Degenerative and dystrophic changes in the tissues of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, as well as the clinical symptoms associated with these processes, are called osteochondrosis.Let's consider the main causes and methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
- Inheritance.
Defective or mutated genes responsible for normal bone growth are inherited.Therefore, the risk of osteochondrosis increases significantly if there are people in the family suffering from this disease. - Sedentary lifestyle.
In this case, prolonged and excessive load on the spine is important, leading to the compression of the vertebrae and the development of the disease.This happens more often in people who work on computers and in drivers. - Vascular pathology.
Any disease of the vessels that supply the spinal column with blood and causes an insufficient supply of nutrients to the vertebral tissues leads to the appearance of degenerative and dystrophic changes in them. - Metabolic disorders in the body.
Most often, diabetes mellitus leads to changes in blood vessels that disrupt tissue trophism.In addition, direct changes in the vertebral tissue are possible in cases of phosphorus-calcium metabolism disorders, thyroid and parathyroid gland pathologies, and renal cortex diseases. - Infections and intoxications.
Inflammatory processes in the tissues of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, caused by viruses, bacteria or the action of their toxins, can also lead to the development of osteochondrosis. - Overweight.
The presence of continuous excessive load on the spine leads to compression of the intervertebral discs with the subsequent development of processes underlying osteochondrosis. - Poor nutrition.
Lack of micronutrients (for example, calcium), lack of vitamins (D3) can also lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the body and the development of bone and cartilage tissue pathology. - Age-related changes in bone and cartilage tissue.
With age, degenerative changes occur in the thoracic spine, leading to compression of the intervertebral discs.In old age and old age, the muscular framework of the spine also weakens. - Injuries of the thoracic spine.
Bruises and fractures of the vertebral arches due to a fall or car damage are not such a rare occurrence.At the same time, the anatomical changes in the vertebrae and the surrounding tissues are the direct cause for the development of the pathological process, which is the cause of osteochondrosis. - Scoliosis
"School" pathology, which develops in children of those educational institutions where health-saving technologies are not used, appears mainly in the thoracic spine.The curvature of the spine significantly changes the load on individual segments of the spine, which causes the development of osteochondrosis. - Sports and risks at work.
Sports stress (for example, weightlifters), as well as work related to lifting weights, frequent changes in body position (turning, bending and stretching, jerky movements) can also cause persistent pathological changes in the spine.In addition, prolonged exposure to uncomfortable standing, sitting, lying, when lifting and carrying heavy objects or when performing other work, which increases the pressure on the discs and the load on the spine as a whole, can also lead to osteochondrosis. - Other causative factors and risks of developing osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
Spinal overload associated with foot diseases, as well as as a result of wearing uncomfortable shoes, high heels and pregnancy in women, sharp interruption of regular training by professional athletes and, finally, nervous strain and stressful situations.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
All symptoms of the disease can be divided into reflex and compression.
Reflex symptoms
The mechanism of their occurrence is the irritation of receptors of intervertebral ligaments, capsules of intervertebral joints and receptors of intervertebral discs.Radiation (spread) of irritation to adjacent segments of the spinal cord can lead to the appearance of various symptoms.
Here are the main ones: pain in the chest, pain in the abdomen or in the heart area, tension in the chest muscles, vegetative symptoms from the internal organs.The pain is always sharp, described by patients as a stab from a dagger.The place of pain is the area between the shoulder blades, the pain can radiate to the area of the heart, sternum.
It may be difficult for the patient to move or take deep breaths.Reflex symptoms in osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are much more common than compression symptoms.
Symptoms of compression
Compression symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are caused by compression or stretching of the nerve root in the area where it exits the intervertebral foramen.The main ones are: muscle weakness symmetrically in both legs, loss of sensation in them, "radicular" pain in the back and chest.The pain is "shooting", it is felt inside the chest, in the abdomen, it intensifies with movement, bending of the body, coughing, sneezing, laughing.A feeling of "crawling", numbness and tingling occurs.As the pathology develops, movement disorders and muscle atrophy may appear.Muscle tone increases, sensitivity in the lower extremities decreases and urination disorders may appear.
