Osteochondrosisis a disease of modern society.
Hypodynamics and an unhealthy diet lead to pathological changes in the spine.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is much less common than cervical and lumbar.
This is due to the lower mobility of this part of the spine.
According to the international classification of diseases (ICD 10), the disease has the code M42.
Essence of Pathology
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a dystrophic change in the cartilage and bone tissue of the spine. The disease affects both sexes between the ages of 25 and 50. The deceit of the disease is that the symptoms are "camouflaged" as signs of other diseases (cardiovascular or gastric diseases), which is why osteochondrosis of the chest is diagnosed too late.
Algorithm of disease development:
- Under the influence of unfavorable factors, the core of the intervertebral disc becomes thinner and flattened.
- Adjacent vertebrae approach each other and a focus of inflammation arises between them.
- The joint capsules are stretched, the mobility of the spine decreases.
- Spinal nerve roots are pinched.
- The spinal cord is compressed.
- The bone tissue of the vertebrae grows, bone processes (osteophytes) occur.
Depending on the degree of the vertebral body lesion, four stages of the disease are distinguished::
| Level 1 | Changes in the vertebrae are not expressed, there are no bright symptoms. At this stage, the treatment shows a good effect: it is possible to restore the damaged tissue. |
| Level 2 | This stage is characterized by the appearance of microcracks in the vertebrae and impaired mobility. The vertebrae begin to shift relative to each other. Treatment takes a lot of effort and time. |
| Level 3 | The intervertebral discs become so thin that protrusions and hernias appear. Mobility is reduced to a minimum. At this stage, the nerves are pinched, the work of the internal organs is disturbed. Failure to start treatment will result in disability. |
| Level 4 | There is a complete thinning of the intervertebral discs, the function of the spine is disturbed, the process of destruction of the bone tissue is ongoing. Neurological symptoms are pronounced. |
Thoracic osteochondrosis has a wavy character, ie periods of remission and exacerbation alternate.
reasons
Up to nowthe exact causes of the disease are not known. There are many theories in medicine on the subject, but none of them give an accurate explanation of why the process of degeneration of the spinal cartilage begins. The main culprit is walking upright.
Provocation factors are taken into account:
- inheritance.
- Congenital malformations of the spine.
- infectious diseases.
- obesity.
- hypodynamics.
- Long stay in one position.
- An unbalanced diet with a lack of vitamins and minerals.
- back injuries.
- Age-related changes.
- Great physical activity (during sports or at work).
- Flat feet.
- pregnancy.
- Prolonged stress.
- smoking.
Follow
If left untreated, the consequences of osteochondrosis can be catastrophic.Degenerative changes cause the appearance of an inguinal hernia. The compression of the nervesleads to a loss of sensation in the limbs. The most serious complication is paralysis of the arms or legs.
In addition,the work of all internal organs and systems is disrupted: cardiovascular system, urine, digestion. The patient develops vegetative-vascular dystonia. The fact is that the spinal vessels are compressed and the oxygen supply to the brain is disturbed. The patient suffers from constant headaches, panic attacks and insomnia. Intercostal neuralgia is also a consequence of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms
The first symptom of the disease is thisA feeling of tension in the back muscles. Then there is a dull pain in the back. The rest of the manifestations can be similar to the signs of other diseases. For this reason, breast osteochondrosis is known as the "chameleon".
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- "goose bumps";
- chest pain;
- shooting pain between the shoulder blades, especially when turning the body;
- dizziness;
- faint;
- pressing pain in the heart area;
- swelling of the hands and feet;
- sensation of numbness in the hands;
- indigestion;
- decreased sexual function;
- short-term acute pain in the rib area;
- tiredness, decreased performance;
- general malaise.
Diagnosis
A doctor can make a diagnosis by doing a full exam.
It is important to distinguish osteochondrosis from other diseases of the skeletal system, such as: B.:
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- ostiomyelitis;
- spondylopathy.
