Chest osteochondrosis - what is it? Its signs and treatment

The man is worried about osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Osteochondrosis is the most common disease of all spinal diseases. Since osteochondrosis is a direct dystrophic-degenerative lesion of the discs located between the vertebrae, this in turn leads to an irreversible change in their structure, as well as in the shape of the discs themselves, which make up the thoracic spine.

As a person ages, these changes in the spine develop more and more, and by the age of about 40-45, almost everyone suffers from osteochondrosis of the spine. By itself, thoracic spine osteochondrosis develops much less frequently than, for example, the lumbar or cervical spine, since the vertebrae in it are much less mobile than in other spines. In addition, the back area in the chest area has a more developed muscular corset, which supports the spine in the thoracic region much better than in others.

What is thoracic osteochondrosis?

Chest osteochondrosisit directly represents the stratification of the discs between the vertebrae while simultaneously reducing their thickness and, as a consequence, subsequent pinching of the nerve endings located in the intercostal zone of the human chest.

However, we note once again that due to the fact that the physiological fixation of the ribs in humans is quite rigid, the spine in the thorax is the least susceptible to osteochondrosis. Thoracic osteochondrosis is a rare occurrence, for example, osteochondrosis of the cervix or lumbar region.

Usually, with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the pathological process involves discs between the vertebrae of the thoracic spine, which includes twelve thoracic vertebrae. However, most often in osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, pathological changes with the upper thoracic vertebrae occur. There are several degrees of lesions with thoracic osteochondrosis, so we will consider them further in more detail.

Predisposing factors for the development of thoracic osteochondrosis

Modern science has not yet fully determined the exact causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. Currently, it is common in medicine to distinguish 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 injuries, such as falls or bruises in the chest area;
  • changes that occur with age in the intervertebral discs and lead to a decrease in hydration in the disc tissues;
  • violation of the blood supply in the chest area.

Causes that contribute to thoracic osteochondrosis

In general, the development of diseases with osteochondrosis is generally stimulated by hypodynamics, ie lack of muscle load, which leads to a weakening of the functions of the muscular corset and, as a result, to an increase in the load on the intervertebral discs and ligaments.

Additional reasons for the development of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

  • body hypothermia;
  • the presence of chronic stressful situations;
  • transmitted infections;
  • severe physical work conditions;
  • resulting hormonal disorders in the body;
  • violation of metabolic processes in the body;
  • the presence of congenital defects of the spine, ie its thoracic area.

During exposure to a combination of these factors, or sometimes even once, over time, dystrophic-degenerative irreversible processes develop in the discs between the vertebrae:

  • the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc gradually begins to lose fluid, which they have secreted to provide lubrication function, which ultimately significantly reduces the damping function of this disc;
  • the fibrous ring of the vertebrae themselves, due to the increased load on it, becomes more vulnerable, which in turn 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:

  • patient age;
  • degree of morbidity;
  • stages of thoracic spine osteochondrosis: remission or exacerbation.

The main signs of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

  • chest pain in the spine, 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 lasting even under the influence of trinitroglycerin;
  • pulmonary syndrome, in the form of stagnation in the lungs with signs of hypoxia or suffocation.

An increase in body temperature in patients with thoracic osteochondrosis was not observed, which is also a direct differential diagnostic sign. Dorsalgia in the thoracic region as one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis indicates the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring and deformation of the pulposus nucleus. On palpation, the pain in this area of the chest only intensifies, the symptoms increase.

In addition, the characteristic symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis with compression myelopathy, or deformation of nerve endings, are:

  • feeling of "goose" - paresthesia;
  • pain along a pinched nerve - common symptoms;
  • decreased sensitivity to temperature and touch;
  • Disorders of motor function of the spine are also one of the characteristic symptoms.

If you discover such symptoms, you need to visit a specialist. The appearance of symptoms in the complex and their intensity are especially dangerous. At the same time, it is not appropriate to treat symptoms without eradicating the causes and factors of the disease.

