Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is rare; symptoms of damage to the cervical and lumbar regions are more common. Thoracic osteochondrosis poses a threat to human health. Due to the peculiarities of the structure of the chest, given the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, the diagnosis is problematic, as a result, the patient becomes aware of the disease at an advanced stage.
The chest is not mobile, like other parts of the spine. The sternum is not subjected to constant stress. The factors explain the time when the disease in the initial stages has no pronounced symptoms. The chest has a complex structure, the immobility of the thoracic region is associated with the structure of the spine. The combination of the spine and ribs provides a reliable and durable structure that resists injury.
Chest osteochondrosis develops with a slight displacement of the vertebrae, which occurs under the influence of stress. Osteochondrosis will not keep you waiting if a person has a curvature of the posture, the spine. The development of osteochondrosis is not as noticeable as in other parts of the spine, reaching a difficult stage, symptoms appear, similar to the manifestations of the disease in the neck, lower back.
Causes of pain
Painful sensations do not arise without reason. Pain syndrome is a vivid symptom of the disease. When osteochondrosis develops, the chest hurts. Manifestations of pain appear when a person has a deformation of the intervertebral discs. This means their thinning, protrusion, the formation of intervertebral hernias. Pain cannot be avoided when joint changes occur. We are talking about the formation of osteophytes, the destruction of cartilage tissue.
Late visit to the doctor, refusal to go to the hospital, lack of treatment, improper implementation of it, threatens a person with radiculopathy. The medical term refers to the compression of the nerve roots located in the spinal cord. Spinal cord compression should be attributed. The possibility of spinal cord injury is not excluded.
Pain syndrome
No matter how difficult it is to diagnose the disease, it will begin to manifest itself. In the early stages of the development of osteochondrosis, it is difficult to identify the symptoms, at a difficult stage, they do not hide their presence. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are conventionally divided into two groups. The first is pain, the second is neurological manifestations.
Pain syndrome occurs in two forms: dorsago, dorsalgia. Often the pain is localized in the upper back, hidden between the ribs. It often happens when, with body movements, turns, the appearance of cough, deep breathing, a person feels severe pain in the girdle localized between the ribs.
Thoracic osteochondrosis attacks are confused with heart disease. The fault lies with many autonomous nerve fibers located in the thoracic region. Thanks to them, the manifestations of osteochondrosis are similar to the symptoms of heart disease: pain in the left side of the sternum, the development of an inflammatory process in the gallbladder. It is possible that simulants of stomach diseases appear - symptoms similar to those of an ulcer, gastritis.
Neurological symptoms
Thoracic osteochondrosis has a group of neurological symptoms:
- Numbness, flattening of the lower limbs;
- Numbness of the chest
- Numbness of the abdomen, pelvis;
- Reflex tension of the muscular corset in the back, chest;
- Violation of potency;
- Disruption of the genitals, pelvic organs.
Complications of thoracic osteochondrosis are not excluded, one of which is considered to be herpes zoster. It is important to identify the disease at an early stage of development. The symptomatology of the disease is wide, unusual, there is a high risk of misidentifying the disease.
signs
The disease has symptoms. The signs include the appearance of numbness in parts of the body.
The person begins to feel ticklish (the appearance of goosebumps). With thoracic osteochondrosis, a sharp local decrease in temperature in the lower extremities is possible. Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by irritation, burning sensation and itching.
Osteochondrosis is characterized by increased brittleness of the nails. The appearance of an unhealthy skin condition, peeling, especially on the face is possible. The signs are associated with vascular dysfunction. Another sign is a failure in the system of the gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which a person suffering from osteochondrosis often experiences indigestion, flatulence.
Dorsago
Diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis begins with the identification of the main symptoms of the disease - vertebral syndromes: dorsago, dorsalgia.
Dorsago is a sharp pain of a sudden nature that occurs in the region of the sternum. Often the syndrome affects people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, whose profession is to stay in the workplace for 8 hours a day, sitting in front of a computer. It should be attributed to drivers who rarely leave the seat near the steering wheel of the car.
Dorsago is called "back pain in the chest" because with force, it unexpectedly hits the area between the shoulder blades, as if a knife had been stuck. The onset of the syndrome is often accompanied by shortness of breath. Dorsago is confused with myocardial infarction. Treatment of the disease should be started earlier, otherwise it will not be difficult to confuse the disease. Improper treatment will cause complex consequences of thoracic osteochondrosis.
Back pain
Back syndrome occurs at a slower pace, tormenting the patient for 3 weeks. It is easy to identify the syndrome, it consists of weak painful sensations present in the inflamed area. Manifestations give a person discomfort, which prompts him to go to the hospital for help. With back pain, the following are possible:
- An increase in the intensity of pain with a deep breath, cough;
- Muscle exertion;
- Decreased motor activity in the neck, lower back;
- The appearance of muscle spasm;
- An increase in pain intensity at night with physical activity.
There are two types of back pain: upper, lower. With the upper, the main area of the lesion is in the upper part of the sternum (in the neck area), for the second option, pain in the lumbar region and sacrum is characteristic.
It is important not to confuse the manifestations of back pain with the onset of pneumonia; the manifestations are similar, improper treatment will aggravate the situation. Osteochondrosis during breastfeeding is manifested through such symptoms, the treatment must be built carefully, under the supervision of a doctor. Taking medications is selected on the basis of acceptable ones, it is unacceptable to put your own health, the health of the child at risk.