Chest osteochondrosis - what is it? Its symptoms and treatment

A man is worried about thoracic lumbar osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is the most common of all spinal diseases. Because osteochondrosis is a direct dystrophic-degenerative lesion of the discs between the vertebrae, it results in an irreversible change in the shape of the discs that make up the thoracic spine. .

As a person ages, these changes in the spine become more pronounced, and almost everyone between the ages of 40 and 45 suffers from lumbar osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, for example, develops less than the lumbar or cervical spine because the vertebrae inside move less than other vertebral zones. In addition, there is a more developed muscular corset in the back of the chest, which better supports the spine in the chest than others.

What is thoracic osteochondrosis?

Chest osteochondrosisat the same time it directly represents the stratification of the discs between the vertebrae with a decrease in thickness and, consequently, the compression of the nerve endings located in the intercostal zone of the human chest.

However, once again, the spine in the thoracic region is the least susceptible to osteochondrosis because the physiological fixation of the ribs in humans is so severe. A rare phenomenon is thoracic osteochondrosis, such as cervical or lumbar osteochondrosis.

In general, with thoracic lumbar osteochondrosis, the pathological process involves the discs between the thoracic lumbar vertebrae, which contain twelve thoracic vertebrae. However, in most cases of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, pathological changes occur with the upper thoracic vertebrae. There are several degrees of thoracic osteochondrosis, and we will look at them in more detail.

Factors predisposing to the development of thoracic osteochondrosis

The exact causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region have not yet been fully established by modern science. At present, in medicine, it is customary to distinguish the following predisposing factors or so-called risk factors that cause osteochondrosis of the thoracic region in the spine:

  • hereditary predisposition;
  • excessive physical activity in this part of the spine;
  • spinal cord injury such as falls or bruises in the thoracic region;
  • changes in the intervertebral discs that occur with age and lead to a decrease in moisture in the tissues of the discs;
  • disruption of blood supply to the chest.

Causes of thoracic osteochondrosis

In general, the development of the disease with osteochondrosis generally leads to hypodynamics, ie lack of muscle load, weakening of the functions of the muscle corset and, consequently, an increase in load. intervertebral discs and ligaments.

Additional reasons for the development of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

  • hypothermia of the body;
  • presence of chronic stressful situations;
  • transmitted infections;
  • difficult physical working conditions;
  • hormonal disorders in the body;
  • disruption of metabolic processes in the body;
  • the presence of congenital defects of the spine, ie the thoracic region.

When exposed to these factors or sometimes a combination, dystrophic-degenerative irreversible processes develop in the discs between the vertebrae over time:

  • the nuclear pulp of the intervertebral disc gradually begins to lose the fluid they secrete to provide a lubricating function that significantly reduces the quenching function of this disc;
  • The fibrous ring of the vertebrae becomes more sensitive due to the increased load on it, which leads to its gradual destruction.

Symptoms and signs of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine

The clinical symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis depend entirely on the following factors:

  • age of the patient;
  • degree of infection;
  • Stages of thoracic lumbar osteochondrosis: remission or exacerbation.

The main symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

  • chest pain in the lower back, so-called dorsago;
  • painful damage to the nerve endings of the spinal cord - radiculopathy;
  • abdominal syndrome;
  • heart syndrome or changes in the heart muscle, even with characteristic pain that persists under the influence of trinitroglycerin;
  • Pulmonary syndrome in the form of stagnation with signs of hypoxia in the lungs, ie suffocation.

In a patient with thoracic osteochondrosis, no increase in body temperature is observed, which is a direct differential diagnostic sign. One of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis is dorsalgia in the thoracic region, the formation of cracks in the ring fibrosis and deformation of the nuclear pulp. On palpation, the pain in the chest area only intensifies, the symptoms increase.

In addition, the characteristic features of thoracic osteochondrosis with compression myelopathy, ie deformation of nerve endings:

  • feeling of "gas bumps" - paresthesia;
  • pain along the constricted nerve - are common symptoms;
  • decrease in temperature and tactile sensitivity;
  • Impaired motor function of the spine is also one of the characteristic symptoms.

After finding such symptoms, you should consult a specialist. The appearance and intensity of symptoms in the complex is especially dangerous. At the same time, it is inappropriate to treat the symptoms without eliminating the causes and factors of the disease.

Degrees of disease with thoracic osteochondrosis

Each degree of disease with thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by its own pathology, which has its own clinical symptoms. Modern medicine distinguishes four degrees of degenerative disc disease of the thoracic region (similarly - lumbar and cervical degenerative disc disease) and therefore four stages of development. Let's look at them in more detail.

