Osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine is a pathology of the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. This disease is quite rare. Chest bone tumors have similar symptoms to other diseases and are difficult to diagnose. For this, it is called "chameleon disease. "
How does osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occur?
Thoracic osteosarcoma occurs due to a violation of metabolic processes and an increased load on the intervertebral discs. The intervertebral disc consists of annular fibrosus that act as a hard shell for the semi-liquid nucleus pulposus.
Thoracic osteosarcoma disrupts the normal structure of the disc. In case of disease, the core dries out and loses its shock-absorbing properties, and the loop becomes thinner and cracks. As a result, the roots of spinal nerves become compromised and become inflamed, causing pain. The disease destroys the discs, joint capsule and ligaments of the spine.
The general principle is always the same, but the factors that increase the stress on the discs can be different. Including:
- prolonged vibration affecting the spine (for example, in drivers who often drive);
- physical stress;
- sedentary, also known as a sedentary lifestyle;
- smoke;
- overweight, obese;
- individual anomalies in the structure of the spine;
- congenital manifestations of spinal stenosis;
- somatic or spinal muscle pain;
- asymmetry of the joint cavities in the intervertebral disc joints;
- psychosocial factors.
Classification of thoracic osteonecrosis diseases
There are several types of osteonecrosisThoracic spine - symptoms and treatmentthey can be markedly different.
Classification is made on the basis of nerve endings affected by damaged structures of the spine. Usually to distinguish the following types of pathology:
- Reflex. It is based on the muscle tension reflex, as well as vascular disorders or dystrophies.
- Myoadaptive. It is also known as "overload".
- Compression. The cause of its development is usually due to deformation, strain or compression of a part of the spinal cord, nerve roots or blood vessels leading to undesirable consequences.
Symptoms of thoracic osteonecrosis
Chest bone tumors are less obvious than other types of bone tumors. There are the following signs of thoracic osteonecrosis:
- Chest pain that is worse at night, when lying down in one position for a long time, cooling, turning, bending to one side, heavy exertion;
- pain between the shoulder blades, when raising the right or left arm, bending down;
- pain increases with deep inhalation and exhalation;
- pain between the ribs when walking;
- It feels as if the chest and back are being squeezed by a hoop.
Pain during an exacerbation can last several weeks.
There are other symptoms of thoracic osteonecrosis:
- numbness in some areas of the skin, a feeling of "goosebumps";
- itching, burning, cold feeling in the legs;
- peeling skin, brittle nails;
- pain in the pharynx and esophagus;
- digestive tract disorders.
Thoracic osteosarcoma is characterized by two symptoms - back pain and back pain.
Back pain and back pain - manifestations of the disease
Low back pain is a sharp pain in the chest, "thoracic lumbago". It often occurs after monotonous work in the same position. In such pain, it is very difficult to breathe. Pain that is worse when rotating the upper body.
Back pain - mild pain in the affected disc area, which begins gradually and lasts up to 2-3 weeks. The pain is worse when taking a deep breath and bending over. The patient may be out of breath. The pain is worse at night and goes away after a short walk.
Causes of thoracic osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis of the chest most commonly occurs in people who:
- work at a computer;
- is constantly driving;
- received spinal injury;
- have weak back muscles;
- scoliosis and other postural disorders.
Fibroids of the chest are less common than other types of diseases - osteonecrosis of the neck and waist. This is because this part of the spine is the least mobile and is most protected by the ribs and corset. There are more discs in the chest area than in the neck and low back combined.
What are dangerous breast fibroids?
If not treated appropriately, thoracic osteonecrosis can cause the following diseases:
- protrusion and hernia of the thoracic spine;
- spinal cord compression;
- problems with the heart, intestines, liver, kidneys, and pancreas;
- disorders in the duodenum, intestinal motility, gallbladder motility disorders;
- intercostal neuralgia - compression or irritation of the intercostal nerves.
In addition, the consequences of this pathology include diseases of the stomach, esophagus, gallbladder, lungs. However, the heart is still at greatest risk for this condition, so if you already have certain problems with it, we strongly recommend that you quickly contact the clinic's specialists and get started. show up as quickly as possible. thoracic spine treatment.
