Hernia of the thoracic spine: causes, symptoms, treatment

Hernia of the thoracic spine is a common problem among older people. Usually the disease is preceded by degenerative disc disease. The reason is the sedentary lifestyle, because of the universal fascination with computers. It is important to know what is a hernia of the thoracic spine, the symptoms and treatment of this pathology in order to recognize onset of the disease and begin to treat it.

The features of pathology

Disc herniation of the thoracic – bulging (protrusion) of the disc beyond the vertebral column or extrusion of the nucleus pulposus through a crack in the fibrous ring as a result of damage. Is the result of lengthy and uneven loads on one of the spine, gradually traumatizing him. After the occurrence of a hernia can dominate the pinching of nerve roots or compression of the spinal cord, depending on the injury.

The following types of protrusions:

• Lateral – the side left or right. Leads to compression of the nerve roots;
• Central (median) is sent to the spinal cord. Perhaps the lack of symptoms, a large hernia injury can cause spinal nerve compression and paralysis;
• Rear – directed from the stomach to the back, acts on the spinal structure, there are violations of sensitivity, numbness in the chest, the abdomen, disorders of the digestive organs, small pelvis;
• Central lateral and posterior-lateral combine two kinds of pathology.

Symptoms

The disease has a broad symptomatology depending on the location of the damage, pinched nerve root, size of the hernia. Patients often take occurring due to herniation of the thoracic symptoms for symptoms of stomach ulcers, attack of cholecystitis, or heart attack. The correct diagnosis can only be experienced specialist after mandatory diagnosis.

• Suggest to read: how is the protrusion of the herniated discs?

The following main symptoms of herniation of the thoracic spine:

• Chest pain, worse during respiration, or movements;
• Numb fingers or hands, tingling in the fingers;
• Sharp pain in the muscles of the arms, shoulders during the movements of the arms, twists of the torso, turning the head;
• Weakness in the muscles of the shoulder girdle and hands;
• Signs of dysfunction of the thorax and the pelvis;
• Partial and even complete paralysis.

A herniated in the thoracic spine appears suddenly occur during movements severe pain in various muscle groups and organs, muscle cramps. The pain intensity and place of its localization in a particular organ depends on the location of the patient's vertebra, and the pressure force on the nerve roots or the spinal cord.

Thoracic hernia of the spine may lead to violation of innervation of organs and affect the heart, stomach, intestines, disturb feces, male impotence.

At the location of the lesion in the course of the vertebral column can be identified such symptoms herniated disc thoracic:

• High end, vertebrae T1-T4. Localized pain - upper back, arms, between the two shoulder blades, rib cage, heart, faking a heart disease. Neurological symptoms are numbness of the hands, fingers, pins and needles;
• The middle segment, T5-T8. Pain concentrated in the chest and back below the shoulder blades, is surrounding the character, increases during movements, sneezing or coughing, deep breaths;
• The lower segment, T9-T12. The pain is localized in the lower part of the chest, back below the shoulder blades, often resemble renal colic or the symptoms of gastric ulcer. Because of the difficulty of breathing may appear shortness of breath.

Reasons

The spine bears the weight of our body every day and can withstand heavy loads. This perfect, durable construction is quite vulnerable, suffering from excessive stress, ill-adapted to the sedentary lifestyle. To the emergence of spinal herniations of the thoracic lead to the following factors:

• Traumatic. Spinal injury from impact or compression. The cause of the injury is more likely to be the lifting in a bent position of the body, a fall, a hard landing while jumping;
• Degenerative. Regularphysical stress leads to fatigue of the discs and their gradual destruction. Such a mechanism of occurrence of hernia is common in active middle-aged people;
• Degenerative-dystrophic. Because of physiological aging of the tissues in the elderly, even small loads can lead to the intervertebral hernias.

Diagnosis

After examination of the patient, study the medical history, in case of revealing of signs prescribe additional tests:

• Magnetic resonance imaging, MRI gives reliable information about the condition of the spine, the location of the lesion, its nature and extent;
• CT scan – less informative alternative to MRI;
• Radiography does not show violations of the disks gives you the ability to see traumatic injury of the spine and the condition of the vertebrae;
• Myelography – an x-ray using a dye that shows changes in the structure of bone tissue;
• Electromyography, EMG reveals damage to the nerve fibers.

Hernia treatment

Methods and duration of treatment of hernia of the thoracic spine depending on the stage of the disease, the extent of the lesion. At the initial stage of the disease apply conservative methods of treatment. They include drug therapy, reflexology, physiotherapy, physiological procedures in a hospital, health institution, or home. If the pain cannot stop with taking pain, is a partial or complete blockage of the nerve roots. To cure intervertebral hernia of the thoracic spine, it is important not to self-medicate, consult qualified professionals and all procedures to discuss with your doctor.

Conservative treatment

Drug treatment is used to eliminate inflammation, relieve muscle spasms, pain, accelerate recovery of cartilage. Types of drugs used:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Celecoxib, Piroxicam);
• Muscle relaxants (e.g., Mydocalm, Liorezal);
• Painkillers (use Diclofenac, Nise, Milgamma);
• Corticosteroids (Metipred, for example, Belosalic);
• Chondroprotectors (Aorta, Glucosamine) Biostimulants (Was, PHOEBE).

After a course of medical treatment of a herniated disc necessarily assigned to physical therapy and massage. It is also possible the holding of sessions of electrophoresis, acupuncture.

Surgery

Surgery is performed only when absolutely necessary. To eliminate the intervertebral hernia and its consequences is running multiple types of operations:

• A laminotomy or laminectomy – removal of part of the bone tissue of the vertebra and the ligaments, forming the upper wall of the spinal canal. Is usually done along with spinal fusion (fixation for fusion of two vertebrae), to stabilize the spine;
• Discectomy – removal of part or the entire damaged disc, and a stationary fixation of two adjacent vertebrae;
• Laminoplasty – dissection of pedicles of the vertebra to create a hinge with plates to increase the space around nerve roots.

Prevention

To avoid the occurrence of hernia in the thoracic spine is possible if you follow a daily exercise. The intervertebral discs equally as suffering from excessive stress and from the small, but constant compression in one of the departments of the disk, which occurs, for example, at a constant daily sitting or performing repetitive work in a bent position.

To keep the intervertebral discs in a healthy condition as long as possible, perhaps more moving, fulfilling a variety of work or exercise during the day. When the person moves, the discs moistened synovial fluid. Upon immobilization, they become more dry, less supple, easily damaged. This condition of the discs causes herniation of the spine.

• Lifting weights is necessary to monitor the position of the back. Drives much better withstand vertical loads than horizontal and slant. Lifting a heavy object, you need to squat, not bend over;
• People have sedentary occupations during the day, to change body position, to straighten, to perform preventive exercises;
• Very useful swimming lessons or water aerobics, they help to train the muscles without loading the spine.