Osteochondrosis is the most common disease of all spinal diseases. Since osteochondrosis is directly a dystrophic-degenerative lesion of the discs located between the vertebrae, then, as a consequence, this leads to an irreversible change in their structure, as well as in the shape of the discs themselves, which make up the thoracic spine.
With the age of a person, these changes in his spine develop more and more, and at the age of about 40-45 years, almost everyone suffers from osteochondrosis of the spine. By itself, thoracic spine osteochondrosis develops much less frequently than, for example, the lumbar spine or cervix, as the vertebrae in it are much less mobile than in other vertebral areas. Moreover, the back area in the chest area has a more developed muscular corset, which supports the spine in the chest region much better than in the others.
What is this thoracic osteochondrosis?
Chest osteochondrosisdirectly represents a stratification of the discs between the vertebrae with a simultaneous decrease in their thickness and, consequently, the subsequent tightening of the nerve endings located in the intercostal area of the human chest.
However, we note once again that due to the fact that the physiological fixation from the ribs in humans is quite rigid, the spine in the chest area is less susceptible to osteochondrosis. Thoracic osteochondrosis is a rare phenomenon, for example, cervical or lumbar osteochondrosis.
Usually, with thoracic osteochondrosis, the pathology process involves the discs between the vertebrae of the thoracic spine, which include twelve thoracic vertebrae. But more often with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, pathological changes occur with the upper thoracic vertebrae. There are several degrees of lesions with thoracic osteochondrosis, and further we will examine them in more detail.
Predisposing factors for the development of thoracic osteochondrosis
The exact causes of the occurrence of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region have not yet been fully proven by modern science. At present, it is common to distinguish in medicine the following predisposing factors, or so-called risk factors, due to which osteochondrosis of the thoracic region occurs in the spine:
- hereditary predisposition;
- excessive physical activity in this part of the spine;
- spinal cord injury, such as falls or bruises in the chest region;
- age-related changes in the intervertebral discs and lead to a decrease in hydration in the disc tissues;
- violations of blood supply to the chest area.
Causes contributing to thoracic osteochondrosis disease
Primarily, the development of osteochondrosis disease is generally driven by hypodynamics, i. e. lack of muscle loads, leading to a weakening of muscular corset functions and, as a result, to an increase in loads on the intervertebral discs and ligaments.
Additional reasons for the development of thoracic osteochondrosis are:
- body hypothermia;
- the presence of chronic stressful situations;
- transferred infections;
- difficult physical working conditions;
- hormonal disorders caused in the body;
- violation of the metabolic process in the body;
- the presence of congenital defects of the spine, respectively its thoracic region.
During exposure to a combination of these factors, or sometimes even one, irreversible dystrophic-degenerative processes develop in the discs between the vertebrae over time:
- the pulposus nucleus of the intervertebral disc gradually begins to lose fluid, which was secreted by them to provide a lubricating function, which eventually significantly reduces the cushioning function of this disc;
- the fibrous ring of the vertebrae themselves, due to the added load on it, becomes more vulnerable, which in turn leads to its gradual destruction.
Symptoms and signs of thoracic spine osteochondrosis
The clinical symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis depend entirely on the following factors:
- patient age;
- the degree of exposure to the disease;
- stages of thoracic spine osteochondrosis: remission or worsening.
The main signs of thoracic osteochondrosis are:
- chest pain in the back, the so-called dorsago;
- painful damage to the nerve endings of the spinal cord - radiculopathy;
- abdominal syndrome;
- cardiac syndrome or changes in the heart muscle, with characteristic pain that persist even under the influence of trinitroglycerin;
- pulmonary syndrome, in the form of stagnation in the lungs with signs of hypoxia, i. e. suffocation.
No increase in body temperature is observed in a patient with thoracic osteochondrosis, which is also a direct differential sign. Dorsalgia in the chest area as one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis indicates the appearance of cracks in the ring fibrosis and deformation of the pulposus nucleus. When you palpate, the pain in this area of the chest only intensifies, the symptoms increase.
In addition, the characteristic symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis with compressive myelopathy, i. e. deformity of nerve endings, are:
- feeling of "goose bumps" - paresthesia;
- pain along the compressed nerve - are common symptoms;
- decreased sensitivity to temperature and touch;
- spinal motor function disorders are also one of the characteristic symptoms.
Once you have found such symptoms, you should see a specialist. The appearance of symptoms in the complex and their intensity are particularly dangerous. At the same time, it is inappropriate to treat the symptoms without eliminating the causes and factors of the disease.
Degrees of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis
Each stage of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by its own pathology, which has only its own clinical signs. Modern medicine distinguishes four degrees of degenerative disc disease of the thoracic region (similarly - degenerative disease of the lumbar disc and cervix) and, accordingly, four periods of its development. Let us consider them in more detail.
