Osteochondrosis of the thoracic column: symptoms and treatment

Osteochondrosis is called Disttroficheesko-Profundity of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral joints, which leads to its destruction.The location of osteochondrosis in the vertebrae of the thoracic column is called thoracic osteochondrosis.Compared to the osteochondrosis of another location: the osteochondrosis of cervical or lumbar thorax is less frequently diagnosed with anatomical characteristics of the thorax structure.It is a relatively static structure in which the mobility of the column itself is relatively small, respectively, even with an active pathological process in the intervertebral discs, the probability of its injury is minimal.In the recent past, when diagnostic capabilities were limited, thoracic osteochondrosis was considered the prerogative of elderly patients exclusively.Now he identifies not only in Young, but even in childhood.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic column

Why is thoracic osteochondrosis developing?

Among the causes of thoracic osteochondrosis, the following must be distinguished:

  • Pathology of vertebrae and intervertebral discs, both hereditary and acquired as a result of several factors;
  • Blood supply violations to the spine;
  • Excessive or irrational physical activity in the column (by practicing sports or due to hard physical work);
  • Violations of mineral metabolism in the body, deficiency of some trace elements;
  • sedentary lifestyle, sedentary professional activity;
  • Weakness of the back muscles, which resulted in an incorrect posture and an irrational distribution of the load in 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: both general and local hypothermia of the back muscles;
  • Excessive physical overno.

Why is thoracic osteochondrosis dangerous?

The osteochondrosis of the thoracic column is a disease, accompanied by significant pathological changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral joints.Consequently, the first consequence of such disease is the destruction of structures that form the spine.The result of this may be scoliosis, the pathology of the respiratory system (pneumonia, pneumosclerosis), deteriorated blood circulation of internal organs, diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, cholecystitis).The negative consequences of thoracic osteochondrosis can also be applied to the lessons system.Persistent pain syndrome, characteristic of osteochondrosis, reduces the quality of life and can "disguise" other diseases, which causes incorrect diagnoses and treatment.

How does thoracic osteochondrosis manifest?

With thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms are quite characteristic:

  • pain - It happens when a person is in a position for a long time, as well as with movements, peso lifting, physical effort.The constant and constant pain in the area of the shoulder blades is characteristic, as well as pain trying to raise your hands;
  • intercostal neuralgia;
  • Feeling in the chest, as a result of which deep breath becomes difficult;
  • Decreased sensitivity certain areas of the skin;
  • Paresthesia - A feeling of "chicken skin" in the skin, burning, tingling;
  • temperature decrease certain areas on the skin;
  • temperature decrease Leg leather, Pismazón sensation fire in them;
  • Digestive disorders.

Two basic types of pain that accompany the osteochondrosis of the thoracic column: dorsalgiyu (prolonged pain in the area of the affected intervertebral cartilage) and the Dorsago (intense paroxysmal pain accompanied by muscle spasm and breathing difficulties).

The osteochondrosis called this is characteristic of osteochondrosis Gastro syndrome - Pain in epigastry, not related to meals, the time of day or year.

Degree of thoracic osteochondrosis

In clinical practice, 4 degrees of osteochondrosis of the thoracic column are distinguished, depending on the degree of damage to the cartilage and the participation in the pathological process of the surrounding structures.

Thoracic osteochondrosis of the first grade spine: The discs between the vertebrae lose their elasticity, somewhat thinned, local protuberances can appear in the fibrous rings of the discs.

Thoracic osteochondrosis of the second grade: The weight loss of intervertebral discs progresses, the thoracic column loses stability.At this stage, the pain begins to bother, often neurological symptoms bind: parstesthesia, skin numbness.Cracks may appear in the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc.

Thoracic osteochondrosis of the 3 -degree column corresponds to the formation of intervertebral hernia.

Thoracic osteochondrosis 4 degrees It is characterized by a complete loss between the vertebrate disc of its depreciation properties.The span of the vertebrae becomes critical, the bone tissue begins to collapse.In the channels of the spine, blood vessels and nerves are violated, which leads to persistent neurological symptoms, intensive bolevomu syndrome, circulatory disorders.

Thoracic osteochondrosis diagnosis

The diagnosis of "thoracic osteochondrosis" is performed on the basis of a patient survey, exam and exam: radiography and magnetic resonance images.An X -ray study helps establish the location of the spine lesion, and magnetic resonance is to clarify the diagnosis, to exclude the presence of benign and malignant neoplasms.

Several symptoms of thoracic column osteochondrosis are non -specific: the same signs may indicate other diseases.This explains quite frequent errors in the diagnosis, when the patient, for example, is a long time for pancreatitis due to pain, whose true cause is breast osteochondrosis.Therefore, integral diagnoses, attract adjacent specialists (gastroenterologists, pulmonologists) for an additional examination of the patient are very important.

Thoracic osteochondrosis: treatment

Thoracic osteochondrosis treatment

Given the fact that the restoration of the destroyed cartilage is impossible, the effective treatment of breast osteochondrosis is only possible in the initial stages of the disease, until the cartilage has lost its structure.Therefore, it is especially important to consult a doctor in a timely manner: when the first manifestations of pathology, discomfort in the back, insignificant pain, numbness of the areas of the skin or their ardor feeling appeared.

In the early stages of the disease, the treatment is reduced to taking non -narcotic analgesics, allowing pain and non -steroidal anti -inflammatory medications that reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process in the tissues and also eliminate pain.However, the main emphasis on the treatment of the initial stage of the thoracic column osteochondrosis is made to receive HondroprotekTorov.This is the name of a group of medications aimed at restoring normal metabolism in cartilage tissue, resulting in an improvement in cartilage trophism and a deceleration 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 enough, which forces the doctor to complement corticus glucose with steroid medications.In addition, diuretics can be added to the list of medications that allow to eliminate swelling in the roots of the spinal nerves infringed and, therefore, relieve appropriate neurological symptoms and pain.The inclusion of antispasmodic drugs in the therapy allows to eliminate muscle spasm, which accompanies the osteochondrosis of the thoracic column.

With the development of 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 osteochondrosis.

Physiotherapy for Mama Osteochondrosis

Outside the exacerbation periods, physiotherapy brings good results.Effective methods in the osteochondrosis of the thoracic region include:

  • laser therapy;
  • Magnetotherapy;
  • Extension: both dry and wet;
  • vacuum therapy;
  • acupuncture;
  • Farmakopunkur.

In addition, massage and manual therapy include popular and effective physiotherapeutic methods for breast osteochondrosis.Preventive massage courses for patients with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region should be submitted at least twice a year.At the same time, any manipulation must be as saving as possible, exclusively outside the periods of exacerbation, not to cause an exacerbation of the pathological process.

Physiotherapy for Mama Osteochondrosis

Physical Education of the Media for Thoracic Osteochondrosis

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, eliminate muscle spasm, eliminate rigidity in the spine.LFK allows you to strengthen the muscle corset, as well as increase the physical mobility of the patient as a whole, which is an important factor in stimulation of blood circulation, the restoration of pulmonary ventilation.

Before performing a complex of special exercises, you must carry out a slight general general, with the aim of heating your muscles or taking a warm shower.High quality warming before classes avoids injuries.All movements must be soft, it is necessary to avoid acute inclinations and turns that can aggravate the damage to the spine.

The osteochondrosis of the thoracic column is a chronic disease that significantly reduces the quality of the patient's life, dangerous of their complications.The timely direction for the doctor and the competent complex treatment, which begins with the first signs of the disease, will help stop the pathological process and eliminate unpleasant symptoms.