Thoracic osteochondrosis is a rather dangerous pathology, which is explained by the difficult diagnosis process, so it is often possible to identify the disease only in advanced stages. Initially, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine was considered a disease of older people, but recently there has been a certain trend towards a significant "rejuvenation" of this disease, so it is important to know the main symptoms and treatment to improve the clinical picture of the disease. The difficulty of diagnosis is due to the fact that the vertebrae located in the thoracic region are the least susceptible to stress and injury. However, limited mobility is no guarantee of safety, so the onset of pathologies in this department is also very common. Statistics show that this disease is not directly related to the aging process and gender.
Disease specifics
This disease is characterized by pathological processes that lead to negative changes in tissue structure. As a result, destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc and, as a result, protrusion of the nucleus pulposus may occur. This condition is dangerous because there is a risk of spinal cord compression and further disability of the person. The progression of the disease during childhood can lead to premature aging of the musculoskeletal system even before its definitive formation. That is why timely diagnosis of the pathology in the initial stages, when the destruction of the vertebrae and adjacent tissues has not yet occurred, is extremely important.
Clinical symptoms
This disease manifests itself in completely different ways, depending on the stage. Therefore, we will highlight the general symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region:
- Ache. It can occur not only during the performance of any action, but also when staying in static positions for a long time.
- Rigidity of movements, which prevents free rotation of the body.
- Difficulty breathing caused by a feeling of strong pressure in the center of the back.
- Problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs.
Very often the disease manifests itself with pain in the left side of the chest, which can be interpreted as a symptom of heart disease. This complicates the diagnosis, but the specialist evaluates the totality of all the patient's complaints, allowing a correct interpretation of all existing symptoms. Knowing what symptoms there are for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, you can promptly seek qualified help. We advise you to be more attentive to the signals your body gives.
When making a diagnosis, it is important to know how osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifests itself, because this disease is insidious, so it is easy to confuse it with other diseases. According to the nature of the pain, we can distinguish the main types of osteochondrosis. One condition is characterized by prolonged pain in the damaged area of \u200b\u200bthe spine, and the second is characterized by the occurrence of acute attacks that literally hinder a person's movements, complicating 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 discs. In particular, there is a certain genetic predisposition to this disease.
- Lack of activity associated with carrying out one's work functions and recreational activities.
- Scoliosis, which causes increased stress on certain areas of the spine.
- Mechanical damage to the chest.
- Strength training that involves 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 moisture loss occurs in the intervertebral disc. Elasticity decreases, pain of low intensity appears, which completely disappears when the person takes a comfortable position.
- Second degree.The moisture loss in the disk continues. As a result, it becomes smaller and cracks appear, some of them quite deep. The muscle corset tries to adapt, trying to maintain the stability of the spine, which leads to rather strong spasms and pain in the back, chest and limbs.
- Third grade.In this phase, a breakthrough of the nucleus pulposus towards the outside is observed. Basically it is an intervertebral hernia, in which the pain persists throughout the day. A person is forced to change his type of activity to one where unpleasant sensations will not be so intense.
- Fourth degree.Extended osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is dangerous because at the site of damage severe restructuring of all tissues begins to occur. A natural replacement of the fibrous tissue of the ring with bone occurs, which leads to severe stiffness of movement. The appearance of osteophytes and spinal deformations is also observed.
Period of exacerbation
The manifestation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region in the acute phase is characterized by the appearance of paroxysmal pain, which is extremely difficult to relieve with the available means. Self-medication at this stage is unacceptable, so you should immediately consult a doctor or call for help to relieve the pain. Only a neurologist can correctly interpret your complaints and prescribe further examinations and appropriate 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 intense stress. In this condition, a significant deterioration in the patient's well-being occurs, breathing may become difficult and mobility may be limited. In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
Basic diagnostic methods
Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region are the appearance of pain in different locations, stiffness of movements and difficulty breathing. The difficulty of diagnosis lies in the fact that a large number of diseases of various nature fall under this description. In particular, there is such a concept: "gastrological syndrome", which is characterized by the appearance of pain in the epigastrium, which can be misinterpreted as a manifestation of gastritis or other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Only modern diagnostic methods will allow you to make an accurate diagnosis, on the basis of which the neurologist will prescribe the appropriate therapy. It all starts with a detailed interview with the patient, identifying existing complaints and concomitant diseases. After collecting the medical history, the doctor proceeds directly to the examination itself with special tests. The patient will then have to undergo the necessary laboratory tests, as well as x-rays and MRIs. MRI allows you to study the condition of the spine in more detail, identify existing pathologies, the size and location of the hernia (if any).
How does the treatment process work?
It is extremely important to know what to do in case of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes an individual treatment regimen to the patient. It is necessary to take into account age and the presence of concomitant disorders, as well as allergies to certain drugs. In the first stage, treatment is carried out using various drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and antispasmodics. The main goal at this stage is to alleviate the patient's condition, reduce pain and spasms of muscle tissue. In particularly severe cases, when immediate relief from acute pain is needed, anesthetic blocks are used. Local agents in the form of ointments and gels can also be used, but their effectiveness is slightly lower due to the difficulty of delivering active substances 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 give not a one-off positive result, but an improvement in the clinical picture over time.
Physiotherapy
Therapeutic exercise is performed after pain relief. It is extremely important to perform all movements slowly, avoiding sudden movements, to prevent the condition from worsening. Remember that if exercise causes you pain, you should stop immediately and consult a doctor.
Massage treatments
Muscle spasms, hypertonicity, pain: this is how the disease manifests itself. To eliminate these symptoms, you can use massage, which should be performed 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 strong if you strictly follow some medical recommendations. If a specialist has prescribed bed rest for you, in no case should you ignore it, otherwise your condition may worsen. A person must limit himself to physical activity, so he will have to refuse going to the gym or working with weights. An important component of primary prevention is the timely identification of individuals during medical examinations who exhibit initial signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. Another point, no less important, is correct nutrition, which involves avoiding certain foods. It is necessary to limit the consumption of salt, so smoked meat, various hot spices and pickles will have to be removed from the diet.
It is very important to use chondroprotective drugs that slow the progression of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, nourish and improve metabolic processes in the cartilaginous tissue.
Thoracic spinal osteochondrosis can be treated. To make this possible, you must strictly follow the recommendations of your doctor and adhere to the established treatment regimen. Initial osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is treated best, so it is extremely important to be more attentive to your body, responding to the slightest symptoms of the disease. To avoid a possible relapse, you need to follow preventive measures and monitor your posture, which is especially important when working in a sedentary manner. Contact only qualified doctors, because only they can prescribe a competent treatment regimen and further recovery.