Thoracic osteochondrosis is represented by a dystrophic degenerative change on the intervertebral discs. This pathology affects the discs of the thoracic spine, consisting of 12 vertebrae. This area has a strong muscular corset and is considered the least mobile, Therefore osteochondrosis on it is very rare.
The development of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region is accompanied by compression of the spinal cord. This complication occurs due to the narrowing of the spinal canal in this region of the spine. Compression of the spinal cord is a very dangerous condition that affects the kidneys, heart. , can provoke the development of diseases of the pancreas, liver. To avoid such complications, it is necessary to start the treatment of the disease in time.
cause
The cause of thoracic, cervical osteochondrosis lies in:
- dystrophic changes in tissues;
- violation of the metabolic process;
- scoliosis;
- irrational load on the disk;
- malnutrition;
- Being in an uncomfortable position for a long time (when working at a table, driving a car).
pain characteristic of disease condition
Pathology has similar symptoms to other diseases. For this reason, it is often referred to as "chameleon disease". The pain in osteochondrosis of this spine is almost the same as in the following diseases:
- renal colic;
- peptic ulcer;
- heart disease;
- appendicitis;
- colitis;
- gastritis
Therefore, for the differentiation of thoracic osteochondrosis, a thorough diagnosis is necessary.
The main symptoms are the appearance of pain, discomfort. They cover such areas as:
- Back;
- Heart;
- Party;
- breast;
- upper part of the abdomen.
When inhaling, exhaling, as well as during movement, there is an increase in pain in thoracic osteochondrosis. The patient may feel numbness of the left arm, the area between the shoulder blades.
There are also pains that radiate to the shoulder blades. These painful sensations are similar to intercostal neuralgia. The pain caused by thoracic osteochondrosis intensifies at night.
For this reason, patients often mistake such conditions as a symptom of a heart attack, angina pectoris. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis from an attack of angina pectoris is distinguished by the inability to stop with nitroglycerin, the absence of any pathological signs on the ECG. Which indicates a disease of the cardiovascular system.
Pathology causes symptoms similar to diseases of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, patients often begin self-medication with cardiac drugs, which do not provide any relief.
Symptoms of pathology on the intervertebral discs depend on the mechanism causing the pathological process, the localization of the disease. Compression of the spinal roots has a significant effect. Sometimes, compression of the spinal cord with its characteristic pain sensations in this pathologyacts as a complication.
Symptoms of deformity that develops in the neck, chest
There are 7 vertebrae in the cervical region, and 12 in the thoracic region. With the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the patient manifests a variety of symptoms. This disease, because of its manifestations, can be confused with such pathologies:
- Infarction;
- violation of cerebral circulation;
- damage to teeth;
- vegetative vascular dystonia;
- angina
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is manifested by pain:
- Back
- neck
- Teeth;
- head;
- upper limbs;
- Abdomen
- shoulder girdle;
- chest;
- area of the heart.
In addition to pain, osteochondrosis of the cervical region manifests itself in:
- numbness of the neck, abdomen, chest;
- ringing in the ears;
- decrease in working capacity;
- "Swan" before the eyes;
- sleep disturbance;
- potency disorder (in men);
- dizzy;
- irritability;
- Jumps in blood pressure.
Symptoms that appear during compression of radicular structures
Cervical-thoracic osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome manifests itself in severe pain, which has a different character depending on the segment affected.
Often it manifests as radiculopathy, which is mainly accompanied by a herniated disc. After physical exertion, the patient feels signs of radiculopathy. Their slow growth is noted for several weeks.
When there is a connection between thoracic osteochondrosis and hernia, disc protrusion, the patient will have pronounced pain in the following areas:
- shoulder joint;
- Abdomen;
- shoulder;
- Panjar;
- Strong shoulder.
Symptoms of the disease also depend on the direction (lateral, middle) of the hernia. If there is a complication of a lateral hernia, there will be unilateral pain in the hernia area, local loss of sensation. Coughing increases pain as well as spinal movement.
If osteochondrosis is accompanied by a median hernia, the patient will be bothered by prolonged pain that can last for weeks. The main danger of this condition is compression of the spinal cord.
If thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by spinal cord compression, the patient will experience:
- disorders of the pelvic organs;
- local, back pain;
- weakness in the legs;
- pain in the intercostal space, abdomen, groin;
- Numbness.
Radicular syndrome with the localization of pathology in the chest region
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, patients suffer from radicular syndrome. This manifests itself in painful sensations that increase with movement, appear sharply and are reflected in other organs.
There are various manifestations of radicular syndrome in this area:
- numbness of the epithelium of the armpits, dryness in the shoulder blades, hands, pharynx (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- pain in the armpit, shoulder blade, sternum, dry throat, slight descending of the scapula, pain in the abdomen, esophagus (2-6 sections);
- paresthesia, muscle tension in the shoulder blades, ribs, epigastric region. Heart, also hurts in the abdomen (7-8 volumes);
- back pain, paresthesia from the ribs to the navel. Muscle tone also increases, colic appears in the stomach, intestines (9-10 segments);
- Paresthesia from the navel to the waist. There may be a feeling of heaviness in the intestines, abdomen (11-12 segments).
Radicular syndrome with localization of deformity in the neck
With radicular syndrome of the cervical spine, the following symptoms appear:
- paresthesia at the crown, nape (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- Paresthesia at the crown, decreased muscle tone at the back of the head + chin, manifested in their laxity (section 2);
- language paresthesia, speech defects (section 3);
- pain in the heart, liver (section 4);
- weakness, pain in the shoulder joint, arm (section 5);
- The pain radiates to the thumb of the hand. Weakness occurs when raising the hand. This is due to a decrease in the tone of the biceps (section 6);
- Weakness in the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, forearm, hand, second and third fingers (section 7);
- The pain reaches the little finger (section 8).
Features of symptoms in women
Symptoms of the disease largely depend on the sensitivity of the patient, his individual characteristics. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in women are more pronounced than in men.
This is due to the fact that a woman's body is an order of magnitude more sensitive than a man's.
The parts of the female spine are very thin, short, which contributes to the rapid manifestation of symptoms of degenerative-dystrophic processes. Let's see how thoracic osteochondrosis manifests itself in women.
The vertebral symptoms of the disease are:
- pain when raising hands;
- chest pain;
- feeling of tightness in the chest;
- pain localized between the shoulder blades;
- Deep breathing with severe pain;
- The accompaniment of turns, bends with a sense of soreness.
Each of these symptoms is associated with an inflammatory process inside the spinal cord. If the disease is accompanied by the development of intervertebral hernias, then other symptoms of the disease that are characteristic of neurological and vascular disorders also include the above symptoms of the disease. Contains:
- itching, chills, burning in the lower extremities;
- numbness of the skin, a feeling of "goosebumps";
- fragility of nails;
- heart ache;
- disorders in the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Peeling of the epithelium.
Symptoms 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 anatomical features, which include the strength of the elements of the spine. In men, the symptoms are complemented only by strength disorders.