Recently, doctors have been receiving more and more complaints about back pain, and young women often suffer from them. If the discomfort is localized in the thoracic spine, it may be caused by a disease such as thoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are described in detail below.
Thoracic osteochondrosis - causes
Spinal osteochondrosis is a pathology in which negative changes occur in the tissues of the intervertebral discs - elements of the spinal column located between two vertebral bodies. The intervertebral disc is a kind of flat round cushion consisting of a gel-like collagen core, connective fiber and vitreous cartilage tissue. The main functions provided by such structures are:
- connection and retention of adjacent vertebral bodies;
- shock-absorbing protection of the spine, protection against injuries caused by gravity and body loads;
- ensuring relative mobility of adjacent vertebrae.
If the intervertebral discs are in a satisfactory functional state, the spine provides flexibility, mobility and resistance to various mechanical loads. When the structure of the cartilage changes its shape, structure, loses strength and elasticity, these functions cannot be fully performed. Basically, this occurs against the background of metabolic disorders.
In part, the pathological changes of the intervertebral discs, which cause thoracic osteochondrosis, can be explained by the fact that with age, their nutrition through their own blood vessels stops, and the supply of nutrients becomes possible only due to the neighboring structures (ligaments, vertebral bodies). The exact causes of poor nutrition of the intervertebral structures and the mechanism of their destruction are not known, but doctors identify a number of predisposing factors:
- systemic metabolic disorders in the body;
- excessive body weight;
- poor nutrition, drinking regime;
- inaction;
- sedentary work;
- poor posture;
- goose feet;
- injury to the back, spine;
- intense physical work or sports training;
- pregnancy;
- in uncomfortable shoes, high heels.
Degrees of thoracic osteochondrosis
A disease such as thoracic osteochondrosis does not show symptoms immediately, because it develops gradually and over a long period of time. In addition, due to the low mobility of the spine in this area, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifests itself in the later stages, in the presence of significant pathological changes. In total, four degrees of pathology are distinguished, depending on the differences that have developed.
Thoracic osteochondrosis 1st degree
The preclinical stage is grade 1 osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. At this stage, the central part of the intervertebral discs partially dries out and compacts, their height decreases, which leads to a decrease in their flexibility and strength. The ability of the spine to withstand normal loads is still preserved. Disc protrusions begin to form.
Thoracic osteochondrosis 2nd degree
When grade 2 thoracic osteochondrosis develops, the disease is characterized by the appearance of a crack in the fibrous ring. The subsidence (thinning) of the discs continues, the amount of intervertebral fluid decreases significantly, the vertebrae begin to rub against each other as the load on the back increases. This stage is sometimes called discogenic radiculitis.
Thoracic osteochondrosis 3rd degree
Osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree of the thoracic spine is caused by the destruction and rupture of the fibrous tissues of the disc, the release of the core part, i. e. the formation of an extension of the intervertebral disc herniation occurs. As a result, nerve roots are pinched, nearby blood vessels are compressed, and veins and arteries are pinched.
Thoracic osteochondrosis 4 degrees
The last, most severe stage of the disease is characterized by the displacement, twisting, deformation, further growth and proliferation of the vertebral bodies. The affected fibrous disc tissue begins to be replaced by bone tissue in the form of specific growths - osteophytes - which compress the spinal cord. As a result, the mobility of the spine is significantly reduced.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - symptoms
Due to the peculiarities of localization of pathological processes, osteochondrosis of the chest region has typical and atypical symptoms, repeating the manifestations of other diseases. This is due to the fact that due to the compression of blood vessels and nerve fibers, the structural changes of the spinal column and the functioning of nearby internal organs are disrupted.
We list the typical and most common symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- pain in the back and chest;
- feeling of tightness in the chest;
- tingling sensations in the limbs;
- numbness in arms, legs, neck, shoulders;
- stiffness, pains in the back and limbs;
- muscle spasms in the upper and middle back;
- limited mobility of the spine in this area (difficulty bending the body).
