Degenerative and dystrophic changes in the tissues of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, as well as 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 load on the spine is significant, leading to compression of the vertebrae and the development of the disease.This occurs more often in people who work on a computer and in drivers. - Vascular pathology.
Any disease of the vessels supplying the spine with blood and causing 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 disturbances in phosphorus-calcium metabolism, pathologies of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, and diseases of the adrenal cortex. - Infections and poisonings.
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 a constant excessive load on the spine leads to compression of the intervertebral discs with the subsequent development of the processes underlying osteochondrosis. - Poor diet.
Lack of microelements (for example, calcium), lack of vitamins (D3) can also lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the body and the development of pathology of bone and cartilage tissues. - Age-related changes in bone and cartilage tissues.
With age, degenerative changes occur in the thoracic spine, leading to compression of the intervertebral discs.With old age and old age, the muscular structure of the spine also weakens. - Thoracic spine injuries.
Bruising and fractures of the spinal arches due to a fall or automobile injury are not that uncommon.At the same time, anatomical changes in the vertebrae and surrounding tissues are the direct cause of the development of the pathological process, which causes osteochondrosis. - Scoliosis
“School” pathology, which develops in children in educational institutions where health-saving technologies are not used, occurs mainly in the thoracic spine.The curvature of the spine noticeably changes the load on individual segments of the spine, which provokes the development of osteochondrosis. - Sports and professional risks.
Sports stress (for example, weightlifters), as well as work associated with heavy lifting, frequent changes in body position (turns, flexion and extension, jerky movements) can also cause persistent pathological changes in the spine.In addition, prolonged exposure to uncomfortable postures when standing, sitting, lying, when lifting and carrying heavy objects or when performing other work, which increase 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.
Overstrain of the spine associated with foot diseases, as well as wearing uncomfortable shoes, high heels and pregnancy in women, a sharp termination of regular training of professional athletes and, finally, nervous tension and stressful situations.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
All symptoms of the disease can be divided into reflexes and compressions.
Reflex symptoms
The mechanism of their occurrence is irritation of the receptors of the intervertebral ligaments, capsules of the intervertebral joints and receptors of the intervertebral discs.Irradiation (spread) of irritation to adjacent segments of the spinal cord can lead to the appearance of various symptoms.
Here are the main ones: chest pain, pain in the abdomen or in the heart area, tension in the chest muscles, vegetative symptoms of internal organs.The pain is always sharp, described by patients as a stab.The place of pain is the area between the shoulder blades, the pain can radiate to the region of the heart, the sternum.
It may even be difficult for the patient to move or breathe deeply.Reflex symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are much more common than compression symptoms.
Compression Symptoms
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: muscular weakness symmetrically in both legs, loss of sensation in them, “radicular” pain in the back and chest.The pain is “throbbing”, felt inside the chest, in the abdomen, intensifies with movement, flexion of the body, coughing, sneezing, laughing.A “crawling”, numbness and tingling sensation appears.As the pathology develops, movement disorders and muscle atrophy may appear.Muscle tone increases, sensitivity of the lower limbs decreases and urination problems may appear.
Other autonomic symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The autonomic symptoms of osteochondrosis appear because the nerve fibers originating from the thoracic spine contain autonomic conductors;irritation or violation of these fibers can be accompanied by autonomic symptoms.The main ones are: peeling and dry skin in the zone of innervation of the compressed nerve, local disorders of sweating and thermoregulation (also depending on the zone of innervation), brittle nails, pain simulating the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, gastric ulcer, cholecystitis), pain in the lower back, pain in the heart.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine should be comprehensive (with a combination of medicinal and non-medicinal methods), individual and systemic.
Methods of drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The main goals of these methods are to eliminate pain, muscle tension, improve microcirculation and tissue trophism.For this purpose, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce inflammation, eliminate pain and muscle tension.These funds are prescribed for an average duration of 7 to 14 days.Local anesthesia applications are prescribed.In case of insufficient effect of nonsteroidal analgesics, an analgesic mixture is used.The mixtures are administered intravenously using saline or glucose.Paravertebral blocks have a rapid analgesic effect when painkiller is injected into the soft tissues of the perivertebral areas.
To relieve pain associated with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, irritant and distracting ointments are used topically.
Muscle tension is relieved with medications such as muscle relaxants.
To normalize blood circulation and improve tissue nutrition, antiplatelet drugs and nicotinic acid are used.
They also use drugs that improve the metabolism of intervertebral discs and joints - chondroprotectors.
Non-drug treatments
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, eggplants, cheese, dairy products, lettuce, cabbage, cottage cheese, bananas, liver, carrots, melon, seafood, cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits, herbs, seeds and berries.
The complex treatment program for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine includes: manual therapy, classic massage, acupressure, reflex-segmental massage, physiotherapy, twisting techniques (stretching), acupuncture, swimming, physiotherapeutic methods (electrophoresis, ultrasound, amplipulse, didynamic currents,mud therapy and others.etc.).
Traditional methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Exacerbation 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 the permission of a doctor.The following may be used as additional treatment to alleviate the patient's condition:
- Tinctures and decoctions.
- Lingonberry leaf tincture.Take 1 tablespoon of lingonberry leaves, pour 0.25 liters of boiling water and let it brew for 2 hours.Drink half a glass morning and evening for 3 weeks.
- A decoction of parsley roots.Grind 50 g of parsley roots, add 0.5 liters of water and simmer over low heat for an hour and a half.Consume 1 tablespoon morning and evening for 3 weeks.
- Nettle and honey tincture.Squeeze the juice from freshly picked nettles, mix it with honey and medical alcohol in equal parts.Leave in a cool place for 14 days and consume a tablespoon in the morning on an empty stomach for 2 weeks.
- Yarrow tincture with mint, licorice and calendula.Mix a tablespoon of yarrow 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.
- Friction.
- Radish and honey infused with vodka.Grate the radish, mix it with equal parts honey and add 50 ml of vodka.Use this composition to rub the pain site.
- Pork fat and hops.Mix a tablespoon of melted pork fat cooled to room temperature with the same amount of ground hops.Rub the resulting composition onto 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, you should wrap your back with a warm cloth.
- Ginger and garlic.Saute the chopped ginger and garlic with the addition of butter until you obtain a homogeneous paste.Rub the resulting mixture onto the painful area.
- Oregano in oil.Mix 1 tablespoon of oregano and 0.2 liters of olive oil.Leave the mixture on for 10 hours, then strain and rub onto painful areas of the back.
Prognosis of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The prognosis is generally favorable, complications of this form of the disease are rare.Attention should be paid to timely diagnosis of the disease, excluding other pathologies of the thoracic organs, as well as comprehensive treatment and sufficient prevention of exacerbations of osteochondrosis.