First step,for which it is characteristic that cracks appear inside the fibrous ring, into which the pulposus nucleus then penetrates. This period of disease development with thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- the appearance of back pain that does not go beyond the localization of the lesion;
- these pains can be either permanent or expressed by lumbago;
- there may be a convulsive muscle contraction in the chest region, accompanied by pain in the heart region.
The second degreeThe development of thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by the pathological manifestation of increased intervertebral motility with the following clinical manifestations:
- thoracic spine subluxations appear;
- pain increases during movement;
- discomfort appear with prolonged stay.
Third degreecharacterized by rupture of the fibrosus ring and protrusion of the pulposus nucleus beyond its boundaries. In this period of the disease with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, intervertebral hernias begin to appear, the clinical signs of which are quite severe. Namely-neurovascular, muscle tonic and reflex-dystrophic.
In addition to the above, for third-degree osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, a change in the following spinal conditions is characteristic:
- poor fixation of the spine position;
- restriction of mobility of the spinal region, manifested in the form of kyphosis or scoliosis.
Fourth degree- the dystrophic-degenerative process already affects all the structures that are surrounded by the spine. This pathological process involves the yellow ligaments, interspinosis, and others, and fibrosis occurs in the structures surrounding the spine. In this period of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis, the so-called remission condition is clinically observed.
Complications
With further progression of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis, the development of concomitant complications is possible:
- inflammation of the nerve endings of the spinal cord;
- the appearance of intervertebral hernias;
- development of vascular dystonia;
- development of Schmorl hernia;
- spondyloarthritis disease;
- pathological growth of bone growths - osteophytes;
- a significant decrease in the spinal canal.
It should be noted that the severity of complications arising in thoracic osteochondrosis depends entirely on the degree of progression of the disease process that has emerged and, of course, on the effectiveness of methods for treating thoracic spine osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis and its methods
In practice, several methods are used to diagnose thoracic osteochondrosis. Of these, the most common is the X-ray examination, the results of which are quite informative. The signs of thoracic osteochondrosis detected in this study are as follows:
- the contours of the discs between the vertebrae are broken;
- the edges of the integral plates acquired a wavy character;
- intervertebral discs have changed their shape;
- osteophytes appeared - pathological bone growth in the spine;
- bead-shaped processes of beads are enlarged and sharpened;
- the bodies of the thoracic vertebrae have changed their normal shape;
- the height of the discs between the vertebrae is significantly reduced;
- disc herniation between the vertebrae formed.
In some cases, a method of diagnosing thoracic spinal osteochondrosis is practiced by means of an X-ray contrast study, which determines the following signs of this disease:
- in the case of advanced pathology, the contrast agent fills the disc between the vertebrae completely;
- with the aid of a contrast agent, the contours of the pulposus nucleus are visible, which are uneven;
- when the intervertebral disc is destroyed, the contrast agent penetrates mainly beyond its boundaries, to the point of penetration into the spinal canal.
Only an accurate diagnosis can determine the right treatment.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis is possible in one of the following ways, used taking into account the results of the diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis, namely:
- conservative-traditional treatment of the spine;
- treatment of traction osteochondrosis of the chest;
- operative surgical intervention.
The treatment of chest osteochondrosis, called conservative, is complex for the treatment of any type of osteochondrosis: medications, physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are aimed at relieving back pain, which is known for thoracic osteochondrosis. It should be noted that these drugs very well eliminate inflammatory processes, as well as the resulting swelling, helping to reduce the compression of nerve roots. In more complex cases of breast osteochondrosis, the attending physician may prescribe a range of additional medications, for example, some powerful pain relievers and muscle relaxants that block the onset of muscle spasms.
When the pain is reduced or managed to stop, i. e. during remission, physiotherapy treatment is prescribed, as well as, in addition, exercise therapy and massage. All of these are important components of a comprehensive treatment. One of the main physiotherapeutic tools for the treatment and prevention of the disease is pulsed magnetic therapy using special medical devices for clinical and home use.
Only magnetic therapy of special parameters is allowed for use during exacerbations; has medical equipment for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. This system is also suitable for treating the lumbosacral spine and cervix.
In addition to the above, traction treatment, i. e. treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis by means of special traction, can be successfully used to treat thoracic osteochondrosis. With this method, the paravertebral muscles, tissues and ligaments are stretched, which leads to an increase in intervertebral distance. Even a millimeter and a half will already be enough to reduce swelling, eliminate compression, and relieve tension in the muscles adjacent to the spine. In any case, the main principle of conservative treatment is its complexity. Treatment will have to be done for a long time and regularly, this is the only way to hope for results.
But surgical intervention as a kind of treatment for osteochondrosis is advisable only when the above methods of treating osteochondrosis of the chest do not give the desired result.