Osteochondrosis is the aging process of the spine and surrounding tissues. Experts replace osteochondrosis with a more precise term – "degenerative-dystrophic changes". With age, such changes occur to varying degrees in the spine of each person.
In an early stage, osteochondrosis almost does not manifest itself at all. Back pain means that changes to the spine have already begun and are progressing. In the article we will talk about osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, symptoms and treatment.
Due to its stability, the chest area suffers less often than the neck and lumbar areas. Women are more susceptible to thoracic osteochondrosis. Those who spend a lot of time sitting are at risk. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine occur in 30% of people over the age of 35 and in 50-90% of older people.
In order not to waste time and avoid the consequences of osteochondrosis, it is important to consult a competent doctor at the first symptoms.
How the spine ages: the mechanism of the development of osteochondrosis
The vertebral bodies are separated from each other by intervertebral discs. The intervertebral disc consists of a nucleus located in the center and a fibrous ring at the periphery. As we age, the intervertebral discs receive less oxygen and nutrients and the cartilage tissue gradually breaks down. Intervertebral discs lose strength and elasticity. This is how osteochondrosis begins; With an unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle, it progresses and leads to complications. Cracks appear on the surface of the fibrous ring, through which the nucleus pulposus protrudes - protrusions and hernias arise. The damage process affects vertebrae, ligaments, intercostal nerves, muscles and fascia. There is pain in the back, crunching when moving the body, intervertebral joints lose their mobility.
Stages of spinal osteochondrosis and its complications
- First stage
The intervertebral disc produces less collagen and reduces water concentration. It gets flatter. Cracks begin to form on its surface. Pain and fatigue occur in the back. X-rays usually show no changes at first.
- Second floor
The surface of the disc ruptures, the nucleus moves away from the center and the annulus fibrosus loses its elasticity. This leads to intervertebral disc protrusion: It projects into the spinal canal in a cone shape and puts pressure on the paravertebral ligaments. Moderate pain occurs. The surrounding muscles are constantly tense and restrict freedom of movement in the chest area. On the x-ray you can see how the height of the intervertebral space has decreased.
- Third section
The core or part of it emerges through the gap in the fibrous ring into the lumen of the spinal canal. The vertebrae move closer to each other and osteophytes - bone outgrowths - form on their bodies. Osteophytes limit mobility and increase the surface area of the vertebrae so that the load is distributed more evenly. The spinal roots are affected, causing back pain to increase and spread along the ribs. The x-ray shows osteophytes and a severe reduction in the intervertebral space.
- Fourth stage
At this stage the back hurts severely and constantly. Posture changes and a person finds it difficult to perform normal actions. The psycho-emotional sphere suffers. The x-ray shows a deformed spine.
Causes of thoracic osteochondrosis
The main cause of osteochondrosis is degenerative-dystrophic changes that occur in the spine with increasing age. There are many factors and diseases that influence the development of osteochondrosis:
- sedentary lifestyle
- Overweight
- frequent hypothermia
- Bad habits
- improper lifting of weights
- Uneven strain on one shoulder when carrying heavy objects
- hereditary predisposition
- Flat feet
- pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Spinal deformity, poor posture – scoliosis, kyphosis
- Metabolic disorders in endocrine diseases - diabetes mellitus, gout, thyroid pathology
- Autoimmune diseases – systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis
- walking in high heels
- Back injuries
Signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine in women and men
The clinical picture of osteochondrosis consists of the following syndromes: pain, muscle tone, radicular and sometimes facet syndromes.
- Pain syndrome
Bulges, hernias and osteophytes put pressure on the paravertebral ligaments and cause pain. In the initial stages of osteochondrosis, it appears only after heavy lifting or physical activity and disappears at rest. As the disease progresses, pain occurs even without physical activity.
- Muscular tonic syndrome
Persistent muscle spasm occurs in response to pain. Muscle spasms often occur throughout the spine, so pain occurs not only in the chest, but also in the neck and lower back.
- Radicular syndrome
Protrusions and hernias can compress the nerve root and cause pain and burning along the ribs. The pain often occurs at night and increases with physical activity.
- Facet syndrome
It develops with arthrosis of small joints between the vertebral arches. With this syndrome, the back hurts in the chest area. The pain can last for years and lead to limited mobility.
A characteristic sign of thoracic osteochondrosis is pain between the shoulder blades. It increases when a person turns, bends, straightens, or rounds their back. Pain can be acute or chronic:
- Acute pain occurs suddenly, after a sudden movement or rotation. The attack is short-lived: usually it disappears after a change in posture, but sometimes it lasts for several days.
