Thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by dystrophic degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs. This pathology affects the discs of the thoracic spine, which consists of 12 vertebrae. This area has a strong muscular corset and is considered the least mobile, so osteochondrosis is very rare.
The development of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region is accompanied by compression of the spinal cord. This complication is associated with narrowing of the spinal canal in this part of the spine. Compression of the spinal cord is a very dangerous condition that can lead to the development of diseases of the kidneys, heart, pancreas and liver. To prevent such complications, it is necessary to start treatment in time.
Reasons
The causes of thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis are:
- dystrophic changes in tissues;
- disruption of the metabolic process;
- scoliosis;
- irrational loads on disks;
- nutrition;
- to be in a restless state for a long time (while working at a desk, driving a car).
Pain characteristic of a pathological condition
The pathology has symptoms similar to other diseases. For this reason, it is often called "chameleon disease. "The pain in osteochondrosis of this spine is almost identical to the following diseases:
- renal colic;
- gastric ulcer;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- appendicitis;
- colitis;
- gastritis.
Therefore, a comprehensive diagnosis is needed to differentiate thoracic osteochondrosis.
The main symptoms are pain and anxiety. They cover areas such as:
- back;
- heart;
- yan;
- chest;
- upper abdomen.
Increased pain in thoracic osteochondrosis is observed during breathing, exhalation, as well as during movement. The patient may feel numbness in the area between the left arm and shoulder blades.
There are also pains that spread to the shoulder blade. These painful sensations are similar to intercostal neuralgia. The pain caused by thoracic osteochondrosis is exacerbated at night.
For this reason, patients often confuse such conditions with symptoms of heart attack, angina pectoris. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis from the onset of angina pectoris is characterized by the inability to stop with nitroglycerin, the absence of any pathological signs on the ECG indicating disease of the cardiovascular system.
Causes pathological symptoms similar to diseases of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, patients often begin to treat themselves with heart medications that do not bring any relief.
The symptoms of pathology in 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 compression of the spinal cord with characteristic pain sensations is a complication of this pathology.
Symptoms of a pathology that develops in the neck and 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 various symptoms. This disease can be confused with the following pathologies:
- myocardial infarction;
- cerebral circulatory disorders;
- damage to teeth;
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- angina.
Osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region manifests itself with pain in the following:
- back
- neck
- teeth;
- head;
- upper extremities;
- stomach
- shoulder girdle;
- chest;
- areas of the heart.
In addition to pain, osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region manifests itself:
- neck, abdomen, chest numbness;
- ringing in the ears;
- reduced ability to work;
- "Goose shoots" in front of the eyes;
- sleep disorders;
- potential impairment (in men);
- dizziness;
- irritation;
- jumps in blood pressure.
Symptoms of compression of radicular structures
Cervical-thoracic osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome manifests itself with severe pain of a different nature, depending on the affected segment.
It often manifests itself in the form of radiculopathy, which occurs mainly with disc herniation. The patient feels the symptoms of radiculopathy after physical exertion. Their slow growth is noted within a few weeks.
When there is a connection between thoracic osteochondrosis and hernia, disc herniation, the patient will have severe pain in the following areas:
- shoulder joint;
- abdomen;
- shoulder;
- rib cage;
- shoulder blades.
The symptoms of the disease also depend on the direction of the hernia (lateral, middle). If there is a complication of the lateral hernia, unilateral pain in the area of the hernia, local loss of sensation will appear. Coughing increases the pain along with the movement of the spine.
If osteochondrosis is accompanied by a median hernia, the patient will be bothered by long-term pain that can last for weeks. The main danger of this condition is compression of the spinal cord.
If thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by compression of the spinal cord, the patient will experience the following:
- pelvic organ disorders;
- local, girdle pain;
- weakness in the legs;
- pain in the intercostal space, abdomen, groin;
- incompatibility
Radicular syndrome with localization of pathology in the chest
Patients with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region suffer from radicular syndrome. It manifests itself in painful sensations that increase with movement, are sharply visible and are reflected in other organs.
Radical syndrome in this area has different manifestations:
- congestion of the armpits, shoulder blades, epithelium of the hands, dryness in the pharynx (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- dryness in the armpits, shoulder blades, sternum, throat, slight drop in the backbone, pain in the stomach, esophagus (2-6 segments);
- paresthesia, shoulder blades, ribs, muscle tension in the epigastric region. There are also pains in the heart, stomach (7-8 segments);
- abdominal pain, paresthesia from the ribs to the navel. Muscle tone also increases, colic appears in the stomach and intestines (9-10 segments);
- paresthesia 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 pathology in the neck
The following symptoms appear with radicular syndrome of the cervical spine:
- paresthesia on the crown, nape (with defeat of the 1st segment);
- in the crown, paresthesia at the back of the head + decrease in muscle tone of the jaw, manifested in their sagging (segment 2);
- language paresthesia, speech defects (segment 3);
- pain in the heart, liver (segment 4);
- weakness, pain in the shoulder joint, arm (segment 5);
- the pain reaches the thumb. There is weakness when raising the arm. It is caused by a decrease in biceps tone (segment 6);
- weakness in neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, forearm, arm, second and third fingers (segment 7);
- the pain reaches the little finger (segment 8).
Characteristics of symptoms in women
The symptoms of the disease mainly 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 due to the fact that a woman's body is more sensitive to size than a man's.
Parts of the female spine are thinner, smaller, which contributes to the rapid manifestation of symptoms of degenerative-dystrophic processes. Let's look at how thoracic osteochondrosis manifests itself in women.
The vertebral symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- pain when lifting arms;
- chest pain;
- Feeling of tightness in the chest;
- localized pain between the shoulder blades;
- accompanied by severe pain and deep breathing;
- Accompanied by turns, bends with a feeling of pain.
Each of these symptoms is associated with an inflammatory process in the spine. If the disease is accompanied by the development of intervertebral hernias, other symptoms of the disease, characteristic of neurological and vascular diseases, are added to the above symptoms of the disease:
- itching, cold, burning in the lower extremities;
- skin tingling, feeling of "gas bubbles";
- fragility of nails;
- heart pain;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
- peeling of the epithelium.
In women, the symptoms are similar to those of breast disease. For this reason, the disease requires additional diagnostic methods.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is less common in men than in women. This is due to the anatomical features of the strength of the elements of the spine. In men, the symptoms are complemented only by a violation of the potential.