What can be confused with osteonecrosis of the chest
Symptoms of thoracic spine bone tumor are very diverse, it is easy to confuse them with the following diseases:
- angina, heart attack. The difference: after taking the heart medicine, the chest pain did not go away, the patient's electrocardiogram was normal;
- appendicitis, cholecystitis, renal colic;
- gastritis, ulcer, colitis;
- other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (including diverticulitis, chronic pancreatitis or irritable bowel syndrome);
- neoplastic process;
- inflammatory processes;
- diseases of the genitourinary system (pyelonephritis or urolithiasis);
- pathology of the mammary glands;
- pneumonia. Pneumonia is distinguished from osteonecrosis by cough, dyspnea, and fever.
It is not possible to make an accurate diagnosis on your own. Only a specialist can identify osteonecrosis of the thoracic spine.
Diagnostic method of thoracic osteonecrosis
The specialists of a professional clinic will distinguish thoracic osteosarcoma from other diseases and make an accurate diagnosis using the following diagnostic methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Density measurement
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Daily electrocardiogram monitoring
- Comprehensive medical examination of the body (examination)
- Analysis of the body's biological barriers as part of the "Smart Weight Loss" program
- Research in the laboratory
InTreatment of thoracic bone spurscan be supplemented by foot or back massage. In addition, conservative maintenance drug therapy with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics is indicated periodically. In some cases, patients may be prescribed vertebral blockade with novocaine. Each case is individual, so the approach to each patient must be unique for the therapy to be effective and the problem not to make itself felt in the future.
Treatment of thoracic osteonecrosis at a specialized clinic offers a variety of therapeutic effects:
- improve the blood circulation and nutrition of the disc;
- prevent destruction of disks, restore their structure;
- reduce inflammation of the nerve roots;
- relax tense muscles of the back and chest;
- biomechanical restoration of the spine;
- prevention of complications in the form of protrusion and hernia;
- normalize blood pressure;
- strengthen the back muscles, shoulder muscles, respiratory muscles;
- correct posture;
- stimulate the immune system.
After completing the course, the doctor will give you an instruction book with exercises that you need to do on your own. Your doctor will advise you on how to adjust your lifestyle so that chest pain does not bother you anymore.
Prevent
We recommend for the prevention of diseases:
- lie down for about 40-50 minutes during the day - this will reduce the load on the spine;
- If you work a lot at the computer, change your posture, get up from your chair every 2 hours, do a few leans in different directions, stretch, straighten your back;
- participate in water sports: swimming, diving, water aerobics;
- do not apply excessive cold, keep the back warm;
- Regularly perform the following exercise: lie on your stomach, put your hands on the floor, and bend your back. Hold this pose for 5-10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 8-10 times.
You should also maintain an appropriate body weight and give up bad habits (including smoking).
Nutrition for thoracic osteonecrosis disease
With degenerative disease of the thoracic spine, it is recommended to eat 5-6 times a day, divided into several small portions. Follow the following nutritional guidelines:
- Use jelly jelly, jelly jelly, jelly jelly more often. They contain chondroprotectors that are involved in cartilage synthesis;
- Your diet should be 1/3 protein. They can be obtained from meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, soybeans, seeds, beans, nuts, eggplants;
- eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables - cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onions, beets, parsley, cauliflower and white cabbage, peppers, broccoli, celery;
- boiled and steamed dishes, gray bran bread, rye are welcome;
- Osteonecrosis requires calcium. It contains dairy products, almonds, nettle, watercress, rose hip;
- include in the diet sunflower seeds, nuts, avocados, raw spinach, pea pods - they are rich in magnesium;
- cook dishes from lobsters, shellfish, crabs, mushrooms, cereals - they contain a lot of B vitamins;
- season salads with olive oil;
- it is recommended to eat whole grains of wheat, millet, corn, buckwheat, barley;
- limit the use of grapes and legumes, concentrated soups;
- Eat less salty foods, smoked foods, flour products, sugar, hot spices.