First degree,it is characteristic of cracks to form inside the fibrous ring through which the pulp of the nucleus subsequently penetrates. This stage of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • appearance of low back pain that does not extend beyond the localization of the lesion;
  • these pains may be either lasting, or may be expressed by the lumbago;
  • There may be convulsive contraction of the muscles in the thoracic region, accompanied by pain in the heart region.

Second degreeThe development of thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by the pathological appearance of increased intervertebral mobility with the following clinical manifestations:

  • subluxations appear in the thoracic spine;
  • pain increases during movement;
  • there is discomfort with prolonged posture.

Third degreecharacterized by rupture of the annular fibrosis and extending beyond the boundaries of the nuclear pulp. During this period of thoracic lumbar osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias with very severe clinical signs begin to appear. That is, neurovascular, muscle-tonic and reflex-dystrophic.

In addition to the above, the third degree of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is characterized by changes in the following conditions of the spine:

  • poor fixation of the position of the spine;
  • restriction of mobility of the lumbar region, manifesting itself in the form of kyphosis or scoliosis.

Fourth degree- The dystrophic-degenerative process already affects all the structures surrounding the spine. This pathological process involves the yellow, interspinous and other ligaments, and fibrosis occurs in the structures surrounding the spinal column. In this stage of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis, the so-called remission is observed clinically.

Complications

With thoracic osteochondrosis, the development of complications associated with further progression of the disease is possible:

  • inflammation of the nerve endings of the spinal cord;
  • formation of intervertebral hernias;
  • development of vascular dystonia;
  • Development of Schmorl's hernia;
  • spondyloarthritis;
  • pathological growth of bone growth - osteophytes;
  • a significant decrease in the spinal canal.

The severity of complications in thoracic osteochondrosis depends entirely on the course of the disease and, of course, the effectiveness of treatment for thoracic spine osteochondrosis.

Diagnostics and its methods

Diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis by X-ray examination

In practice, several methods are used to diagnose thoracic osteochondrosis. The most common of these results is a very informative X-ray examination. The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in this study are as follows:

  • the contours of the discs between the vertebrae are broken;
  • the edges of the boards took on a wavy character;
  • changed the shape of the intervertebral discs;
  • osteophytes appeared - pathological bone growths in the spine;
  • fork-shaped processes of the vertebrae increased and intensified;
  • the bodies of the thoracic vertebrae changed their normal shape;
  • the height of the discs between the vertebrae was significantly reduced;
  • herniated discs formed between the vertebrae.

In some cases, the method of diagnosis of lumbar thoracic osteochondrosis is applied by X-ray contrast examination, which identifies the following symptoms of the disease:

  • in advanced pathology, the contrast agent completely fills the disc between the vertebrae;
  • the contours of the nuclear pulp are visible with the help of a contrast agent, they are uneven;
  • When the intervertebral disc is destroyed, the contrast agent penetrates, beyond the limits, to the spinal canal.

Only a correct diagnosis can prescribe the right treatment.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis is possible in one of the following ways, taking into account the results of the diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis:

  • conservative-traditional treatment of the spine;
  • treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis with traction;
  • surgical intervention.

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, called conservative, is complex for the treatment of all types of osteochondrosis: medication, physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are aimed at relieving back pain known as thoracic osteochondrosis. It should be noted that these drugs help to reduce the compression of nerve roots, eliminate inflammatory processes and, consequently, swelling. In more severe cases of thoracic osteochondrosis, the attending physician may prescribe a number of additional medications, such as some strong painkillers and muscle relaxants that prevent the appearance of muscle spasms.

Physiotherapy, in addition to exercise therapy and massage, is prescribed when the pain is reduced or stopped, ie during remission. All these are important components of a complex 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 magnetotherapy of special parameters is allowed during exacerbation; There are medical devices that deal with both acute and chronic pain. This system is also suitable for the treatment of lumbosacral and cervical spine.

In addition to the above, traction therapy, ie the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis with special traction, can be used successfully in the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. In this way, the paravertebral muscles, tissues and ligaments stretch, which leads to an increase in the intervertebral distance. Even a millimeter and a half will be enough to reduce swelling, relieve compression and relieve tension in the muscles adjacent to the spine. In any case, the main principle of conservative treatment is its complexity. Treatment should be long-term and regular, this is the only way to hope for results.

However, as a type of treatment for osteochondrosis, surgery is recommended only if the above treatments for thoracic osteochondrosis do not give the desired result.