Osteochondrosis is one of the most common diseases of the spine. It usually occurs in many people over the age of forty, but often occurs in younger people. Osteochondrosis is included in the ICD-10, its code is M42 (codes M40-M43 - deforming dorsopathy)
Osteochondrosis is a stratification of the intervertebral discs, causing them to flatten and reduce the overall height of the spine. Deformed discs lead to pinched nerves and pain. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is relatively rare, since this area, consisting of 12 vertebrae, is well fixed by the ribs and sternum. The disease usually affects the upper vertebrae of the department.
Causes of thoracic osteochondrosis
This disease is most common in people in whose family there are frequent cases of osteochondrosis, but there are exceptions. The occurrence of the disease can lead to:
- congenital pathologies of the spine;
- Trauma;
- constant vigorous physical activity;
- severe metabolic disorders;
- general muscle weakness;
- Infections and frequent temperature changes;
- constant stress.
Osteochondrosis occurs in many women during menopause.
Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The symptoms of this disease can be different, a lot depends on the patient's age, the degree of the disease and the stage. During remission, the disease is practically not felt, but during an exacerbation it is impossible not to notice it.
Pathological changes in the spine manifest themselves with the following symptoms:
- stabbing or aching pain in the chest, in the area of the spine (dorsago);
- when the nerve roots exiting the spinal cord (radiculopathy) are damaged, shooting pains, paresthesia and various sensory disturbances appear;
- there is aching pain in the heart area, which does not go away after taking glycerol trinitrate;
- pulmonary syndrome, which can be identified by signs of oxygen starvation and poor ventilation;
- acute abdominal pain;
- Pain in osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is not accompanied by fever, as is often the case with back pain.
- pain syndrome increases with pressure on the vertebrae;
- Compressive myelopathy may develop. Myelopathy is characterized by a change in the sensitivity of the skin and muscles near the affected area of the spine.
Important!Osteochondrosis of the thoracic and lumbar regions often mimics diseases of the internal organs. Patients may experience pain in the stomach, liver, and heart due to pinched nerves. Over time, "perceived" illnesses due to persistent inflammation can actually occur.
If the patient feels pain in the internal organs, but the pain is the only symptom, it is necessary to check the condition of the spine. For example, the tenth vertebra is responsible for the innervation of the kidneys and the general condition of the body. With his osteochondrosis, a person feels pain in the kidneys, quickly gets tired. Therefore, it is important not to self-medicate, as is often advised on various forums, but to consult a specialist.
Stages of osteochondrosis of the chest region
The international classification has established 4 stages (grades) of osteochondrosis of the chest region, each of which has its own clinical picture:
1 degree.At this stage, the disease arises only because the intervertebral disc loses moisture, its height decreases, the vertebrae approach each other and begin to compress the nerves. The patient may feel a local pain syndrome in the area of \u200b\u200bthe diseased vertebra, occasionally there is characteristic back pain. Painful sensations appear with active movement and physical exertion, but some exercises can relieve discomfort. Usually the 1st degree of the disease is taken for ordinary fatigue, so people do not rush to the doctor.
2 degrees.The vertebra loses stability and tears form at the annulus fibrosus. Due to increasing instability, both obvious and hidden subluxations are possible, which can bring a lot of trouble in the future. The patient feels pain not only during physical exertion, but sometimes also in the stationary state (for example, in a lateral or supine position). Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree is also characterized by general weakness, increased fatigue, pain in the area of \u200b\u200bthe internal organs, in the limbs. Thoracalgia can occur.
3 degrees.The fibrous ring thins and ruptures, causing a herniated disc. Such a disease causes a number of deviations in the work of internal organs, since the spine is in a curved state and severely limits movement, forcing a person to take positions where pain is felt less. The pain syndrome is very strong, at this stage the formation of the spine with radicular syndrome is possible.
4 degrees.The vertebrae begin to grow in width, their extensions ossify and the remains of the intervertebral discs also ossify. Patients often notice a reduction in pain, but the mobility of the spine also decreases significantly. The vertebrae converge, ossify and grow at their roots, reducing the spine's wear capacity. A person with advanced osteochondrosis noticeably loses height, his movements are restricted, curvature of the spine (kyphosis or lordosis) is observed.
