Osteochondrosis rarely occurs in the thoracic spine - the intervertebral discs there are smaller and thinner than in the cervical or lumbar spine.The chest area is less mobile, the main load falls on the ribs and sternum.
In contrast to cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis differ only in the location of the pain.The type of pain and its duration are similar.If there is a prolapse in the thoracic area, the spinal cord is not affected.Read about it and more below.
Stages of pathology
Osteochondrosis usually progresses over time.Depending on the severity of the manifestation, the pathology is divided into 4 stages.
Preclinical
Minimal disturbances occur in the spine.A mild pain syndrome may occur and the back muscles become tense.It is possible to develop thoracalgia – chest pain – but this is rare.
Discogenic radiculitis
There is a change in the structure of the intervertebral discs.Moderate pain may occur in the affected part of the spine.The patient is able to work.But his muscular endurance is decreasing.
Vascular-radicular
At this stage the fibrous ring is completely destroyed.A herniated disc occurs and the process of deformation of the fibrous ring continues, leading to its rupture.The nucleus pulposus then prolapses into the space beneath the ligaments.A herniated disc occurs.The process affects the tissue near the intervertebral disc, the function of blood vessels, muscles, nerves and ligaments is disrupted.The disease becomes chronic.
Change in the shape of the bone structure
The vertebra hardens and its surface becomes ribbed and uneven.The muscles begin to contract spontaneously, resulting in limited mobility of the entire spine or a specific vertebra.Nerves that extend from the spinal cord become pinched.This leads to a deterioration in impulses from the brain to the tissues and organs of the body.
The mobility of the entire spine is retained, but individual vertebrae become brittle and can easily collapse.If the disease is not treated, it progresses to the fourth stage.
Regeneration of intervertebral disc tissue and replacement with scar tissue
A damaged intervertebral disc can no longer perform its functions properly, which leads to convergence of neighboring vertebral bodies.This leads to disorders of the intervertebral joints, the so-called spondyloarthrosis.In this case, the vertebrae may twist or shift relative to neighboring vertebrae.
The body activates its compensation mechanisms.To relieve pressure on a damaged intervertebral disc, the vertebra becomes flatter and wider.So its area increases.And the collapsed tissue of the fibrous ring can be replaced by bone.
Sometimes this relieves the pain, but as the vertebrae grow, the spinal openings become even narrower - the nerve becomes pinched.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are often caused by the following factors:
- age of patient;
- damage to the spine;
- stage of disease development;
- The patient's condition is remission or exacerbation of the disease.
Symptoms may also include:
- Radiculopathy – painful damage to the nerve endings of the spinal cord;
- abdominal syndrome;
- Cardiac syndrome, changes in the heart muscle – characterized by severe pain and no susceptibility to the effects of nitroglycerin;
- Pulmonary syndrome: congestion and hypoxia occur in the lungs;
- Paresthesia – a feeling of “goosebumps” throughout the body;
- pain in the area of the compressed nerve;
- reduced sensitivity to temperature changes and touch;
- Disorders of the motor function of the spine.
The patient's body temperature does not rise.This serves as a sign that allows distinguishing the pathology.
Degrees of illness
Lumbago
This is a stabbing pain that shoots through the body.It occurs when lifting heavy objects and other physical activities - the pain is similar to an electric shock.
From a morphological point of view, an unexpected rupture of the intervertebral disc capsule occurs when the load is too high.Such a traumatic injury leads to irritation of the nerves - pain occurs.
The muscles are tense and this is clearly expressed.The lumbar lordosis is smoothed.This redistributes the load and compresses the disc even more, causing swelling that increases pain.
If the pathology is concentrated in the neck area, cervicalgia occurs - it is manifested by pain when turning the head and palpating the neck muscles.During an exacerbation, cervicocranialgia is often observed, which is manifested by the fact that a person has a severe headache in the back of the head.You may experience tinnitus, dizziness, a feeling of spots in the eyes, and toothache.
dizziness
They occur as a result of a narrowing of the spinal canal cavity.The intervertebral disc bulges and compresses the blood vessels.The brain cannot absorb the required amount of blood.Severe headaches, numbness in the arms, and sore shoulders may occur.
Breathing becomes difficult, which means that not enough oxygen reaches the brain.This leads to stabbing pain in the heart area.