Degrees of disease with thoracic osteochondrosis

Each stage of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by its own pathology that has only its own clinical signs. Modern medicine distinguishes four degrees of degenerative disc disease of the thoracic region (similar - lumbar and cervical degenerative disc disease) and, accordingly, four periods of its development. Let's look at them in more detail.

First degree,which are characterized by cracks appearing inside the fibrous ring into which the pulposus nucleus subsequently penetrates. This period of development of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • the appearance of pain in the spine that does not go beyond the localization of the lesion;
  • these pains may be permanent or expressed by lumbago;
  • convulsive muscle contraction in the thoracic region may occur, followed by pain in the heart area.

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

  • subluxations occur in the thoracic spine;
  • pain increases during movement;
  • discomfort occurs with prolonged posture.

Third degreecharacterized by rupture of the fibrous ring and protrusion of the pulposus nucleus beyond its boundaries. During this period of the disease with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, intervertebral hernias begin to appear whose clinical signs are quite severe. Namely-neurovascular, muscular-tonic and reflex-dystrophic.

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

  • 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 structures that are surrounded by the spine. This pathological process includes yellow, interspinous and other ligaments, and fibrosis occurs in the structures around the spinal column. In this period of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis, the so-called state of remission is clinically observed.

Complications

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

  • inflammation of the nerve endings of the spinal cord;
  • occurrence of intervertebral hernias;
  • development of vascular dystonia;
  • development of Schmorl's hernia;
  • spondyloarthritis;
  • pathological growth of bone growths - osteophytes;
  • significant reduction of the spinal canal.

It should be noted that the severity of complications arising from thoracic osteochondrosis depends entirely on the rate of progression of the disease process and, of course, on the effectiveness of methods for the treatment of thoracic spine osteochondrosis.

Diagnosis and its methods

Diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis by X-ray examination

In practice, several methods are used to diagnose thoracic osteochondrosis. Of these, the most common is an 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 cover plates acquired a wavy character;
  • intervertebral discs have changed shape;
  • osteophytes appeared - bone pathological growths in the spine;
  • hook-shaped vertebral processes increased and sharpened;
  • the bodies of the thoracic vertebrae have changed their normal shape;
  • the height of the discs between the vertebrae decreased significantly;
  • herniated discs between the resulting vertebrae.

In some cases, a method is used to diagnose thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine using an X-ray contrast study that identifies the following signs of the disease:

  • in the case of advanced pathology, the contrast agent completely fills the disc between the vertebrae;
  • with the help of a contrast agent, the contours of the nucleus pulposus are visible, which are uneven;
  • when the intervertebral disc is destroyed, the contrast agent largely penetrates beyond its boundaries, all the way to penetration into the spinal canal.

Only a correct diagnosis can determine proper treatment.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

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

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

Treatment of osteochondrosis in the chest, called conservative, is complex for the treatment of any type of osteochondrosis: drugs, physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs aim to relieve pain in the spine, 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, your doctor may prescribe a number of additional medications, for example, some powerful painkillers and muscle relaxants that block the onset of muscle cramps.

When the pain subsides or is managed to stop, ie during remission, physiotherapeutic treatment is prescribed, as well as exercises and massage. These are all important components of a comprehensive treatment. One of the main physiotherapeutic tools for the treatment and prevention of the disease is pulsed magnetic therapy with the help of special medical devices for clinical and home use.

During exacerbations, only magnetotherapy of special parameters is allowed; there are medical devices for treating acute and chronic pain. This system is also suitable for the treatment of the lumbosacral and cervical spine.

In addition to the above, traction treatment, ie treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest using special traction, can be successfully used for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. This method stretches the paravertebral muscles, tissues and ligaments, which leads to an increase in the intervertebral distance. Even one and a half millimeters will be enough to reduce swelling, remove compression, as well as relieve tension in the muscles along the spine. In any case, the main principle of conservative treatment is its complexity. The treatment will have to be done for a long time and regularly, that is the only way to hope for results.

However, surgical intervention as a type of treatment for osteochondrosis is recommended only if the above methods of treating osteochondrosis in the chest do not give the desired result.