Recently, doctors are increasingly receiving complaints about back pain, and young women often suffer from them. If the discomfort is localized in the thoracic spine, then it may be caused by a disease such as thoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are described in detail below.
Osteochondrosis of the chest - causes
Osteochondrosis of the spine is a pathology in which negative changes occur in the tissues of the intervertebral discs - elements of the vertebral column located between two vertebral bodies. An intervertebral disc is a kind of flat round disc composed of a gel-like collagen core, fibrous connective tissue and vitreous cartilage tissue. The main functions of these structures are:
- connection and retention of adjacent vertebral bone bodies;
- shock-absorbing protection of the spine, protection from damage due to body weight and load;
- Ensuring relative mobility of adjacent vertebrae.
If the intervertebral discs are in satisfactory functional condition, the spine is provided with elasticity, mobility and resistance to various mechanical loads. When the cartilage structure changes its shape, texture, loses strength and elasticity, these functions cannot be fully performed. Basically, this happens against the background of metabolic disorders.
In part, the pathological changes in the intervertebral discs that cause thoracic osteochondrosis are explained by the fact that with age, their nutrition is stopped through their own blood vessels, and the supply of nutrients becomes possible only due to neighboring structures (ligaments, vertebral bodies). The exact causes of poor nutrition of intervertebral structures and the mechanism of their destruction are unknown, but doctors identify a number of predisposing factors:
- systemic metabolic disorders in the body;
- excess body weight;
- poor diet, drinking regime;
- inaction;
- sitting work;
- bad posture
- flat feet
- injury to the back, spine;
- intense physical work or sports training;
- pregnancy;
- Wearing uncomfortable shoes, high heels.
Grades of thoracic osteochondrosis
A disease such as thoracic osteochondrosis does not show symptoms immediately, as it develops gradually and over a long period of time. In addition, due to the low mobility of the spine in this area, osteochondrosis in the chest appears at later stages, in the presence of significant pathological changes. In general, depending on the developed deviations, four degrees of pathology are distinguished.
Osteochondrosis of the chest, grade I
The preclinical stage is grade 1 osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. At this stage, the central part of the intervertebral discs is partially dehydrated and compacted, their height decreases, which leads to a decrease in their elasticity and strength. The ability of the spinal column to withstand the usual load is still preserved. A disc bulge begins to form.
Chest osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree
When grade 2 thoracic osteochondrosis develops, the disease is characterized by the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring. The discs continue to sink (thinning), the amount of intervertebral fluid decreases significantly, and the vertebrae begin to tip as the load on each other increases. This stage is sometimes called discogenic sciatica.
Chest osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine of the 3rd degree is accompanied by the destruction and rupture of the fibrous tissues of the disc, the release of the main part, i. e. i. Intervertebral disc herniation occurs. As a result, nerve roots begin to be pinched, nearby vessels are compressed, veins and arteries are blocked.
Chest osteochondrosis 4 degrees
The last, most severe stage of the disease is characterized by displacement, twisting, deformation of the vertebral bodies, further increase in their area and proliferation. The affected fibrous disc tissue begins to be replaced by bone tissue in the form of specific formations - osteophytes, which compress the spinal cord. As a result, the mobility of the spine is significantly reduced.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - symptoms
Depending on the peculiarities of localization of pathological processes, osteochondrosis of the chest region has both 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, structural changes in the spinal column, the functions of nearby internal organs are disturbed.
Let's list which symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are typical and most common:
- pain in the back and chest;
- A feeling of tightness in the chest;
- tingling sensation in the limbs;
- Numbness in arms, legs, neck, shoulders;
- Stiffness, pains in back and limbs;
- Muscle spasm in the upper and middle back;
- Limited mobility of the spine in this area (difficulty in bending the body).
