Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine, in which the position of the vertebrae becomes abnormal, the intervertebral disc degenerates, resulting in a decrease in its height. Osteochondrosis in the chest area is not as common as in the neck or lower back. It has to do with anatomy. In the central part, the spine is stable and durable, in addition, it is less prone to stress, less mobile, there are less conditions for trauma to the spine.
The risk group for this disease includes older people and people who lead a sedentary lifestyle. However, the pathology is increasingly being diagnosed in adolescents and at the age of 30-35 years the number of cases increases sharply.
Classification of thoracic osteochondrosis
The disease is classified according to the syndromic principle. The affected areas of the spine negatively affect the nerve formations.
By detection, such forms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are distinguished:
- compression syndrome (development associated with tension, deformity or compression of the nerve root, areas of the spinal cord or blood vessels may be affected, resulting in spinal, vascular or root syndromes).
- reflex syndrome (the result is reflected reflexively, straining the nerve muscles, dystrophic and vascular disorders occur).
- musculoskeletal syndrome (muscle damage to the chest due to continuous overload).
Etiology of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
The causes of osteochondrosis in the chest are a consequence of low physical activity, back injuries, intense physical exertion, metabolic disorders, overweight, poor immunity, frequent colds, infections, smoking, stress. In women, among other things, the development of the disease can be triggered by walking in high heels and carrying a child.
In addition, the causes of breast osteochondrosis are:
- poorly distributed load on the intervertebral discs.
- degenerative changes in the tissues of the intervertebral disc.
- lack of minimal physical activity.
- scoliosis;
- permanent abnormal position of the spine in a sitting position.
Pathogenesis of the disease
Mild discomfort, muscle tension and "tolerable" pain when inhaling and crouching are the first signs of osteochondrosis in the chest. A person usually seeks medical attention when the pain becomes acute and does not allow him to live a normal life. The treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis is long-term, which requires constant attention. If left untreated, dystrophic changes lead to limited mobility and even disability of the patient.
Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the breast have different manifestations, depending on the location of the procedure. In addition, the disease "adapts" skillfully to other problems.
The most characteristic symptoms of osteochondrosis in the chest:
- pain in the shoulder area.
- chest discomfort;
- headache and heart pain;
- pain when you bend over;
- movement restriction;
- tingling sensation in the neck, abdomen, chest and arms.
- dizziness, tinnitus, blinking flies in front of the eyes.
- sensations of pain that increase with inhalation.
Decreased sensitivity, impaired motor function and muscle atrophy add to the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis as the pathology progresses.
Characteristics of the course of breast osteochondrosis during pregnancy
The development of pain during pregnancy is associated with weight gain. At the same time, shifting to the center of gravity changes the posture of the body. Low physical activity in combination with sedentary lifestyle causes disc herniation. Increased pressure in the chest area leads to pain. During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is treated mainly without the use of specialized drugs, as they can harm the health of the fetus. Therefore, applicators, massages and special exercises of Kuznetsov are used.
Characteristics of the disease in children
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can occur from 8 to 17 years. An unprepared spine undergoes pathological changes under heavy loads. After the correct diagnosis, treatment begins. As a rule, during this period, an early start of the treatment process leads to excellent results. It is necessary to strengthen the muscles, to improve the condition of the cartilage and to perform physiotherapy.
Complications of pathology
Most patients with thoracic osteochondrosis try to postpone treatment, which in turn leads to significant complications.
Consequences of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Intervertebral hernia formation
- Spinal cord injury
- The appearance of hypertension
- The risk of stroke and heart attack
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis, including differential, includes:
- Digital x-ray?
- ECG?
- Ultrasound of the heart, kidneys and abdominal organs.
- CT.
The doctor will determine the exact image on the x-ray, where he will see the development of the vertebral body and the displacement of the discs. Thoracic osteochondrosis, characterized by similar symptoms to other diseases, requires differential diagnosis with spinal cord injuries, tumors and neoplasms of the spine, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, coxarthrosis and a number of other conditions.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis involves the use of complex therapy, the purpose of which is to stop and prevent further destruction of the discs or to restore their structure, to improve the biomechanics of the spine and to eliminate the disorders of the central nervous system.
The first thing to start with treatment is to relieve the pain and inflammation through medication.
The patient is recommended drugs of the following groups:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- glucocorticosteroids;
- diuretics;
- chondroprotective.
When the pain subsides, they move on to the next stage of treatment of osteochondrosis in the chest. A course of therapeutic massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy exercises is prescribed. Also, physiotherapy is very effective. If appropriate, manual therapy may be recommended.
Treatment control
Recovery is supervised by the family doctor or specialist who monitored the patient during the course of the disease. The absence of recurrences during the year indicates the normalization of the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
Prophylaxis
Prevention of osteochondrosis in the chest requires the following rules:
- stop control;
- work hygiene (control of hand position, presence of a chair with a flat high back).
- breaks every 2 hours for specific exercises.
- sleeping on a hard surface.
- absence of irregular physical activity (including the transport of heavy loads).
- Wearing a backpack instead of a shoulder bag.
- regular treatment exercises.
TIPS
Thoracic osteochondrosis requires long-term rehabilitation. Moderate physical activity is recommended to strengthen the back muscles and reduce pressure on the spine. In addition, physical therapy gradually eliminates the pain.
Also, with exercise therapy and sports, the following tasks are performed:
- decompression of the nerve endings of the spine.
- developing a stereotype of the right attitude.
- giving elasticity to the spine.
- improved blood circulation;
- normalization of intervertebral disc metabolism.
This article is for informational purposes only. Remember: self-medication can be harmful to your health.