Degenerative and dystrophic changes in the tissues of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, and 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
- Heredity.
Damaged or mutated genes responsible for normal bone growth are inherited.Therefore, the risk of osteochondrosis increases significantly if there are people in the family who suffer from this disease. - Sedentary lifestyle.
In this case, prolonged and excessive loading of the spine is important, which leads to compression of the vertebrae and the development of the disease.It happens more often among people who work at a computer and among drivers. - Vascular pathology.
Any disease of the blood vessels that supply the spinal column with blood and cause an insufficient supply of nutrients to the tissues of the vertebrae 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 spinal tissue are possible in cases of phosphorus and calcium metabolism disorders, thyroid and parathyroid gland pathologies, and adrenal 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. - Excessive weight.
The presence of constant excessive load on the spine leads to compression of the intervertebral discs with the subsequent development of the processes underlying osteochondrosis. - Poor nutrition.
Lack of microelements (for example, calcium), lack of vitamin (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, which leads 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 accident are not so rare.At the same time, anatomical changes in the vertebrae and surrounding tissues are the direct cause of 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, occurs mainly in the thoracic spine.The curvature of the spine significantly changes the load on certain segments of the spine, which causes the development of osteochondrosis. - Sports and occupational hazards.
Sports stress (for example, weightlifters), as well as work associated with lifting heavy loads, frequent changes in body position (turns, flexions and extensions, jerking movements) can also cause permanent pathological changes in the spine.In addition, long-term exposure to uncomfortable positions in standing, sitting, lying down, lifting and carrying heavy objects or performing other jobs, which increase the pressure in 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 cessation 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 irritation of receptors of intervertebral ligaments, capsules of intervertebral joints and receptors of intervertebral discs.Radiation (spreading) 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 region of the heart, tension in the muscles of the chest, vegetative symptoms from the internal organs.The pain is always sharp, and patients describe it as a dagger blow.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 even move or take a deep breath.Reflex symptoms in osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are much more common than compression symptoms.
Symptoms of compression
Symptoms of compression 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", felt inside the chest, in the abdomen, intensifies when moving, bending the body, coughing, sneezing, laughing.There is a feeling of "crawling", numbness and tingling.As the pathology develops, movement disorders and muscle atrophy may appear.Muscle tone increases, sensitivity in the lower extremities decreases, and urination disorders may occur.
Other autonomous symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Autonomic symptoms in osteochondrosis occur due to the fact that the nerve fibers coming from the thoracic spine contain autonomic conductors;irritation or damage to these fibers may be accompanied by autonomic symptoms.The main ones are: peeling and dry skin in the innervation zone of the pinched nerve, local sweating and thermoregulation disorder (also according to the innervation zone), brittle toenails, pain simulating the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, stomach ulcer, cholecystitis), pain in the lower back.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine should be comprehensive (using a combination of medical and non-medical methods), individual and systemic.
Methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine with drugs
The main goals of these methods are pain relief, muscle tension, improvement of microcirculation and tissue trophism.For this purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and muscle tension.These funds are prescribed for an average of 7-14 days.Applications of local anesthetics are prescribed.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 the analgesic is injected into the soft tissue of the perivertebral areas.
To relieve pain in osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, irritating and distracting ointments are used locally.
Muscle tension is relieved by drugs 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, vinegar and salt preparations, 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, cantaloupe, seafood, grains, 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, torsion techniques (stretching), acupuncture, swimming, physiotherapeutic methods (electrophoresis, ultrasound, amplipulse, diode currents, etc.).
Traditional methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Aggravation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is an indication for treatment under strict medical supervision.Home and folk remedies should never be used blindly, without a doctor's permission.The following can be used as an additional treatment to alleviate the patient's condition:
- Tinctures and decoctions.
- Tincture of cranberry leaves.Take 1 tablespoon of cranberry leaves, pour over 0.25 liters of boiling water and let it stand for 2 hours.Drink half a glass in the morning and in the evening for 3 weeks.
- Decoction of parsley root.Grind 50 g of parsley root, add 0.5 l of water and simmer on low heat for an hour and a half.Take 1 tablespoon each morning and 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 in a cool 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 one spoon of yarrow and 2 spoons of mint, licorice and calendula and pour 1 liter of boiling water and let it stand for 7-8 hours.Take 50 ml 3 times a day for 3 weeks.
- Rubbing.
- Radish and honey soaked in vodka.Grate the radish, mix with honey in equal parts and add 50 ml of vodka.Use this composition to rub on the sore spot.
- Lard and hops.Mix one tablespoon of melted lard and cooled to room temperature with the same amount of ground hops.Rub the resulting composition into the affected area.
- Pork fat and propolis.Melt 150 g of pork fat, add 30 g of propolis and mix well.It is best to rub the skin at night.After the procedure, the back should be wrapped 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 and rub into painful areas of the back.
Prognosis for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The prognosis is generally favorable, complications in this form of the disease are rare.It is worth paying attention to the timely diagnosis of the disease, excluding other pathologies of the chest organs, as well as complete treatment and sufficient prevention of exacerbations of osteochondrosis.