Thoracic osteochondrosis is one of the most common diseases of the spinal column 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, delaminate and warp. The nucleus pulposus decreases and the depreciation 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 the internal organs and limbs.
Due to the fact that the thoracic region is less mobile in its physiological characteristics from the cervical and thoracic regions, chest osteochondrosis occurs much less frequently.
Thoracic osteochondrosis mainly develops in people over the age of 40, but young people and children can also get sick. The cause of the disease may 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 time to diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is often confused with other diseases, for which the pathology is called a chameleon.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease that develops slowly and at different stages there are special symptoms that you need to 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 differ.
1 stage
The first stage of the disease is characterized by internal fissures of the fibrous ring, into which the nucleus pulposus penetrates. Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree can cause the following symptoms:
- Aching pain in the region of the thoracic spine. This is the first sign that changes are taking place in the body. Pain in the chest with osteochondrosis affects only the area of the spine. Unpleasant aching sensations occur after physical exertion, monotonous work or inactivity. Often, patients attribute such sensations to general fatigue and overexertion, but in fact - this is an occasion to turn to the doctor for an examination;
- Muscular shootings in the region of the heart and small convulsive contractions. Since the intervertebral disc began to deform, this, as a rule, causes pinching of small nerve endings and blood vessels. The reason for this may be sharp shooting pains in the chest or convulsions. They pass quickly, but appear after the next load on the spine.
2 stage
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region of the 2nd degree is characterized by the appearance of pathologies in the spine, which causes excessive mobility of the vertebrae. The discs lose their former structure and shape, each vertebra gets 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 fully move, 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 stage
Thoracic osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree causes more complex changes in the form of a rupture of the fibrous ring and the exit of the nucleus pulposus, 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 which vertebrae the annulus ruptures between. Problems can arise with the work of the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, digestive tract. If a hernia has formed between the 1st and 2nd vertebrae of the thoracic region, then hands and fingers can endure or even hurt.
- Pinching of the spinal cord. Pinching of the spinal cord in the spinal canal can lead to irreversible consequences up to disability;
- Muscular 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;
- The development of kyphosis or scoliosis. Osteochondrosis of the chest can cause pathological changes in the spinal column in the form of kyphosis or scoliosis. The spine can be deformed in the affected area and becomes immobile.
4 stage
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine stage 4 intensify, the patient may stoop, be constantly depressed. The patient is constantly worried about pain that bothers for a long time. Ability to work decreases, fatigue quickly sets in after small physical exertion. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine stage 4 causes deviations in the work of internal organs.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis in men and women are the same, because as soon as there is 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. What moments of a person’s life should be paid attention to avoid the 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 thoracic region weaken and the spine experiences an increased load.
But in addition to poor physical fitness, the reasons may be:
- Hereditary and congenital problems with the spine. Problems with the spine can be from birth. The birth trauma of the baby (difficult birth or medical errors) and the genetic predisposition to pathology contribute to the appearance of the disease. If the parents had osteochondrosis, then under favorable conditions, the child may also develop this disease.
- Wrong posture. Posture needs to be monitored from an early age. School-age children may be prone to scoliosis, which will later develop into osteochondrosis and other changes in the spinal column. Adults also should not forget about the correct posture. Osteochondrosis of the chest is formed if you do not pay attention to the position of the spine while working, walking, reading and just sitting at the computer. It is important to always keep your back straight, do not lean forward or backward when walking, avoid long poses in a bent position. How to keep your posture correctly, you can ask on the Internet resources by viewing the training photos.
- Nerve strain. Nervous strains always have a bad effect on people's health and can cause serious diseases. Stressful situations can cause muscle stiffness and poor metabolism. Therefore, it is worth reconsidering your attitude to some aspects of life and protecting yourself from provoking factors to the maximum.
- Traumatic injuries. Injuries to the back and chest can cause osteochondrosis. It is important to treat even minor injuries in time, while not allowing self-treatment, but always consulting with specialists.
- Wearing heavy weights and high heels. It is a well-known fact that each centimeter of heels gives a load on the spine from 7 to 10 kilograms. If a woman already has a predisposition to diseases of the spine, then high-heeled shoes should be abandoned or the wearing of 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, newly-made mothers should visit a doctor and undergo an examination of the spinal column 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 such disorders.
- Infections and hypothermia. Untimely treatment of infectious diseases in the body can be badly 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 work of the thoracic calving of the spine.
What methods are used to treat osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. What needs to be done to relieve 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 complete examination and diagnosis of the degree of development of the disease.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine symptoms and treatment is determined by a neuropathologist, in extreme cases, a surgeon and a neurosurgeon join 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 consequences will need to be eliminated, and this will affect the financial costs and the time of treatment.
With timely access to specialists, it is possible to avoid spinal deformity 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 the questions regarding the correct execution. The first session is best done under the supervision of a doctor.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the breast with medicines
First of all, after diagnosing the disease, the doctor prescribes a treatment that removes the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis.
First, the neuropathologist removes the pain syndrome with the help of medications, and then proceeds to direct treatment.
Drugs that are used for osteochondrosis:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. With the help of anti-inflammatory drugs, pain in the thoracic region is relieved.
- Diuretics. Diuretic drugs are prescribed in the case when there is swelling on the nerve roots. Diuretics relieve swelling, thereby improving the blood supply to the affected areas.
- Vitamins for the nutrition of nervous tissue.
- Chondroprotectors. With the help of chondroprotectors, they try to restore the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc.
- Antispasmodics relieve spasms from tense muscles and increase the mobility of the thoracic region, thereby reducing pain syndromes.
Thoracic osteochondrosis symptoms and treatment do not always bring a positive result, therefore, if drug therapy has not affected, then the doctor will offer a surgical solution to the problem.
Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is an effective method of dealing with the disease.
This is due to the fact that during such procedures, drugs are injected exclusively into the affected areas of the spinal column.
With the help of physiotherapy, pain, inflammation and tension in the 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.
Through acupuncture, muscles are toned and restored to their former functions. The needles are placed strictly according to the growth of certain muscles, so you should not do this procedure at home, guided by a photo or video from the Internet.
The number of procedures is determined by the specialist, based on the degree of tightness of the muscle fibers. In a specially trained master, acupuncture will be painless and restore muscle tone in a short time.