Thoracic osteochondrosis: signs, causes, diagnosis

Osteochondrosis- a set of dystrophic disorders in articular cartilage. Typically, this disease affects men and women over the age of 30. But recently it is found even in teenagers.

Depending on the location of joint damage, cervical, thoracic and lumbar are distinguished. In most cases, osteochondrosis manifests itself as severe back pain, headache and dizziness.Osteochondrosis of the thoracic regionIt is less common than cervical, but it is no less dangerous due to various complications.

Thoracic osteochondrosis: what is it?

In thoracic osteochondrosis, pathological changes occur in the spine in the thoracic region. Intervertebral discs are most often affected. The thoracic region is not as mobile as the cervical region, so the characteristic symptoms of the disease are not noticed immediately. The diagnosis is made already in the later stages of the disease.

Dystrophic disorders affect the cartilage and connective tissue of muscles, which causes complications and causes other serious diseases.

Patients are used to treating osteochondrosis lightly, but without timely treatment, thoracic osteochondrosis can be dangerous to health. Often, the disease affects both the cervical and thoracic spine, which affects the quality of life.

What are the degrees?

Treatment of the disease begins with the diagnosis and determination of its stage.

1. In the first phasepeople usually do not notice any changes, pain does not appear, but the intervertebral discs begin to lose elasticity, characteristic protrusions appear when the disc protrudes into the spinal canal without rupture of the fibrous ring.
2. In the second phase- the disease progresses, pain, dizziness and other neurological symptoms appear. Intervertebral discs are even less elastic, there is a danger of bulging into the spinal canal with rupture of the fibrous ring - a hernia is formed.
3. In the third phasethe pain causes a lot of inconvenience and worsens with the appearance of a hernia.
4. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine inthe fourth stagecharacterized by progressive neurological symptoms, the intervertebral discs completely lose their firmness and elasticity. Vertebral destruction begins.

It is impossible to determine osteochondrosis by external signs, although it often accompanies another pathology of the spine - scoliosis, which is visible on visual examination.

What could be the reasons

The cause of disorders that occur in the spine is insufficient nutrition of the cartilage and vertebrae. It is impossible to say exactly why such a breakdown in the functioning of the body occurs.However, there are many factors that contribute to this:

1. Sedentary lifestyle and, as a consequence, weak back muscles.
2. Bad posture, uncomfortable posture.
3. Various back injuries, improper weight lifting (jerking off the floor), heavy physical activity.

4. Other diseases of the spinal column.
5. Inadequate nutrition, lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the diet, especially calcium, which are necessary for the formation of healthy bone tissue.
6. Pregnancy. Often women notice signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region during pregnancy, when the load on the spine becomes greater; in addition, due to the additional cost of resources, the body often lacks vitamins and minerals.
7. Heredity. If you have relatives who suffer from this disease, you are more likely to develop it. In that case, you have to take care of prevention.

Often, when making a diagnosis, doctors identify a combination of factors: sedentary work, frequent improper lifting of weights and poor posture.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region

In the early stage, the disease does not manifest itself in any way. Neurological disorders (vertigo, spots in the eyes, etc. ) often precede the pronounced pain syndrome, which the patient does not associate with back problems. People begin to suspect problems with the spine when pain occurs. Let's consider the main signs of thoracic osteochondrosis:

1. Sharp, constricting pain in upper chest, which worsens after exercise, hard work or in an awkward position. It can be accompanied by shortness of breath, coughing and breathing problems.
2. Cold feeling in hands and feetwithout reason, numbness of the limbs.
3. Headache, dizziness, fog in the eyes, blurred vision, feeling tired, shortness of breath. When the intervertebral discs move, nerve endings and blood vessels are compressed, which is why neurological symptoms appear.

Thoracic osteochondrosis causes patients to feel pain in the region of the heart or stomach, which greatly complicates the diagnosis of the disease.

These are the main signs that indicate intervertebral osteochondrosis. Some patients feel pain in the gastrointestinal tract and heart, which often leads to a wrong diagnosis. The nature of the pain also varies. For example, some patients experience long-term, non-acute pain -dorsalgiaor, conversely, intense pain that stiffens the muscles and makes breathing difficult -dorsago.

These feelings can be felt in the stomach area, the patient misinterprets them and is sent for an examination of the liver, pancreas, etc. , not suspecting that the cause of the pain is osteochondrosis of the thoracic part. With a combination of several forms of chondrosis - cervical and thoracic - people complain of the feeling of a foreign body in the throat, which becomes pronounced after physical exertion or after being in an uncomfortable position.

