Osteochondrosis is called DISTROFICHESKO disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral joints, leading to their destruction.The location of osteochondrosis in the vertebrae of the thoracic spine is called thoracic osteochondosis.Compared to osteochondrosis of other localization - cervical or lumbar thoracic osteochondosis is less commonly diagnosed with anatomical characteristics of the structure of the chest.It is a relatively static structure in which the mobility of the spine itself is relatively small - respectively, even with an active pathological process in the intervertebral discs, the probability of their injury is minimal.In a recent past, when diagnostic capacities were limited, thoracic osteochondosis was considered the prerogative of exclusively old patients.Now it is identified not only among young people, but even in childhood.
Why does thoracic osteochondosis develop?
Among the causes of thoracic osteochondrosis, the following elements must be distinguished:
- Pathology of vertebrae and intervertebral discs - both hereditary and acquired as a result of various factors;
- Blood supply violations to the spine;
- Excessive or irrational physical activity on the spine (during the practice of sport or due to hard physical work);
- violations of mineral metabolism in the body, deficit of certain trace elements;
- sedentary lifestyle, sedentary professional activity;
- The weakness of the back muscles, which led to a bad posture and an irrational distribution of the load on the spine;
- injuries.
In addition, there are a number of factors that can cause an exacerbation of the disease in its chronic course:
- injury;
- stress, excessive nervous tension;
- body hypothermia - general and local hypothermia of back muscles;
- Physical overwork.
Why is thoracic osteochondosis dangerous?
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a disease, accompanied by significant pathological changes in the vertebrae and the intervertebral joints.Consequently, the first consequence of such a disease is the destruction of the structures that form the spine.The result can be scoliosis, the pathology of the respiratory system (pneumonia, pneumosclerosis), alteration of the blood circulation of the internal organs, diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, cholecystitis).The negative consequences of thoracic osteochondosis can also apply to the lesson system.Persistent pain syndrome, characteristic of osteochondrosis, reduces quality of life and can "disguise" other diseases, which causes diagnostics and inappropriate treatment.
How is thoracic osteochondrosis manifest?
With thoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms are quite characteristic:
- pain - This happens when a person is in a position for a long period, as well as with movements, weight lifting, physical effort.A dull constant pain in the scoop is characteristic, as well as the pain when you try to raise your hand;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- Feel in the chest, following which deep breathing becomes difficult;
- Decrease in sensitivity certain areas of the skin;
- Paresthesia - a feeling of "goose-bosque" on the skin, burning, tingling;
- Decrease in temperature certain areas on the skin;
- Decrease in temperature leg leather, Sensation of itching burning in them;
- Digestive disorders.
Two types of basic pain accompanying osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine: dorsalgiyu (prolonged pain in the area of affected intervertebral cartilage) and dorsago (intense paroxysm pains accompanied by muscle spasms and breathing difficulties) are distinguished.
Osteochondrosis so-so-so-so-to-clalyled is characteristic of osteochondosis Gastro syndrome - Pain in epigastria, not linked to meals, day of the day or year.
Thoracic degree of osteochondrosis
In clinical practice, 4 degrees of osteochondrosis from the thoracic spine are distinguished, depending on the degree of damage to cartilage and the involvement in the pathological process of surrounding structures.
Thoracic osteochondrosis of the 1st degree spine: The discs between the vertebrae lose their elasticity, somewhat lit, the local protuberances - the projection may appear in the fibrous rings of the discs.
2nd degree thoracic osteochondrosis: The slimming of intervertebral discs is progressing, the thoracic spine loses stability.At this stage, the pain begins to disturb, often neurological symptoms join it: paresthesia, numbness of the skin.The cracks can appear on the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc.
Thoracic osteochondrosis of the 3 degree spine corresponds to the formation of an intervertebral hernia.
4 -degree thoracic osteochondrosis It is characterized by a complete loss between the vertebrate disc of its amortization properties.The running of the vertebrae becomes critical, the bone tissue begins to collapse.In column canals, blood vessels and nerves are raped, which leads to persistent neurological symptoms, Bolevomu intensive syndrome, circulatory disorders.
Diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis
The diagnosis of "thoracic osteochondosis" is made on the basis of a patient study, his examination and his examination: radiography and magnetic resonance imaging.An X -ray study helps to establish the location of the spine lesion, and magnetic resonance imaging consists in clarifying the diagnosis, to exclude the presence of benign and clever neoplasms.
A certain number of symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are non -specific - the same signs may indicate other diseases.This explains fairly frequent errors in the diagnosis, when the patient, for example, is treated for a long time for pancreatitis due to pain, the real cause of which is breast osteochondosis.Consequently, complete diagnoses, attracting adjacent specialists - gastroenterologists, pulmonologists - for an additional patient examination is very important.
Thoracic osteochondosis: treatment
Since the restoration of destroyed cartilage is impossible, the effective treatment of mammary osteochondosis is only possible in the first stages of the disease, until the cartilage has lost its structure.Consequently, it is particularly important to consult a doctor in a timely manner - when the very first manifestations of pathology, discomfort in the back, insignificant pain, numbness of skin areas or its burning sensation appeared.
In the early stages of the disease, treatment comes down to taking non-narcotic pain relievers, allowing pain and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process in tissues and also eliminate pain.However, the emphasis on the treatment of the initial stage of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is designed to receive Hondropropostektorov.This is the name of a group of drugs intended to restore normal metabolism in the cartilage fabric, which leads to an improvement in cartilage trophism and a slowdown in its destruction.
With the progression of the pathological process of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents to relieve inflammation, as a rule, it does not become sufficient, which obliges the doctor to complete the glucose of corticosteroid with steroid drugs.In addition, diuretics can be added to the list of drugs that eliminate swelling in the roots of raped vertebral nerves and thus relieve appropriate neurological symptoms and pain.The inclusion of antispasmodic drugs in therapy eliminates muscle spasms, which accompanies osteochondrosis of the chest spine.
With the development of an intervertebral hernia and the destruction of the bone tissue of the vertebrae, conservative treatment loses its effectiveness, the only reasonable alternative is the surgical treatment of osteochondosis.
Physiotherapy for mammary osteochondrosis
Outside periods of exacerbation, physiotherapy gives good results.Effective methods in osteochondrosis in the chest region include:
- Laser therapy;
- magnetotherapy;
- Extension - both dry and humid;
- vacuum therapy;
- acupuncture;
- Farmakopunktura.
In addition, massage and manual therapy include popular and effective physiotherapeutic methods for breast osteochondosis.Preventive massage courses for patients with osteochondrosis in the chest region must undergo at least twice a year.At the same time, all manipulations should be as saving as possible, exclusively outside the periods of exacerbation, so as not to cause exacerbation of the pathological process.
Media physical education for thoracic osteochondosis
An important component of the complex treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine is therapeutic physical education (exercise therapy). The task of the exercises is to restore the mobility of the intervertebral joints, to eliminate muscle spasms, to eliminate stiffness in the spine.LFK allows you to strengthen the muscular corset, as well as increase the physical mobility of the patient as a whole, which is an important factor in stimulating blood circulation, the restoration of pulmonary ventilation.
Before performing a special exercise complex, you must perform a slight general warm -up, aimed at reheating the muscles or taking a hot shower.High quality heating before classes avoids injuries.All movements must be smooth, it is necessary to avoid inclinations and net turns which can worsen damage to the spine.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a chronic disease that considerably reduces the quality of the patient's life, dangerous of his complications.The quick address to the doctor and the competent complex treatment, started with the first signs of the disease, will help stop the pathological process and eliminate unpleasant symptoms.