Pain in the spine can occur for various reasons. Few people can boast that they do not know what back pain is. One of the most common causes of such pain is osteochondrosis. In this article, we will dwell in more detail on such a pathology as thoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms and drug treatment of this disease will also be considered.
Osteochondrosis - what is it?
This proliferative disease is associated with degenerative changes in the ligamentous apparatus of the spinal segment. Primarily, it affects the intervertebral disc, if measures are not taken in time, then the disease further leads to reactive and compensatory changes in the osseous-ligamentous apparatus and other parts of the spine.
With osteochondrosis, a whole complex of dystrophic changes occurs in the cartilaginous tissue of the joint. These processes can take place in almost anyjoint. But intervertebral discs are most commonly affected.
Depending on the area of localization, osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions is isolated. It is also not uncommon for a simultaneous lesion of some two or more parts of the spine, for example, the cervicothoracic or lumbosacral.
Anatomical features of the cervicothoracic region
The cervical region is the most mobile part of the spinal column. It connects on one side with the relatively static thoracic region, and on the other - through the atlantooccipital articulation with the skull.
The thoracic region consists of 12, and the cervical - of 7 vertebrae. Each individual vertebra corresponds to a specific segment of the spinal cord, which consists of two pairs of roots. These, in turn, connect to the spinal nerve.
Due to its anatomical features, this part of the spine suffers quite often. In people who are often forced to be in the same position (office workers, students), cervicothoracic osteochondrosis often occurs. Symptoms and how to treat it, we will analyze a little lower. In the meantime, consider the pathogenesis of the disease.
Pathogenesis
In case of dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs or damage, they become thinner and the adjacent vertebrae shift relative to each other. The gap between the vertebrae decreases and the nerve fibers are infringed. This is accompanied by pain, swelling and inflammation. The patient's movements can be abruptlimited.
In addition, the blood vessels that provide nutrition to the intervertebral discs during such processes, as well as during physiological aging, are reduced. Their lumen decreases, with the depletion of the intervertebral discs. Cartilage tissue loses elasticity, its consistency and shape change. The wrong diet aggravates this condition.
Reasons
All causes of osteochondrosis are not fully understood. Most often, the first symptoms of this disease begin to appear by the age of 30-35. All kinds of back injuries, vibration and heavy physical exertion can contribute to the development of the disease. Almost all professional drivers have this disease. It is singled out for this group of people as an occupational disease.
In recent years, more and more young people complain of back pain. Osteochondrosis now occurs at the age of 16 to 30 years. This is facilitated by hypodynamia, overweight, flat feet and poor posture in young people. Next, consider a common disease - thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatment with medications and other methods. But first things first.
The main reasons for the development of this disease can be called:
- Inactive lifestyle (physical inactivity).
- Spinal injuries.
- Violation of posture and instability (hypermobility) of segments of the spinal column.
- Heavy physical activity, especially involving jerking and heavy lifting.
- Violation of metabolic processes.
- Overweight.
- Weakened immunity.
- Infections, frequent colds and hypothermia.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Cardiovascular pathology.
- Genetic predisposition (heredity).
- Unbalanced diet and drinking disorder. Especially the development of the disease contributes to the lack of trace elements and water.
- Bad environment.
- Smoking.
- Mental strain and stress.
- Women: pregnancy and high heels.
Thoracic osteochondrosis: causes, symptoms
How to treat this disease, we will consider a little lower. In the meantime, let's talk about the signs of the disease. Symptoms of the thoracic osteochondrosis are very diverse. This disease is sometimes confused with vegetovascular dystonia, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, cerebrovascular accident, etc. Consider the symptoms and treatment of chest osteochondrosis. Among the signs of this disease are:
- Pain in the back between the shoulder blades, very often it radiates to the neck, shoulder girdle and arms. Sometimes patients cannot turn their neck. The pain is very intense. Often accompanied by severe headache and dizziness.
- Chest pain worsens at inspiratory height.