Complications

• During the development of the disease, accompanying diseases are added to the main disease. Thus, prolonged compression of blood vessels in the area of the spinal column leads toto the failure of the cardiovascular system, which in particularly severe cases can disrupt the work of the heart.
• Another frequent complication, especially when the thoracic and cervical forms of osteochondrosis are combined, isvegetative-vascular dystonia. The compression of blood vessels and nerve endings disrupts the proper nutrition of the brain, as a result of which patients experience severe long-term headaches, dizziness, a feeling of fog in the eyes, and blurred vision. In advanced cases, fainting may occur due to back pain.
• From the nervous system possiblepanic attacks, which occur during excessive mental or physical stress, severe fatigue. In those moments, patients notice rapid heartbeat and breathing problems: it is difficult to breathe, there is not enough air.
• Another complication that creates difficulties not only for patients, but also for doctors isintercostal neuralgia.Compression of the nerve roots in the thoracic spine produces a specific pain syndrome, reminiscent of the sensations associated with heart disease. Patients turn to doctors with heart problems, which makes diagnosis difficult. This disease accompanies various pathologies of the spine, but, as a rule, the symptoms disappear with the start of treatment.

If you do not pay attention to the development of osteochondrosis of the breast, after some time it will begin to significantly affect the quality of life, limit activity and range of motion.

Diagnostics

Doctors are prevented from making a correct diagnosis due to various symptoms, which often make them suspect disorders in the gastrointestinal tract or nervous system. In order to avoid mistakes, orthopedists or neurologists send for an X-ray of the thoracic spine, and magnetic resonance or CT are often done to clarify the diagnosis.

In order to rule out heart disease, the patient is given an EKG. Treatment is prescribed only after diagnosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region

Unfortunately, this disease cannot be cured. When pain occurs, the changes that have occurred in the spine cannot be corrected. However, modern medicine can alleviate pain and thus improve the quality of life. Correctly selected therapy and a healthy lifestyle can avoid exacerbations.

Treatment involves several factors working together. Medicines and physical therapy are usually used to relieve symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. Surgery is only necessary if a herniated disc develops. There are dozens of home treatments, but each one should be discussed with your doctor to avoid making the situation worse.

Drug treatment

Medicines for osteochondrosis are used to relieve pain, and anti-inflammatory painkillers are often used for this purpose. In later stages or in cases of severe exacerbation, the patient is given an anesthetic block. To relieve neurological symptoms, take drugs to improve cerebral circulation.

Physiotherapy

Effective drug-free ways to relieve back pain and tension: magnetic therapy, laser therapy, acupunctureand so on. After only a few complete procedures, a positive result will be noticeable. Use only after consultation with a doctor!

Massage

The most popular and affordable home method. Massage relieves muscle tension, which relieves pain. The best results can be obtained from a professional, but self-massage of the collar area will also bring benefits. The effect on the muscles helps to relax the painful area. It is recommended to carry out massage in courses.

Exercise therapy

The treatment complex for osteochondrosis includes physical therapy. Moderate exercise strengthens the back muscles, improves the flexibility and mobility of the spine. Regular physical activity will help avoid worsening of the disease or even delay the onset of the first symptoms for decades. Many doctors recommend the medical method, which offers its own program to help fight the disease with the help of specialized exercise equipment.

Each method of treatment hascontraindications, a consultation with a doctor is required before use. In addition, with a complex effect on the disease, vitamin and mineral complexes are used to restore the proper nutrition of cartilaginous tissue and joints.

What to do in case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis

You are surprised by an exacerbation of osteochondrosis: you have to go to work, but your back does not straighten, it is difficult to turn your neck and you feel dizzy. It usually occurs as a result of excessive physical effort, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position (sitting at the computer, working on garden beds, etc. ). Exacerbation is characterized by severe back pain or headache, restriction of movement, dizziness or even fainting.

What actions should you take to relieve these symptoms? Gentle exercise, massage and sleeping in the fresh air will help. Severe pain is treated with medication. Medicines are prescribed only by a doctor! When drugs are used, improvement occurs within two hours.

Folk remedies

Despite their availability, folk remedies should also be used with caution. All of them aim to relieve pain. To do this, use various dressings, for example, from raw grated potatoes with honey. The paste is applied to the painful area and wrapped in a film. The compress should be left for several hours, preferably overnight, and then washed off.

Infusions of calming plants help alleviate neurological symptoms and manifestations of vegetovascular dystonia: chamomile, lemon balm, sage, mint, cranberry leaves.

There are contraindications, it is necessary to consult a specialist.

Only a series of procedures will help in the fight against osteochondrosis: proper nutrition, physical therapy, massage, avoiding excessive physical activity and an active lifestyle. If the disease is felt, then it will not be possible to get rid of it completely, but it is possible to bring the disease into a long-term state of remission.