It is also important to rule out diseases of the internal organs.:
- ischemia;
- heart attack;
- gastritis;
- gastric ulcer;
- pancreatitis;
- kidney stones;
- pyelonephritis;
- tumors.
Laboratory and instrumental methods are used for diagnostics.:
- blood test. There is a slight increase in white blood cells and ESR.
- Blood test for electrolytes. With osteochondrosis, the serum calcium level is reduced.
- General urinalysis.
- blood biochemistry.
- X-ray of the spine. Allows the detection of deformations of the intervertebral discs, displacement of the vertebrae and the presence of an inguinal hernia.
- MRI. The degree of degenerative changes in the spine is determined with the help of layer-by-layer images.
- myelography. This is a contrast x-ray examination of the spine. Allows you to assess the state of blood flow in the vessels of the spine.
Treatment
The disease is treated on an outpatient basis. Conservative methods are used for this.The therapy focuses on:
- pain relief;
- Reduction of inflammation;
- Elimination of compression from nerve endings;
- Restoration of the cartilage tissue.
If the patient is in severe pain, he must be given bed rest. Novocaine blockade is performed for severe pain syndrome. At the same time, droppers are treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Methods of treating osteochondrosis
Drugs include the following drugs:
| Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | Depending on the severity, the products can be injected, pills or ointments. |
| Painkillers | - |
| muscle relaxants | Use this option if the back muscles are cramped. |
| Chondroprotectors | Restore cartilage tissue. |
| Diuretics | Reduce edema. |
| Vitamins of group B | For general strengthening of the muscles of the back, spine and central nervous system |
In 3 and 4 stages of the disease, therapy is more severe. Hormonal drugs are prescribed.
Massageincreases the tone of the back muscles and relieves pain.The following types of massage are used:
- classic;
- dotted;
- in cans.
Physiotherapy exercisesare prescribed at the stage of remission under the supervision of a specialist. The exercises are aimed at strengthening the muscle corset, increasing the mobility of the spine, and relieving the compression of the nerve roots. The patient's metabolism improves.
Physiotherapyhas a good therapeutic effect, especially in 1-2 stages. It is recommended to take several courses a year to prevent deterioration. They use magnetotherapy, laser exposure, ultrasound, electrophoresis.
Manual therapyis an irreplaceable method for treating osteochondrosis. The blood circulation is restored, the nutrition of the spinal tissue is improved. The qualifications of a specialist are of great importance.
Spinal tractionis a controversial method. Some doctors believe that, on the contrary, this makes the patient's condition worse. The essence of traction is to increase the intervertebral space using special devices. In any case, this method must be used with caution.
Acupuncture. The influence on active points not only relieves pain, but also balances the patient's psyche.
According to a special diet. Assumes a decrease in the diet of animal fats and an increase in the amount of plant foods. The diet should be balanced to provide the body with vitamins and minerals.
The effect of the therapy is achieved by combining several treatments. Surgical treatment is extremely rare unless conservative treatment is effective.
prognosis and prevention
The prognosis of the disease depends on the degree of the spinal lesion.It is impossible to completely cure the disease in 2-4 stages. . Properly selected therapy can only reduce inflammation and stop the progression of the disease. With proper treatment, the stage of remission is reached, which must be maintained using preventive methods.
The prevention of osteochondrosis is:
- maintain a healthy lifestyle;
- Adherence to proper nutrition;
- Exclusion of excessive physical exertion;
- avoid being in one position for a long time;
- weight loss;
- timely treatment of infectious diseases.
Conclusion
Osteochondrosis of the chest regionis a serious disease that gets "younger" every year. Due to the slightest mobility of this spine in the initial stage, the disease does not manifest itself.
The symptoms are not specific, so other pathologies of the internal organs are suspected. It is important to conduct differential diagnosis in order to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.
The disease is treated with conservative methodsthat are used in combination. Surgery is extremely rare if there are serious complications. Without proper treatment, the patient's internal organs are disturbed and the quality of life deteriorates significantly.
Negative consequences can be avoided with the help of a correctly selected therapy and compliance with preventive measures.