Against the background of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, various diseases of the internal organs can form, so it is dangerous to delay diagnosis and treatment.
diagnostic methods
The main radiological signs of this disease are:
- Irregular contour of the intervertebral disc;
- Scalloped edge of the skin plates;
- Hooked processes are enlarged and pointed;
- Reduced height of the intervertebral discs;
- Changed shape of the intervertebral discs;
- herniated disc (it is easier to determine the front hernias);
- occurrence of osteophytes;
- The shape of the vertebral body is changed.
In certain cases, an X-ray contrast study is performed - discography, which has the following characteristics:
- Irregular contour of nucleus pulposus;
- In the severe phase of the disease, the intervertebral disc is completely filled with contrast medium;
- With significant destruction of the disc, a contrast is observed that goes beyond its limits, sometimes falling into the spinal canal.
Consequences of osteochondrosis
If the disease is not treated, it progresses very quickly. However, with successful treatment, the number of possible complications is minimal. There are several main complications of osteochondrosis:
- sciatica
- Spondylosis of the thoracic spine (and other departments)
- VSD
- Decreased hearing or vision
- radiculitis
- migraine
- lumbago
- intervertebral reddish
- spondyloarthritis
- disability
- thoracalgia
- epicondylitis
The main methods of treating osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Now the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest is carried out using the following methods:
- Conservative treatment
- surgical treatment
- traction
Medical treatment is based on several principles. The main one is fighting pain as well as reducing inflammation. Therefore, doctors use anti-inflammatory drugs to eliminate pain.
To improve the condition of the cartilage, doctors prescribe prescription chondroprotectors to patients.
Restricted movement of the spine is often caused by severely stretched muscles. To get rid of this disease, doctors prescribe muscle relaxants and antispasmodics.
To relieve pain, doctors recommend patients to use various ointments for osteochondrosis, which have a warming effect.
In order to effectively treat this disease, controlled dosing of the drug by a doctor is important. The patient must remember that it is necessary to take medication strictly in the order indicated by the doctor. Mixing or replacing drugs with analogues should not be done without the consent of the attending physician.
In addition to medical treatment, doctors prescribe acupuncture, reflexology, physical therapy and therapeutic massage. All of these treatments should be discussed in detail with your doctor and must be performed by a professional.
The entire course of treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine in the early stages of the disease is limited to physiotherapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis and some special exercises. Drug therapy consists of prescribing drugs that improve metabolism, as well as vitamin therapy.
Patients are advised not to engage in gymnastics without discussing it with their doctor. It should be noted that in the acute phase of the disease it is impossible to do gymnastics. Depending on the location of the damaged area in the spine, exercise therapy is selected. Folk remedies can also be used.
What to do if the disease worsens?
The exacerbation of osteochondrosis is always accompanied by pain. Therefore, the main treatment is aimed at reducing pain.
NSAIDs are prescribed for this. They reduce the formation of prostaglandins, which irritate the nerve endings responsible for pain. If these drugs are ineffective, blockade with local anesthetics can be used. Heavy physical exertion should also be avoided during an aggravation of the disease, and rest is recommended. Therefore, in such situations, training with osteochondrosis of the chest region is contraindicated pending further decision by the attending physician.
preventive measures
To prevent the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, you should always take care of your health.
The first step is to eliminate all factors that can provoke the development of osteochondrosis, do not forget about the danger of heavy physical exertion and maintain correct posture.
Each person should undergo regular examinations in a specialized pharmacy. If during a medical examination the doctor detects primary pathologies of the spine, the patient should immediately contact an orthopedist.
To prevent the disease, it is necessary to treat all diseases in a timely manner, and this is especially important in diseases of the musculoskeletal system. After injuries, mandatory rehabilitation is required.
Take care of your body: change the position of your body more often during work to avoid hypothermia and overcooling, do not forget about medical examinations.
At home, people cannot always keep their bodies in the right tone like they can at the gym. But don't forget to strengthen your back muscles with various exercises. So, for example, physiotherapeutic exercises help very well with osteochondrosis. The main thing is not to overdo it. And photos and videos of exercises are easy to find on the Internet.
The best prevention against diseases is a balanced diet. Your diet should include not only vegetables, but also a vitamin complex, which is especially important in spring and winter. To strengthen the back, you can use massage, medicine, swimming.