Thoracic osteochondrosis is represented by a degenerative-dystrophic change on the intervertebral discs. This pathology affects the discs of the thoracic spine, which includes 12 vertebrae. This area has a strong muscle corset and is considered the least mobile, therefore osteochondrosis is very rare there.
The development of osteochondrosis in the chest region 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. To avoid such complications, it is necessary to start treatment of the disease in a timely manner.
causes
The cause of cervical thoracic osteochondrosis lies in:
- dystrophic changes in tissues;
- violation of the metabolic process;
- scoliosis;
- irrational loads on disks;
- malnutrition;
- being in an uncomfortable position for a long time (working at the table, driving a car).
Pain characteristic of a pathological condition
Pathology has symptoms similar to other diseases. For this reason, it is often called "chameleon disease". Pain in osteochondrosis of this spine is almost the same as in the following diseases:
- renal colic;
- peptic ulcer;
- cardiovascular illnesses;
- appendicitis;
- colitis;
- gastritis.
Therefore, for the differentiation of thoracic osteochondrosis, a thorough diagnosis is necessary.
The main symptoms are the presence of pain, discomfort. They cover areas such as:
- return;
- 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, the area between the shoulder blades.
There are also pains that radiate to the shoulder blade. These painful sensations are similar to intercostal neuralgia. The pain caused by thoracic osteochondrosis worsens at night.
For this reason, patients often mistake these conditions for a symptom of a heart attack, angina. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis from an attack of angina is distinguished by the inability to stop with nitroglycerin, the absence of any pathological signs on the ECG indicating 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 bring relief.
Symptoms of pathology on the intervertebral discs depend on the mechanism caused by the pathological process, the localization of the disease. Compression of the vertebral roots has a significant effect. Sometimes compression of the spinal cord with its characteristic painful 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 manifests a variety of symptoms. This disease, due to its manifestations, can be confused with such pathologies:
- myocardial infarction;
- violation of cerebral circulation;
- tooth damage;
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- angina.
Osteochondrosis of the cervico-thoracic region is manifested by pain in:
- return
- neck
- the teeth;
- head;
- upper members;
- stomach
- shoulder belt;
- chest;
- areas of the heart.
In addition to pain, osteochondrosis of the cervico-thoracic region is manifested by:
- numbness in the neck, abdomen, chest;
- ringing in the ears;
- decrease in working capacity;
- "goosebumps" before the eyes;
- sleep disorder;
- potency disorder (in men);
- dizziness;
- irritability;
- jumps in blood pressure.
Symptoms appearing when compressing root structures
Cervicothoracic osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome is manifested by severe pain, which has a different character depending on the affected segment.
Often it manifests itself in the form of radiculopathy, which occurs mainly with a herniated disc. The patient experiences symptoms of radiculopathy after physical exertion. Their slow growth is noted for several weeks.
When there is a connection between thoracic osteochondrosis and the herniated disc protrusion, the patient will have pronounced pain in the following areas:
- shoulder joint;
- abdomen;
- shoulder;
- rib cage;
- shoulder blades.
Symptoms of the disease also depend on the direction of the hernia (lateral, middle). If there is a complication of a lateral hernia, unilateral pain in the area of the hernia, local loss of sensation will appear. Coughing increases pain as well as movement of the spine.
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 compression of the spinal cord, the patient will experience:
- disorder of the pelvic organs;
- local waist pain;
- weakness in the legs;
- pain in the intercostal space, abdomen, groin;
- numbness.
Radicular syndrome with localization of the pathology in the thoracic region
With osteochondrosis of the chest region, patients suffer from radicular syndrome. It is manifested by painful sensations that increase with movement, appear sharply 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 of 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 shoulder blades, ribs, epigastric region. There are also pains in the heart, stomach (7-8 segments);
- waist 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 groin. There may be a feeling of heaviness in the intestines, stomach (11-12 segments).
Radicular syndrome with localization of pathology in the neck
With radicular syndrome of the cervical spine, the following symptoms appear:
- paresthesia on the crown, nape (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- paresthesia over the crown, back of the head + decreased muscle tone of the chin, manifested by their sagging (segment 2);
- speech paresthesia, speech disorder (segment 3);
- pain in the heart, liver (segment 4);
- weakness, pain in the shoulder joint, arm (segment 5);
- the pain reaches the thumb of the hand. There is weakness in raising the arm. Its cause is a decrease in the tone of the biceps (segment 6);
- weakness in the neck, shoulder, scapula, forearm, upper arm, second and third fingers (segment 7);
- the pain reaches the little finger (segment 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.
Some parts of the female spine are much 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:
- pain when raising the arms;
- chest pain;
- Sensation of tightness in the chest;
- localized pain between the shoulder blades;
- accompanying deep breathing with severe pain;
- accompaniment of bends, inclinations with a sensation of aches.
Each of these symptoms is associated with an inflammatory process inside the spine. If the disease is accompanied by the development of intervertebral hernias, then other signs of the disease characteristic of neurological and vascular disorders also join the above signs of the disease:
- itching, cold, burning in the lower extremities;
- numbness of the skin, feeling of "goosebumps";
- brittleness of the nails;
- sorrow;
- disorders of the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- desquamation 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 frequently than in women. This is due to the anatomical features, which consist in the strength of the elements of the spine. In men, the symptoms are supplemented only by a potency disorder.