- Paresthesia (unpleasant sensations in the form of numbness, tingling, goosebumps) in the neck, chest, abdomen.
- May have tinnitus and flies before eyes.
- Heart pain.
- Emotional and sleep disorders.
- Limited movement of the upper limbs.
- Increase or decrease in blood pressure.
- Men may experience impaired potency.
Such symptoms are caused by narrowing of the spinal canal due to degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, inflammation and swelling.
Osteochondrosis of the chest: types, symptoms, treatment
We got acquainted with the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest. It should be noted that the pain syndrome in this case can be of two types. Allocate dorsago and dorsalgia.
Dorsago is also called chest lumbago. This pain comes on suddenly and is very severe. Patients note that it even hurts to breathe. There is limited movement (impossible to raise arms) and muscle tension. As a rule, such pain can occur at the time of getting up in people who are forced to sit at the table for a long time with their heads bowed. This pain does not last long.
What can not be said about dorsalgia. In this case, the opposite is true. It appears gradually. The pain is aching, dull and prolonged. She can disturb 2-3 weeks. Increased pain occurs with a deep breath or bending over. There is a limitation of movements and muscle tension. At night, the intensity of pain with dorsalgia increases, and in the morning, after waking up and some warm-up, it becomes barely noticeable.
Diagnosis
Even with such a variety of symptoms, a specialist can easily diagnose "osteochondrosis of the chest."Diagnosis and treatment of this disease is usually carried out on an outpatient basis.
Diagnosis includes examination by a neurologist, history taking, ultrasound and x-ray examination of the cervicothoracic spine. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe magnetic resonance or computed tomography to diagnose a disease such as thoracic osteochondrosis. Symptoms and treatment with medications and other modern methods of this pathology will be discussed further.
Treatment methods
Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis is complex. It is aimed at eliminating the pain syndrome, as well as removing inflammation of the edema and preventing degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs and violations of the structure of the vertebrae. In case of ineffectiveness of the measures taken, surgical treatment is carried out according to special indications.
For the treatment of osteochondrosis, the following treatment methods are used:
- Drug therapy.
- Therapeutic blockades.
- Therapeutic exercise.
- Physiotherapy.
- Massage.
- Manual therapy.
- Traction (stretching) of the spine.
- Reflexology.
- Moxotherapy (thermal effect on active points).
Drug therapy
The method of treating osteochondrosis with medicines is primarily aimed at relieving pain, as well as reducing swelling, inflammation and improving metabolic processes. For this purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.drugs, painkillers and steroid hormones. These drugs are used in tablet form or as an intramuscular or intravenous injection. Medicines give good results: "Ketanov", "Ibuprofen", "Ketolong", "Indomethacin" and others.
Paravertebral novocaine blockades relieve pain well. They are carried out by a doctor in a hospital.
In addition, vitamin complexes, for example, B vitamins, etc., are prescribed. Immunostimulants and drugs are used to treat this disease, which help normalize tissue metabolism.
There are specific drugs that can enhance the regeneration of the affected cartilage. These include: "Glucosamine", "Chondroitin sulfate".
In case of emotional and sleep disorders, tranquilizers and sedatives are prescribed. In pharmacies, they are dispensed only by prescription.
If brain disorders are observed, then drugs are used: Piracetam, Actovegin, etc.
We examined a common disease of thoracic osteochondrosis: symptoms and drug treatment, now I would like to say a few words about other fairly effective methods of treating this disease.
Massage and manual therapy
Massage during an exacerbation of the disease is not prescribed. It is used only after the removal of acute pain syndrome.
Manual therapy is allowed for pain syndrome, especially chronic, but only a specialist should do this. Often, after several sessions, the pain syndrome is removed completely.
Reflexology
An effective method of treating osteochondrosis is acupuncture (acupuncture). It allows you to eliminate excessive muscle hypertonicity and restore range of motion, as well as improve blood circulation.
Usually reflexology is carried out in conjunction with physiotherapy, manual therapy or moxibustion. All these modern methods of treating osteochondrosis give positive results.
