Osteochondrosis - refers to a disease based on a degenerative-dystrophic process that affects the intervertebral discs, as well as other structural elements of the spine: vertebral bodies, intervertebral joints, ligaments, tendons.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a rare form of pathology. This is due to the peculiarity of the anatomical structure of the upper part of the skeleton. The thoracic spine, which consists of 12 vertebrae, is connected to the ribs, which are adjacent to the sternum with its front end. A rigid and durable frame - the chest protects vital organs (heart, lungs) from injury.
Such a skeletal structure not only limits the mobility of this segment of the spine, but also protects it from the negative effects of physical activity, and the intervertebral disc from premature destruction.
The intervertebral disc is a layer of cartilage between the vertebrae, consisting of a central part - a gel-like nucleus pulposus and a fibrous annular capsule.
Intervertebral discs provide stability to the spine to vertical loads, act as shock absorbers when walking, running, jumping, and together with other vertebral joints provide mobility and flexibility to the spine.
Development of thoracic osteochondrosis
With osteochondrosis, the blood supply worsens, the transport of water, glucose, and amino acids to the nucleus pulposus, which is needed to synthesize water-binding carbohydrates, is disrupted. The essence is dry, the gel-like structure changes to fibrous, as a result, its ability to spring and moisturize the shock is lost. The load falls on the fibrous rings and vertebrae, which are injured. Microcracks appear on the fibrous ring, the fibers are stretched and can no longer hold the nucleus pulposus, which begins to protrude towards the spinal canal - disc protrusion. When the fibrous ring ruptures, an intervertebral hernia is formed.
Cause of disease
In people over 40-45 years old, thoracic osteochondrosis develops due to the natural aging of the body. This is shown by a slowdown in the process of regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue, a decrease in collagen production, which causes the elasticity and strength of the spinal ligaments to be maintained.
At a younger age, the rapid development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region occurs against a pathological background that negatively affects the condition of the cartilage and bone tissue of the spine.
- Systemic connective tissue diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma.
- Endocrine pathology: diabetes, hypothyroidism.
- Congenital and acquired postural anomalies: kyphosis, scoliosis.
- Long-term exposure to static and dynamic loads.
- Hereditary tendency to cartilage weakness.
- Traumatic injury of the thoracic spine.
An inactive lifestyle, unhealthy diet, obesity, lack of vitamins and microelements in the body can trigger premature disc destruction.
Pathological level
The more deformed the disc and vertebrae, the more pronounced the clinical manifestations.
Stages of intervertebral disc destruction in chest osteochondrosis:
i stageThe disc begins to collapse gradually due to the inability of the nucleus pulposus to maintain the moisture needed to restore its tissue. The fibrous ring is covered with cracks. Patients experience periodic discomfort in the chest after physical exercise.
stage II. Destruction of the disc continues, the fibrous ring fibers are stratified, the nucleus pulposus moves into the deep fissures formed on the surface of the disc. Disc height decreases, vertebral mobility increases. The back muscles in the area of the damaged segment tense reflexively, trying to limit the mobility of the thoracic area. The pain is moderate.
Stage III. If the integrity of the fibrous ring is violated, the nucleus pulposus enters the spinal canal with the formation of an intervertebral hernia. There is compression of spinal cord structures: nerve fibers, blood vessels. Vertebral bodies are also deformed, the growth of bone tissue in the form of osteophytes is observed. The pain becomes constant, the range of motion in the thoracic spine decreases.
stage IV. In the final stages of thoracic osteochondrosis, signs of degenerative processes are observed in the ligaments, muscles and other tissues surrounding the affected spinal segment. Intervertebral disc cartilage is replaced by scar tissue. Osteoarthritis develops in other vertebral joints. The clinical picture is varied and depends on the degree of damage to the disc and the location of the hernia.
If spinal cord compression occurs, radicular syndrome, myelopathy and other irreversible consequences develop, leading the patient to disability.