Pain due to osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
During the diagnosis of "thoracic osteochondrosis", the symptoms associated with pain come to the fore among other complaints. Their intensity and duration depend on the stage of the pathological process. The localization of pain can sometimes change rapidly, for example, moving from one area of the chest to another, covering the entire chest. The painit is often felt in the area between the shoulder blades. In thoracic osteochondrosis, the nature of the pain is dull, pressing, sharp. Increased pain is observed at night, and:
- raise your hand;
- neck turns;
- transport of heavy objects;
- sudden movements;
- increased physical activity;
- strong breathing, coughing, sneezing;
- hypothermia.
Is it possible to have shortness of breath in thoracic osteochondrosis?
Due to displacement of the vertebral bodies, pathological changes in the structure of the chest, pinching of nerve fibers and blood vessels connected to the lungs, shortness of breath often occurs in the case of thoracic osteochondrosis. In addition, because in the chest region there are structures responsible for the innervation of the heart, intestines, liver, kidneys and some other organs, the disease is often accompanied by the following symptoms:
- headache, dizziness;
- pain in the area of the heart;
- pain in the mammary glands;
- pain in the hypochondrium (similar to the appearance of pancreatitis, cholecystitis);
- epigastric pain not associated with eating;
- discomfort in the pharynx, esophagus, feeling of a foreign body;
- sexual dysfunctions.
The heartache associated with thoracic osteochondrosis is often pressing, squeezing, and can be misleading when establishing a diagnosis, because it is similar to the manifestations of angina pectoris and heart attack. These feelings are characterized by their long duration and lack of effect when taking vasodilator drugs. There are no changes on the cardiogram.
Syndromes associated with thoracic osteochondrosis
In many cases, symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in women associated with a single mechanism of occurrence appear complex. There are two syndromes, in which a group of specific pathological conditions caused by thoracic osteochondrosis:
- dorsalgia;
- dorsago
Dorsalgia of the thoracic spine
Dorsalgia is characterized by long-lasting, not very pronounced pain in women with thoracic osteochondrosis, which is often characterized as pain and pulling. Complaints can persist for 2-3 weeks, the discomfort either decreases slightly (especially when walking) or intensifies (often at night, when bending down or breathing deeply). In the presence of this syndrome, thoracic osteochondrosis may also have symptoms related to breathing difficulties and muscle stiffness.
The dorsal angle of the thoracic spine
Paroxysmal manifestations of the disease are called "dorsago" or "thoracic lumbago". In this case, the pain appears suddenly, acutely, often reminiscent of the signs of a heart attack. An attack of thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- sharp, stabbing pain;
- pain is felt in the area between the ribs, in the interscapular area;
- an attack often appears after a long stay in one position;
- the pain increases when turning the trunk;
- difficulty breathing, strong muscle tension occurs.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - consequences
If the treatment of the pathology is not started in time, osteochondrosis of the chest region can have the following consequences:
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- migraine;
- disruption of the functioning of internal organs (liver, kidney, etc. );
- reduced hearing, vision;
- epicondylitis of the elbow joint;
- paresis and paralysis of the arms;
- rachiocampsis;
- loss of skin tissue sensitivity;
- disability etc.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis?
If symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis appear, a neurologist should be consulted, who can make a primary diagnosis after examining the patient's back and examining the spine in several positions. X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography are prescribed to determine the extent of the damage. Treatment tactics depend on the results obtained.
It often happens that the painful symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine are eliminated by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Paravertebral blocks with anesthetic solution can be performed in case of exacerbation with severe pain. In addition, the following drugs can be prescribed as part of conservative therapy:
- muscle relaxants;
- chondroprotectors;
- corticosteroids, etc.
In order to improve metabolic processes, eliminate muscle hypertonia and prevent various complications, the following treatment methods are used:
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- manual therapy;
- spinal traction;
- physiotherapy procedures (laser, ultrasound, etc. ).
Surgical treatment is required if the spinal cord is compressed by a fragment of the intervertebral disc. In this case, either a laminotomy - excision of the vertebral arches - or a discectomy - the removal of a part of the intervertebral disc or its complete removal with the installation of a graft can be performed. At clinics equipped with modern equipment, surgical interventions are performed using low-traumatic methods and through small incisions.