby (difficult childbirth or medical errors) and the genetic predisposition to pathology contribute to the onset of the disease. If the parents suffered from osteochondrosis, then under favorable conditions the child can also develop this disease.
- Bad posture. Posture should be monitored from an early age. School-age children can be prone to scoliosis, which later develops into osteochondrosis and other spinal changes. Adults should also not forget about the correct posture. Chest osteochondrosis is formed if you do not pay attention to the position of the spine when working, walking, reading and just sitting at the computer. It is important to always keep your back straight, not to lean forward or backward when walking, to avoid long poses in a bent position. How to keep your posture correctly, you can ask on Internet resources by viewing training photos.
- Nervous tension. Nervous tensions always have a detrimental effect on people's health and can cause serious illnesses. Stressful situations can cause 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 provoking factors.
- Traumatic injuries. Back and chest injuries can cause osteochondrosis. It is important to treat even minor injuries in time, not allowing self-treatment, but always consulting specialists.
- Wear heavy weights and high heels. It is a well-known fact that each centimeter of heels gives a load on the spine of 7-10 kilograms. If a woman already has a predisposition to diseases of the spine, high-heeled shoes should be abandoned or wearing such shoes should be minimized. Pregnant women are at risk, because in the last months of gestation the load on the spine is very large and uneven. After childbirth, new mothers should consult a doctor and undergo an examination of the spine in order to prevent the development of pathology in time.
- Metabolic disease. Degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs are very often caused by a lack of nutrients, which is caused by a violation of metabolic processes. To normalize the metabolism, you must first consult a doctor and find out what is the cause of these disorders.
- Infections and hypothermia. Untimely treatment of infectious diseases in the body can be poorly displayed 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 thoracic calving work of the spine.
What methods are used to treat osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. What to do to relieve the symptoms and treat the disease.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of an experienced specialist after a comprehensive examination and diagnosis of the degree of development of the disease.
Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are determined by a neuropathologist, in extreme cases, a surgeon and a neurosurgeon join in the treatment.
To treat the disease more effectively and quickly in the early stages, but for this you need to consult a doctor in time. It is important to understand that the longer the pathology develops, the more the consequences will have to be eliminated, which will affect the financial costs and duration of treatment.
With timely access to specialists, spinal deformity can be avoided 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 consider the photo and ask the doctor all questions about the correct execution. It is best to do the first session under the supervision of a doctor.
Treatment of breast osteochondrosis with drugs
First of all, having diagnosed the disease, the doctor prescribes a treatment that removes the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis.
First, the neuropathologist eliminates the pain syndrome with the help of drugs, and then proceeds to direct treatment.
Drugs used for osteochondrosis:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. With the help of anti-inflammatory drugs, pain in the chest area is relieved.
- Diuretics. Diuretic drugs are prescribed in case of swelling of the nerve roots. Diuretics relieve swelling, thereby improving blood supply to affected areas.
- Vitamins for the nutrition of nervous tissues.
- 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 mobility in the chest region, thereby reducing pain syndromes.
Symptoms and treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis do not always bring a positive result. Therefore, if the drug treatment has not affected, the doctor will offer a surgical solution to the problem.
Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the chest region
Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is an effective method of treating the disease.
This is due to the fact that during such procedures drugs are injected exclusively into the affected areas of the spine.
With the help of physiotherapy, pain, inflammation and tension in muscle mass and ligaments are relieved.
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
This Chinese method of treating many diseases is based on the introduction of special needles into the affected areas.
Thanks to acupuncture, they tone the muscles and return them to their former functions. The needles are placed strictly in accordance with the growth of certain muscles, so you should not perform this procedure at home, guided by a photo or video from the Internet.
The number of procedures is determined by the specialist, depending on the degree of tightness of the muscle fibers. At a specially trained master, acupuncture will be painless and restore muscle tone in a short time.