- Chronic pain lasts 12 weeks. A person cannot stand for a long time, it hurts to get up after sitting for a long time.
Other manifestations of osteochondrosis include:
- Pain, burning, chest tightness
- Pain behind the sternum, in the middle of the chest, can radiate to the collarbones, neck, ribs and arms, simulating cardiac pathology
- Constant crunching in the back when moving
- Shortness of breath due to pain when breathing deeply
- Difficulty moving the spine
- Weakness of the back muscles
- Depression, depression due to chronic pain
- Sensation of a lump in the breast
Differential diagnosis is carried out in pathologies of the lungs, cardiovascular system, mammary glands and exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
At the first episodes of back pain, it is better to consult a neurologist. The doctor will make the correct diagnosis, exclude similar diseases and find out why osteochondrosis develops.
At the first appointment, the doctor takes an anamnesis: He asks the patient to talk about complaints, medications taken, hereditary and chronic diseases, injuries, operations and working conditions. For women, the neurologist will find out about pregnancy and breastfeeding.
During the examination, the doctor pays attention to the patient's appearance: posture, weight-height ratio, body proportionality. Checks neurological status: muscle strength, limb sensitivity, tendon reflexes, range of motion of the spine. In addition, the doctor assesses the pain using special scales.
Instrumental diagnostic methods help to make a diagnosis:
- Radiography. This is a simple examination that reveals curvatures of the spine, fractures and dislocations of the vertebrae, and narrowing of the intervertebral space.
- CT scan. This is a more informative method that shows pathologies of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs that are not visible on x-rays. Allows assessment of the extent of spinal damage and monitoring of treatment progress.
- Magnetic resonance imaging. It helps to diagnose protrusions, herniated discs and pathologies of the spinal nerve roots.
To rule out diseases of the heart and internal organs, the doctor may refer the patient for an abdominal ultrasound, gastroscopy or an ECG.
Treatment: what to do with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region?
You should not self-medicate, prescribe medications or procedures - this can lead to side effects and dangerous complications. The doctor must treat the patient and monitor the dynamics of his condition.
How long therapy lasts depends on the stage of the process and the main symptoms. For conservative treatment of osteochondrosis, doctors use the following methods:
Drug therapy
The main groups of drugs are prescribed to patients:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – relieve pain, relieve inflammation and swelling of tissues.
- Muscle relaxants – relax muscles and relieve pain.
- Glucocorticoids – slow the destruction of the intervertebral discs and reduce inflammation. They are prescribed when NSAIDs and muscle relaxants do not help.
physical therapy
The instructor selects exercises to strengthen the chest muscles, correct posture and improve spinal mobility.
Different typesphysical therapy. Apply:
- Magnetic therapy – improves tissue metabolism, reduces pain and swelling.
- Laser therapy – promotes nutrition and tissue restoration, eliminates inflammation.
- Shock wave therapy – destroys deposits of calcium salts on the vertebrae, accelerates the regeneration of bone and cartilage tissue.
acupuncture
It stimulates blood circulation in the tissue in the area of the affected vertebrae, relaxes the muscles, and relieves pain and swelling.
Tape
Applying special adhesive tapes to the skin in the area of the sore spot on the back. Tapes regulate muscle tone and distribute the load correctly.
Massage, manual therapy
As a complementary therapy to relax muscles and improve spinal mobility.
Doctors do everything they can to treat the patient conservatively. If available therapies do not help, the patient is referred to a neurosurgeon for consultation.
Complications: The dangers of thoracic osteochondrosis in men and women
If you contact specialists in a timely manner and lead a healthy lifestyle, changes in the spine can be stopped. When a patient visits a doctor in the final stage, even adequate therapy does not always guarantee a good prognosis.
Osteochondrosis without treatment can lead to bulging or herniation of the intervertebral disc, chronic pain in the back or other parts of the body, limited mobility of the spine and its deformation.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
To prevent the development of osteochondrosis of the chest, neck and other parts, it is important to follow the following rules:
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow
- When lifting weights, do not bend over, but squat so that the load falls on your hips
- Wear a bag or backpack alternately on your left and right shoulders so as not to put strain on just one side
- Avoid injuries
- stop smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
- drink enough water
- Warm up by sitting for long periods of time, doing sports, swimming, going for a walk
- Monitor body weight
- timely treatment of infectious and chronic diseases
- Wear comfortable shoes
If you have back pain in the chest area or other parts of the spine, do not postpone the examination until a later date. Make an appointment with a neurologist. The doctor will carry out a complete diagnosis and draw up a treatment plan. You will get rid of pain and maintain the health of your spine.