Intervertebral hernia
At this stage of development, the picture looks quite serious - the spinal canal and intervertebral cavities are severely narrowed.This can cause an inguinal hernia to form - a dangerous defect.At this stage of the disease, surgical intervention is often required.
Treatment of third degree osteochondrosis depends on root compression.It is possible to use the same techniques as in the second course.However, if the pain does not go away within fifteen days and there are symptoms of prolapse (herniation of a vertebra), surgery is required.
Growths on the vertebrae
At this stage of the disease, the manifestations of the hernia usually disappear, the symptoms of the disease are less pronounced, but it is noticeable that the spine is unstable, the vertebrae can slip or twist in relation to each other.
At this point, the vertebral bodies can grow - this is called osteophytes.The growths lead to compression of the spinal nerves, resulting in a blockage of the spinal canal, a so-called secondary spinal canal stenosis.This allows compression of the spinal cord, which leads to ischemia.
This level of disease also includes the consequences of previous hernia operations.They can manifest themselves in innervation disorders, paresis and inflammation.
Dorsago and dorsalgia
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depend on the area of spinal damage.The most common vertebral syndromes are dorsago and dorsalgia.
Dorsago manifests itself in the form of sudden, stabbing pain that occurs in the chest area.This often happens when a person sits for a long time without changing their posture.Pain can occur when a person's position is physiologically uncomfortable.In addition, it is possible with prolonged monotonous work.
Dorsago is also called “pectoral lumbago”.When this happens, the muscles in your back and chest become so tight that breathing becomes difficult.
Sometimes the pain travels along the ribs to the sternum area and radiates to the scapula area.Sometimes the patient feels that it is a heart attack.However, when conducting an electrocardiogram, no deviations from the norm are detected.If you take nitroglycerin or any other heart medicine, it will not produce any result.
Avoid remaining in one position for a long time.Sedentary work is one of the main causes of osteochondrosis.
Dorsalgia is a mild pain that lasts for a long period of time, sometimes up to weeks.The inflamed area of the spine causes “mild” pain.This is uncomfortable, which is why the person usually goes to the doctor.
Dorsalgia can manifest itself as follows:
- the pain becomes worse when a person takes a deep breath or coughs;
- Muscles are overloaded;
- motor activity in the neck or lower back decreases;
- muscle cramps occur;
- The pain worsens at night and during exercise.
Dorsalgia can be above or below.In the former, the main painful symptoms are concentrated in the upper chest area, in the neck.In the second case, the pain occurs mainly in the lower back and lumbar region.
The symptoms of dorsalgia are very similar to the initial manifestations of pneumonia.This is important in order to diagnose the disease in a timely manner.If the diagnosis is made incorrectly and treatment is prescribed, the patient's condition will only worsen.
If a woman is breastfeeding a child, such manifestations of osteochondrosis may occur.In this situation, it is necessary to treat the disease only by consulting a doctor, taking into account all the nuances.
It is important to weigh all the risks of taking certain medications so as not to endanger the baby's health and your own.
Atypical symptoms
In some cases, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are completely atypical.A person may not even be aware of the disease, as the symptoms are often similar to those of other pathologies.It is worth considering them in more detail and analyzing the situation as a whole:
- Pain may occur that mimics heart pain that develops with angina and heart attack.Coronary dilatation drugs, for example nitroglycerin, have no effect;and the ECG shows no abnormalities;
- Pain similar to that experienced by women with the development of breast diseases may occur.such pain can last for a long time;The examination shows no problems in the mammary glands.
- the pelvic region and abdomen may be painful, the symptoms do not resemble those that occur with gastritis and colitis;Pain may be observed under the right rib, similar to that characteristic of hepatitis or cholecystitis.As a rule, digestion is disturbed - this is also a characteristic symptom of osteochondrosis, which arises from disorders of the innervation of internal organs;It is necessary to find out what caused the disorders in the process of food digestion and whether the cause is really thoracic osteochondrosis.
- The urge to urinate and sexual function may be disturbed because the innervation in the urogenital system is disturbed;
- When thoracic osteochondrosis worsens, long-lasting, weeks-long pain in the sternum can be observed, which is very similar to that seen in diseases of the mammary gland.A visit to the mammologist will allow you to determine the cause of the pain.
These symptoms are accompanied by manifestations of back pain, as well as intercostal neuralgia.The onset of atypical symptoms is usually observed in the evening.There is usually no whiter in the morning.Pain increases throughout the day when appropriate conditions are created that produce pain.