Pain and limited mobility are characteristic manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis. But the insidiousness of this morbidity is also that the internal organs are affected down to the chest level, so no one but the doctor can understand what is going on. Osteochondrosis is the result of a degenerative dystrophic process in which the intervertebral discs, joints, ligaments and vertebral roots are affected.
Symptoms of the disease can appear in very early stages. However, the disease of the spine can be affected, the main thing is to know the reasons and laws of its development. Doctors are more or less aware of the reasons, but the mechanisms of development are still "in the shadows" to some extent.
Cause and development of disease
Any part of the spine is constantly subjected to static and dynamic loads. Constant pressure leads to disruption of the integrity of the disc. It was damaged and the internal components started to bulge outwards.
The disc, like any other cartilage, is nourished in a special way: when pressed, it releases fluid from itself, and when the pressure is released, it absorbs all the nutrients like a sponge. This mechanism does not work when constant pressure is applied to the disc during prolonged static postures or movements. Daily morning exercise has a positive effect on nutrition.
degenerate stage
To better understand your symptoms, you need to understand what stages the disc goes through and what happens. However, throughout the spine.
There is no pain in the first stage, and there is no manifestation of the attack, but the process has already begun and the interior is already moving freely.
In the second stage, pain attacks are fully felt, radicular symptoms join, and a person actively uses ointments, but the cause is not resolved. The disc gradually herniated and began to squeeze the spinal cord. In the third stage, the painful episodes, mainly characterized by thoracic osteochondrosis, become brighter and more intense, and ointments do not help. The disc gradually bulges out, and a protrusion appears.
The final stage results in signs of damage on the outside of the disk assembly. The clinical presentation is characterized by compression of the roots, blood vessels, and the spinal cord itself. As a result, painful episodes of considerable intensity occur.
The body tries to reduce the pain, and as a result, characteristic growths, osteophytes, appear on the spine. Due to the narrowing of the intervertebral foramen, the root of the spinal cord is compressed. Stress causes other internal organs to be affected. Their treatment brings no results, which can sometimes confuse doctors.
symptoms of disease
Many times the failure of this particular part of the spine is due to a sedentary lifestyle, and by clarifying this condition, the diagnosis can be greatly facilitated. Typically, stress is applied if a person sits in front of a computer or in a chair for a long time. The pain is mostly dull in nature and then turns into pain and burning. It's in the middle, between the shoulder blades, and some compression in the chest area is concerning.
The pain increases significantly if you try to feel the spinous and transverse areas of the spine.
Paravertebral muscle tone simplifies diagnosis. Symptoms are exacerbated if you ask the patient to take a deep breath and turn around.
Some patients note pain in the shoulder blade or lower thoracic spine. This is called posterior rib syndrome and is the result of displacement of the lower ribs. The soreness may go away suddenly, but it will intensify during turns.
Symptoms manifest as low back pain along the intercostal space, where the nerves pass. Impaired sensitivity in the area of damaged nerve branches. Worry about paresthesia, decreased deep and superficial sensitivity. Signs are accompanied by aggression of the function of abdominal pressing, and diminished reflexes of the knees and heels.
damage to internal organs
Parallel to the pain, the function of the internal organs is violated. In the thoracic spinal cord area, there are centers responsible for the work of the heart, lung system, liver, intestines and kidneys, pancreas. Difficulty breathing, pain, and interruptions in the work of the heart, similar to angina, can be disturbing. The mammary gland can be injured, or everything can be located in the flank area on the right or left side, similar to a flare-up of cholecystitis or pancreatitis.
Sore throat or esophagus. Symptoms are located in the left flank or abdominal area and resemble those of gastritis or intestinal inflammation (colitis, enteritis). Violations can come from the kidneys and reproductive system.
diagnosis
Establishing a correct diagnosis based on symptoms alone can be difficult. This is why diagnosis involves generating X-rays. It is on this that characteristic changes can be seen, manifested by a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, endplate sclerosis and osteophyte formation, manifested as osteochondrosis in the thoracic region.
Also, if X-rays don't give a result, a CT scan is done. The study was complemented by MRI, which showed soft tissue and thus established a diagnosis of disc herniation.
Differential diagnosis requires special attention; it is not only based on chief complaint and clinical presentation. Therefore, pain in the heart area is not affected by the drugs used for angina. Upper abdominal pain was not affected by food intake and had no seasonal symptoms. Everything appeared at night and disappeared completely after a night's sleep.
treat
Treatment involves taking a variety of medications, including pills and injections. They start with drugs that ease the inflammatory process, traditionally using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Eliminate pain and inflammation, they help relax muscles. Only a doctor can prescribe it, otherwise there is a high risk of complications and there are contraindications to its use. As recommended, tablets are usually taken with meals, but doctors may also prescribe injections. Topically, this group of drugs is used in the form of an ointment about 3 times a day.
Analgesics can complement the above drug group, the pain is severe, the injection is prescribed by a doctor, and if all is not so bad, tablets are also suitable. With pain of considerable intensity, drug blockade can be applied directly to the focal point of the pain, which allows you to quickly neutralize the attack. Special anesthetic creams can also be used as a supplement to the treatment.
Chondroprotective agents allow you to restore the structure of your cartilage, but you need to take this group of drugs long-term. Doctors prescribe injections or pills to be taken during the course at their discretion. More recently, the preparations of this group have appeared in the form of ointments, for external use.
Comprehensive treatment is supplemented with drugs of the antispasmodic group. This action is designed to relax the muscles of the pinched arteries and nerves. The pressure is reduced and the patient's condition improves.
Ointments are actively used, they work topically and help relieve the onset of pain. Apply the ointment to the painful area to warm the skin. Additionally, ointments have been shown to work along nerves, so they can be more effective at relieving pain attacks. Supplement, in addition to the ointment, the treatment is a mustard plaster
Hormone-based drugs are also used, mostly injections. They are prescribed as a last resort when it is necessary to relieve an episode of severe pain. Paralingual blocks of the affected area of the nerve or root are often used, and drugs are used on a hormonal basis.
To supplement all preparations based on vitamins, inject the injection into the muscle. The drug can be represented by bioactive supplements, whose tablets improve cartilage nutrition and relieve stress.
physiotherapy
Actively use a variety of techniques to help quell even strong attacks. With these procedures, you can use a drug that acts as a blockade. The process list can be represented as follows:
- Shockwave therapy. Thanks to the shock waves, it restores nutrition and blood supply to the spine, eliminates pain episodes, and frees you from inflammation.
- UV exposure. Promotes better absorption of calcium.
- Vibration therapy. Exposure to high-frequency sounds can improve blood flow and reduce stress and pain.
- Magnetic therapy. Exposure to magnetic fields improves cellular life processes and accelerates regeneration. Dassenvall behaves similarly.
- electrophoresis. The effect of the current, which helps the drug penetrate deeper into the tissue.
- Dio Odinamik. The impact of variable frequency current can effectively relieve pain.
- swimming. Let the muscles relax. Swimming only in pools with heated water is recommended.
- Balneotherapy. For processing mineral water and mud. Minerals aid in the healing process and reduce stress on the roots.
- acupuncture. It provides finely-targeted effects on physical activity points.
- Manual therapy or massage. You can also use ointments that help relax muscles and release blood vessels and nerves.
The method is strictly individually chosen by the physician. The most important thing is not to start the disease.