Thoracic osteochondrosis is represented by a dystrophic degenerative change in the intervertebral discs. This pathology affects the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine, which includes 12 vertebrae. This area has a strong muscular corset and is considered the least mobile, therefore osteochondrosis is very rare there.
The development of osteochondrosis in the chest area is accompanied by compression of the spinal cord. This complication is due to the narrowness of the spinal canal in this area of the spine. Compression of the spinal cord is a very dangerous condition that can provoke the development of diseases of the kidneys, heart, pancreas and liver. In order to avoid such complications, it is necessary to start treatment of the disease in a timely manner.
causes
The cause of thoracic, cervical osteochondrosis lies in:
- dystrophic tissue changes;
- violation of the metabolic process;
- scoliosis;
- irrational loads on disks;
- malnutrition;
- for a long time in an uncomfortable position (at work at the table, driving a car).
Pain characteristic of a pathological condition
Pathology has symptoms similar to other diseases. For this reason, it is also often called "chameleon disease". Pain in osteochondrosis of this spine is almost the same as in the following diseases:
- Renal colic;
- gastric ulcer;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- Appendicitis;
- colitis;
- Gastritis.
Thorough diagnostics are therefore necessary to differentiate thoracic osteochondrosis.
The main symptoms are the presence of pain and discomfort. They cover areas like:
- the back;
- Heart;
- Side;
- Breast;
- upper abdomen.
When inhaling, exhaling, as well as during movement, there is an increase in pain in thoracic osteochondrosis. The patient may experience numbness in the left arm and in the area between the shoulder blades.
There is also pain that radiates into the shoulder blade. These painful sensations are similar to intercostal neuralgia. The pain caused by thoracic osteochondrosis is aggravated at night.
Because of this, patients often confuse such conditions with a symptom of a heart attack, angina pectoris. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis from an attack of angina is characterized by the inability to stop taking nitroglycerin, the absence of pathological signs on the ECG indicating a disease of the cardiovascular system.
The pathology causes symptoms similar to diseases of the cardiovascular system. Patients therefore often start self-medication with heart drugs that do not bring relief.
The symptoms of pathology on the intervertebral discs depend on the mechanism caused by the pathological process, the localization of the disease. Compression of the spinal roots has a significant effect. Sometimes the compression of the spinal cord with its characteristic pain sensations acts as a complication of this pathology.
Symptoms of a pathology developing in the neck, chest
The cervical region consists of 7 vertebrae, and the thoracic region - 12. With the development of osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region, the patient shows a variety of symptoms. By its manifestations, this disease can be confused with such pathologies:
- Heart attack;
- violation of cerebral circulation;
- damage to the teeth;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- Angina.
Osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region is manifested by pain in:
- the back
- neck
- Teeth;
- Head;
- upper limbs;
- stomach
- shoulder girdle;
- Chest;
- areas of the heart.
In addition to pain, osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region is manifested in:
- numbness in the neck, abdomen, chest;
- ringing in the ears;
- decrease in working capacity;
- "goosebumps" in front of the eyes;
- sleep disturbance;
- erectile dysfunction (in men);
- Dizziness;
- Irritability;
- jumps in blood pressure.
Symptoms occurring during compression of radicular structures
Cervical-thoracic osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome is manifested by severe pain, which has a different character depending on the affected segment.
It often manifests itself in the form of radiculopathy, which occurs primarily in the case of a herniated disc. The patient feels symptoms of radiculopathy after physical exertion. Their slow growth is observed for several weeks.
If there is a connection between thoracic osteochondrosis and hernia, herniated disc, the patient has pronounced pain in the following areas:
- shoulder joint;
- Abdomen;
- Shoulder;
- chest;
- shoulder blades.
Symptoms of the disease also depend on the direction of the hernia (lateral, middle). When there is a complication of a lateral hernia, there is unilateral pain in the hernia area and local loss of sensation. Coughing increases pain and movement of the spine.
If osteochondrosis is accompanied by a median hernia, the patient will be bothered by persistent pain, which can last for weeks. The main danger of this disease is compression of the spinal cord.
If thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by compression of the spinal cord, the patient experiences:
- disruption of the pelvic organs;
- local belt pain;
- weakness in the legs;
- pain in the intercostal space, abdomen, groin;
- Deafness.
Radicular syndrome with localization of the pathology in the chest area
With osteochondrosis of the chest region, patients suffer from radicular syndrome. It is manifested by painful sensations, which increase with movement, appear sharp and are reflected in other organs.
Radicular syndrome in this area has various manifestations:
- numbness of the epithelium of the armpits, shoulder blades, hands, dryness in the pharynx (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- pain in the armpits, shoulder blades, sternum, dry throat, slight descent of the shoulder blade, pain in the stomach, esophagus (2-6 segments);
- Paresthesia, muscle tension in the area of the shoulder blades, ribs, upper abdominal region. There is also pain in the heart, stomach (7-8 segments);
- Girdle pain, paresthesia from the ribs to the navel. Muscle tone also increases, colic appears in the stomach, intestines (9-10 segments);
- Paresthesias from the navel to the groin. There may be a feeling of heaviness in the intestines, stomach (11-12 segments).
Radicular syndrome with localization of the pathology in the neck
The symptoms of radicular syndrome of the cervical spine are:
- paresthesia on the crown, nape (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- paresthesia on the crown, occiput + decreased muscle tone of the chin, manifested by its sagging (segment 2);
- Speech paresthesias, speech defects (segment 3);
- pain in the heart, in the liver (segment 4);
- weakness, pain in shoulder joint, arm (segment 5);
- the pain reaches the thumb on the hand. There is weakness when raising the arm. Its cause is a decrease in the tone of the biceps (segment 6);
- weakness in neck, shoulder, scapula, forearm, arm, second and third fingers (segment 7);
- Pain reaches the little finger (segment 8).
Features of the symptoms in women
The symptoms of the disease largely depend on the sensitivity of the patient and his individual characteristics. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are more pronounced in women than in men.
This is because a woman's body is an order of magnitude more sensitive than a man's.
Parts of the female spine are much thinner and smaller, which contributes to the rapid manifestation of symptoms of degenerative-dystrophic processes. Let's look at how thoracic osteochondrosis is manifested in women.
Vertebral symptoms of the disease are:
- pain when raising arms;
- chest pains;
- chest tightness;
- pain localized between the shoulder blades;
- accompanies a deep breath with severe pain;
- Accompaniment of curves, inclines with a feeling of sore muscles.
Each of these symptoms is associated with an inflammatory process within the spine. If the disease is accompanied by the development of intervertebral hernias, then in addition to the above signs of the disease, other signs of the disease, characteristic of neurological and vascular diseases, also appear:
- itching, cold, burning in the lower extremities;
- numbness of the skin, a feeling of "goosebumps";
- fragility of nails;
- heartache;
- disorders in the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- exfoliation of the epithelium.
Signs in women resemble diseases of the mammary glands. For this reason, the disease in question requires additional diagnostic methods.
In men, thoracic osteochondrosis occurs less often than in women. This is due to the anatomical features consisting in the strength of the elements of the spine. In men, the symptoms are only supplemented by an impotence.