Pain due to osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
During the diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the chest", along with other complaints, symptoms related to pain come to the fore. Their intensity and duration depend on the stage of the pathological process. The localization of pain can periodically change rapidly, for example, moving from one area of the chest to another, involving the entire chest. The pain is often felt in the area between the shoulder blades. The nature of pain in case of thoracic osteochondrosis is dull, compressive, sharp. Increased pain is observed at night and:
- raise your hands;
- bending of the neck;
- carrying heavy objects;
- sudden movements;
- increased physical activity;
- strong breathing, coughing, sneezing;
- Hypothermia.
Is it possible to have shortness of breath during thoracic osteochondrosis?
Due to displacement of vertebral bodies, pathological changes in the structure of the chest, stretching of nerve fibers and blood vessels connected to the lungs, shortness of breath often occurs during thoracic osteochondrosis. In addition, because in the chest area there are structures that are responsible for the innervation of the heart, intestines, liver, kidneys and other organs; The disease is often accompanied by the following symptoms:
- headache, dizziness;
- pain in the heart;
- pain in the mammary glands;
- pain in the hypochondrium (similar to pancreatitis, cholecystitis);
- epigastric pain not associated with eating;
- Discomfort in the pharynx, esophagus, feeling of a foreign body;
- sexual dysfunctions.
Pain in the heart during thoracic osteochondrosis, often pressing, compression, can be misleading when making a diagnosis, because it is similar to the manifestations of angina, myocardial infarction. The peculiarity of these sensations is their long duration and lack of effect when taking heart vasodilator drugs. There are no changes in the cardiogram.
Syndromes with thoracic osteochondrosis
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in women, which are related to one mechanism of occurrence, are often presented in a complex manner. There are two syndromes with specific pathological conditions caused by thoracic osteochondrosis:
- dorsalgia;
- Dorsago.
Dorsalgia of the thoracic spine
Long, not very pronounced pain in women with osteochondrosis of the chest, often characterized by pain, stretching, inherent in dorsalgia. Complaints can last for 2-3 weeks, the discomfort either decreases slightly (especially when walking) or increases (often at night, when bending or deep breathing). In the presence of this syndrome, thoracic osteochondrosis may have symptoms related to breathing difficulties and muscle stiffness.
Dorsago of the thoracic spine
Paroxysmal manifestations of the disease are called "dorsago" or "chest lumbago". In this case, the pain appears suddenly, acutely, often resembling the signs of a heart attack. An attack of thoracic osteochondrosis has the following symptoms:
- sharp, dagger-like pain;
- pain is felt in the area between the ribs, in the area between the skin;
- Often the attack appears after a long stay in one position;
- Pain intensifies when turning the body;
- There is difficulty in breathing, strong muscle tension.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - results
If the treatment of the pathology is not started on time, osteochondrosis of the chest region can cause the following consequences:
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- Migraine
- dysfunction of internal organs (liver, kidneys, etc. );
- hearing impairment, vision;
- epicondylitis of the elbow joint;
- paresis and paralysis of arms;
- rachiocampsis;
- loss of skin tissue sensitivity;
- Disability etc. Sh.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis?
In case of symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, it is recommended to consult a neurologist, who will be able to make an initial diagnosis after examining the patient's back and spinal column in several positions. X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography is prescribed to determine the size of the injury. Treatment tactics depend on the results obtained.
Often painful symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine are eliminated by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In case of exacerbation accompanied by severe pain, a paravertebral block with an anesthetic solution can be performed. In addition, the following medications can be prescribed as part of conservative therapy:
- muscle relaxants;
- chondroprotectors;
- Corticosteroids, etc. Sh.
The following treatment methods are used to improve metabolic processes, eliminate muscle hypertonicity and prevent various complications:
- physiotherapy;
- massage
- manual therapy;
- Traction of the spinal column;
- Physiotherapy procedures (laser, ultrasound, etc. ).
Surgical treatment is required if there is compression of the spinal cord by a fragment of the intervertebral disc. In this case, laminotomy - excision of the vertebral arches, or discectomy - removal of a part of the intervertebral disc or its complete removal with the installation of a graft can be performed. In clinics equipped with modern equipment, surgical procedures are performed using low-traumatic methods with small incisions.