Osteochondrosis of the chest - what is it? Its signs and treatment

A man is worried about osteochondrosis of the chest

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

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

What is this thoracic osteochondrosis?

Chest osteochondrosisdirectly represents the stratification of discs between the vertebrae with a simultaneous reduction in their thickness and, consequently, the subsequent pinching of the nerve endings located in the intercostal area of the human thorax.

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 chest area is the least susceptible to osteochondrosis. This is thoracic osteochondrosis, which is a rare phenomenon, such as osteochondrosis of the neck or lumbar.

Usually in osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the pathological process involves the discs between the vertebrae of the thoracic spine, which include twelve thoracic vertebrae. But most often in osteochondrosis of the thoracic department pathological changes are observed with the upper thoracic vertebrae. There are several degrees of lesion with thoracic osteochondrosis and we will look at them in more detail below.

Predisposing factors for the development of thoracic osteochondrosis

The exact causes of osteochondrosis in the chest area have not yet been fully established by modern science. Currently in medicine it is common to distinguish the following predisposing factors or the 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 cord injury, such as a fall or bruise in the chest area;
  • changes that occur with age in the intervertebral discs and lead to a decrease in hydration in the tissues of the discs;
  • disorders of the blood supply to the chest.

Causes contributing to the disease of thoracic osteochondrosis

In general, the development of osteochondrosis is usually promoted by hypodynamia, ie lack of muscle strain, 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:

  • hypothermia of the body;
  • the presence of chronic stressful situations;
  • transmitted infections;
  • difficult conditions of physical labor;
  • occurred hormonal disorders in the body;
  • violation of the metabolic process in the body;
  • the presence of congenital defects of the spine, namely its thoracic region.

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

  • the pulpal nucleus of the intervertebral disc gradually begins to lose fluid, which is released from them to provide lubricating 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:

  • the patient's age;
  • the degree of involvement of the disease;
  • stages of osteochondrosis of the chest: remission or exacerbation.

The main signs of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

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

No increase in body temperature was observed in a patient with thoracic osteochondrosis, which is also a direct differential diagnostic sign. Dorsalgia in the chest area as one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis shows the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring and deformation of the pulpal nucleus. When you feel the pain in this area of the chest only intensifies, the symptoms increase.

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

  • feeling of "goosebumps" - paresthesia;
  • pain along the pinched nerve - are common symptoms;
  • reduction of sensitivity to temperature and touch;
  • disorders of motor function of the spine are also one of the characteristic symptoms.

Once you have discovered such symptoms, you should visit a specialist. The appearance of symptoms in the complex and their intensity are especially dangerous. At the same time, it is inappropriate to treat the symptoms without eradicating the causes and factors of the disease.

Degrees of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis

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

First degree,which is characterized by cracks appearing inside the fibrous ring, into which the pulpal 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, which does not exceed the location of the lesion;
  • these pains may be persistent or expressed by lumbago;
  • there may be convulsive contraction of the muscles in the chest area, accompanied by pain in the heart area.

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

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

Third degreecharacterized by rupture of the fibrous ring and protrusion of the pulpal nucleus beyond its boundaries. During this period of the disease with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, intervertebral hernias begin to appear, the clinical signs of which are quite severe. Namely, neuro-vascular, muscle-toning 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 position of the spine;
  • 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 involves the yellow, intergranular and other connections, and fibrosis occurs in the structures around the spine. In this period of the disease with thoracic osteochondrosis clinically observed so-called. State of remission.

Complications

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

  • inflammation of the nerve endings of the spinal cord;
  • the appearance of intervertebral hernias;
  • development of vascular dystonia;
  • the 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 osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.

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 found in this study are the following:

  • the contours of the discs between the vertebrae are broken;
  • the edges of the roof tiles acquired a wavy character;
  • the intervertebral discs have changed shape;
  • osteophytes appeared - bone pathological growths in the spine;
  • the hook-like growths of the vertebrae have increased and sharpened;
  • the bodies of the thoracic vertebrae have changed their normal shape;
  • the height of the discs between the vertebrae is significantly reduced;
  • disc herniation between the formed vertebrae.

In some cases, a method is used to diagnose thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine by X-ray contrast examination, which determines the following signs of this disease:

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

Only the right diagnosis can determine the right treatment.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis is possible in one of the following ways, taking into account the results of the diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis, namely:

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

The treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis, called conservative, is complex for the treatment of any type of osteochondrosis: medication, physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are aimed at relieving pain in the spine, which is known as 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 osteochondrosis of the breast, your doctor may prescribe a number of additional medications, such as some powerful painkillers and muscle relaxants that block the onset of muscle spasms.

When the pain subsides or it has managed to stop, ie during remission, physiotherapy is prescribed, as well as additional exercise and massage. These are important components of the overall treatment. One of the main physiotherapeutic tools for the treatment and prevention of the disease is pulsed magnetic therapy, using special medical devices for clinical and home use.

During exacerbations it is allowed to use only magnetic therapy with special parameters; there are medical devices to deal with both 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, i. e. the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis by means of special traction, can be successfully used for the treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis. In this method, the paravertebral muscles, tissues and ligaments are stretched, which leads to an increase in the intervertebral space. Even a million and a half millimeters will be enough to reduce swelling, eliminate compression, and relieve tension in the muscles adjacent to the spine. In any case, the main principle of conservative treatment is its complexity. The treatment will have to be done long and regularly, this is the only way to hope for results.

However, surgery as a type of treatment for osteochondrosis is recommended only when the above methods of treating thoracic osteochondrosis do not give the desired result.