Other autonomic symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Autonomic symptoms in osteochondrosis appear due to the fact that the nerve fibers coming from the thoracic spine contain autonomic conductors;irritation or damage to these fibers may be associated with autonomic symptoms.The main ones are: peeling and drying of the skin in the area of innervation of the compressed nerve, local disturbance of sweating and thermoregulation (also according to the area of innervation), brittle toenails, pain simulating the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, gastric ulcer pain in the lower back, stomach pain in the lower back).
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine should be comprehensive (with a combination of medical and non-medical methods), individual and systematic.
Drug treatment methods for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The main objectives of these methods are to eliminate pain, muscle tension, improve microcirculation and tissue trophism.For this purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce inflammation, eliminate pain and muscle tension.These funds are prescribed for an average of 7-14 days.Applications for local anesthesia are described.In cases of insufficient effect of non-steroidal analgesics, an analgesic mixture is used.The mixtures are administered intravenously using saline or glucose.Paravertebral blocks have a rapid analgesic effect, when an analgesic is injected into the soft tissues of the perivertebral areas.
To relieve pain in osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, irritating and distracting ointments are used.
Muscle tension is relieved with medications such as muscle relaxants.
Antiplatelet drugs and nicotinic acid are used to normalize blood circulation and improve tissue nutrition.
They also use drugs that improve metabolism in intervertebral discs and joints - chondroprotectors.
Treatments without drugs
Diet for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.Completely excluded from the diet: salt, hot spices, preparations with vinegar and salt, semi-finished products, sugar (can be replaced with honey), coffee and carbonated drinks.Allowed: legumes, eggplant, cheese, dairy products, lettuce, cabbage, cottage cheese, bananas, liver, carrots, melons, seafood, cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits, herbs, seeds and berries.
The complex treatment program for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine includes: manual therapy, classical massage, acupressure, reflex-segmental massage, physical therapy, twisting techniques (stretching), acupuncture, swimming, physiotherapeutic methods (electrophoresis, ultrasound, amplipulse therapy, diode dynamics, etc.).
Traditional methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Aggravation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is an indication for treatment under the strict supervision of a doctor.Home and folk remedies should never be used blindly, without a doctor's permission.The following can be used as additional treatment to alleviate the patient's condition:
- Tincture and decoction.
- Tincture from lingonberry leaves.Take 1 tablespoon of lingonberry leaves, pour 0.25 liters of boiling water and let it brew for 2 hours.Drink half a glass in the morning and in the evening for 3 weeks.
- A decoction of parsley roots.Grind 50 g of parsley root, add 0.5 liters of water and boil on low heat for an hour and a half.Consume 1 tablespoon in the morning and in the evening for 3 weeks.
- Tincture of nettle and honey.Squeeze juice from freshly harvested nettles, mix with honey and medical alcohol in equal parts.Leave it in a cold place for 14 days and consume one tablespoon in the morning on an empty stomach for 2 weeks.
- Tincture of yarrow with mint, licorice and calendula.Mix a tablespoon of yardage and 2 tablespoons of mint, licorice and calendula and pour 1 liter of boiling water, let it brew for 7-8 hours.Take 50 ml 3 times a day for 3 weeks.
- The friction.
- Radish and honey infused with vodka.Grate the radish, mix with honey in equal parts and add 50 ml of vodka.Use this composition for rubbing on the site of pain.
- Lard and HOPS.Mix one tablespoon of rendered lard, cooled to room temperature, with the same amount of ground hops.Rub the resulting composition on the affected area.
- Pig fat and propolis.Melt 150 g of pork fat, add 30 g of propolis and mix thoroughly.It is good to rub the skin at night.After the procedure, you should wrap your back with a warm cloth.
- Ginger and garlic.Fry the chopped ginger and garlic with the addition of butter until a homogeneous paste is obtained.Rub the resulting mixture on the painful area.
- Oregano with oil.Mix 1 tablespoon of oregano and 0.2 liters of olive oil.Leave the mixture for 10 hours, then strain it and rub it on the painful areas of the back.
Prognosis for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The prognosis is generally favorable, complications with this form of the disease are rare.It is worth paying attention to the timely diagnosis of the disease, the exclusion of other pathologies of the chest organs, as well as the complete treatment and sufficient prevention of exacerbations of osteochondrosis.