If the problem disc is covered with fibrous tissue, and the adjacent vertebrae fuse, this can move the disease into a stable phase of remission, but with the loss of part of the function of the spine, which becomes immobile in the area of the affected segment.
stage IV. This is the final stage of the disease. Intervertebral disc cartilage is replaced by connective tissue, adjacent segments of the spine are involved in the pathological process. Joints grow together, become immobile (ankylosis). The patient's condition is severe: severe pain not only in the neck, but also in the arms, in the chest, between the shoulder blades, signs of a cerebrovascular accident, sensitivity disorders. This is a life-threatening condition that can lead to a stroke.
Treatment success is 90% dependent on the experience and qualifications of the doctor.
Free consultation and doctor diagnostics
- Chiropractor
- Vertebrologist
- Osteopathy
- Neurologist
In consultation with the doctor, a comprehensive diagnosis of the entire spine and each segment is carried out. The doctor determines the segment and root of the nerve involved and causing the pain symptoms. Based on the results of the consultation, detailed recommendations for treatment and, if necessary, additional diagnostics are set.
Signs and symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are often mistaken for clinical manifestations of other diseases. This is due to the fact that when the spinal root is compressed, the function of the organs absorbed by it is disturbed. The work of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, heart is disrupted.
Pain in the chest is not clearly localized, can be given to the arm, ribs, collarbone, shoulder blade, stomach. With the nature of pain in osteochondrosis, they resemble attacks of angina pectoris, acute pancreatitis or cholecystitis.
Often, pain between the shoulder blades is accompanied by a feeling of lack of air, which many consider a heart attack.
With significant and prolonged compression of the spinal roots, severe neurological pathology develops with motor and sensory disturbances. In particular, the localization of the disorder depends on the thoracic vertebra that is close to the nerve root that has suffered.
The zone of pain and changes in sensitivity in the form of numbness extends from the neck, shoulder blades, ribs, sternum to the abdomen.
Principles of disease diagnosis
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes the following steps:
- Collection of anamnesis.
- Clinical examination with assessment of neurological status.
- functional test.
- Instrumental methods: x-ray, magnetic resonance and computed tomography.
An important stage in the examination is the differential diagnosis. Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine often "disguise" as diseases of the heart, stomach, lungs, therefore, additional research methods are prescribed for the correct diagnosis.
Treatment
The majority of patients with signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine require conservative treatment. Surgical treatment is carried out only in severe cases, when the spinal canal is significantly narrowed due to hernia, and the spinal cord is severely compressed.
In modern clinics for the treatment of osteochondrosis, the author's non-surgical method is used, which allows not only to eliminate pain in the acute period, but also to stabilize the condition of the spine, preventing the development of complications. For each patient, depending on the severity of the pathology, treatment tactics are selected.
Thoracic osteochondrosis: symptoms and treatment of the spine in modern clinics
The goal of drug therapy for osteochondrosis:
- Block pain syndrome.
- Reduces inflammation.
- Normalizes metabolic processes.
- Improve blood supply.
- Relieves muscle spasms.
Drugs used: anesthetics, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid hormones, muscle relaxants, B vitamins.
Modern medical centers have improved the classical methods of manual therapy, adding to them electrophoresis and photodynamic laser therapy to increase the therapeutic effect.
Therapy includes:
- Gentle manual techniques that act on a physiological level and allow you to successfully remove nerve roots stuck in the spine.
- Multicomponent electrophoresis is a medical procedure in which medicinal substances directly enter the lesion.
- Laser therapy. Under the action of laser radiation, the drug applied to the skin in the area of the affected spinal segment penetrates 10-15 cm deep and has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect at the cellular level.
Paravertebral block is a method of injecting anesthetic into the damaged nerve root area, which helps to quickly relieve pain, reduce swelling, inflammation, and increase blood supply.
Shockwave therapy, in which acoustic vibrations at a certain frequency cause an effect similar to a power sequence. The therapeutic effect of the procedure lies in the analgesic effect and in increased tissue regeneration.
Physiotherapy exercises, strengthening the back muscles, contribute to the formation of a strong natural corset that will keep the spine in the correct anatomical position.
Years of experience in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine in professional clinics show that the symptoms that complicate the patient's life, with a correct and comprehensive therapeutic approach, disappear, which prevents the further development of the pathological process.