Thoracic osteochondrosis is represented by a dystrophic degenerative change on the intervertebral discs. This pathology affects the discs of the thoracic spine, which includes 12 vertebrae. This area has a strong muscular corset and is considered the least mobile, so osteochondrosis is very rare on it.
The development of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region is accompanied by compression of the spinal cord. This complication is due to the narrowing of the spinal canal in this area of the spine. Spinal cord compression is a very dangerous condition that can provoke the development of diseases of the kidneys, heart, pancreas, liver. To avoid such complications, it is necessary to start treatment of the disease in a timely manner.
Causes
The cause of thoracic, cervical osteochondrosis lies in:
- dystrophic changes in tissues;
- violation of the metabolic process;
- scoliosis;
- irrational loads on disks;
- malnutrition;
- be in an uncomfortable position for an extended period of time (when working at a table, driving a car).
Pain characteristic of a pathological condition
Pathology has symptoms similar to other diseases. For this reason, it is often referred to as "chameleon disease". Pain in osteochondrosis of this spine is almost the same as in the following diseases:
- renal colic;
- ulcer;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- appendicitis;
- colitis;
- gastritis.
Therefore, a thorough diagnosis is necessary for differentiation of thoracic osteochondrosis.
The main symptoms are the presence of pain, discomfort. They cover areas such as:
- back;
- heart;
- page;
- breast;
- upper abdomen.
Upon inhalation, exhalation as well as during movement, there is an increase in pain in thoracic osteochondrosis. The patient may feel numbness in the left arm, the area between the shoulder blades.
There is also pain radiating 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 confuse such conditions with a symptom of a heart attack, angina pectoris. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis from an attack of angina pectoris is characterized by inability to stop nitroglycerin, the absence of pathological signs of 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 medication, which provides no relief.
Symptoms of pathology of the intervertebral discs depend on the mechanism caused by the pathological process, the localization of the disease. The compression of the spinal roots has a significant effect. Sometimes compression of the spinal cord with its characteristic pain sensations acts as a complication of this pathology.
Symptoms of a pathology that develops in the neck, chest
The cervical region consists of 7 vertebrae and the thoracic region consists of 12. With the development of osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracal region, the patient manifests a variety of symptoms. Due to its manifestations, this disease can be confused with such pathologies:
- myocardial infarction;
- violation of cerebral circulation;
- damage to the teeth;
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- angina.
Osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracal region is manifested by pain in:
- back
- neck
- teeth;
- main;
- upper limbs;
- stomach
- Shoulder belt;
- breast;
- areas of the heart.
In addition to pain, osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracal region manifests itself in:
- numbness in neck, abdomen, chest;
- the ring for the ears;
- decrease in work capacity;
- "Goosebumps" in front of the eyes;
- sleep disorders;
- potency disorder (in men);
- dizziness;
- 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 affected segment.
It often manifests itself in the form of radiculopathy, which mainly occurs with a herniated disc. The patient feels symptoms of radiculopathy after physical exertion. Their slow growth has been 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;
- stomach;
- shoulder;
- ribs;
- shoulder blades.
Symptoms of the disease also depend on the direction of the hernia (lateral, medium). If there is a complication of a lateral hernia, unilateral pain in the hernia area, local loss of sensation will occur. Coughing increases pain as well as spinal movements.
If osteochondrosis is accompanied by a median hernia, the patient will be disturbed by prolonged pain that may last for weeks. The main danger of this condition is the compression of the spinal cord.
If thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by compression of the spinal cord, the patient will experience:
- pelvic disorder;
- local, belt pain;
- weakness in the legs;
- pain in the intercostal space, abdomen, groin;
- numbness.
Radicular syndrome with localization of pathology in the breast area
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, patients suffer from radicular syndrome. It manifests itself in painful sensations that increase with movement, appear sharp 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 throat (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- pain in the armpits, shoulder blades, sternum, dry neck, slight immersion of the scapula, pain in the abdomen, esophagus (2-6 segments);
- paraesthesia, muscle tension in the area of the shoulder blades, ribs, epigastric region. There is also pain in the heart, abdomen (7-8 segments);
- belt pain, paresthesia from the ribs to the navel. Muscle tone also increases, colic appears in the stomach, intestines (9-10 segments);
- paraesthesia from navel to 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 in the cervical spine, the following symptoms appear:
- paraesthesia of the crown, neck (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- paresthesia on the crown, back of the head + decreased muscle tone in the chin, manifested in their sawing (segment 2);
- language paraesthesia, 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 of the hand. There is weakness when lifting the arm. Its cause is a decrease in the tone of the biceps (segment 6);
- weakness in neck, shoulder, scapula, forearm, arm, second and third fingers (segment 7);
- pain when the little finger (segment 8).
Functions of symptoms in women
Symptoms of the disease depend to a large extent on the patient's sensitivity, 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.
Portions 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.
Vertebral symptoms of the disease are:
- pain when lifting the arms;
- soreness in the chest;
- Feeling of tightness in the chest;
- pain localized between the shoulder blades;
- accompanying a deep breathing with severe pain;
- accompaniment of twists, lashes with a feeling of tenderness.
Each of these symptoms is associated with an inflammatory process inside the spine. If the disease is accompanied by the development of intervertebral hernia, other signs of the disease that are characteristic of neurological and vascular disorders also join the above signs of the disease:
- itching, cold, burning on the lower extremities;
- numbness of the skin, a feeling of "goosebumps";
- fragility of nails;
- heartache;
- disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- peeling of the epithelium.
Signs in women are similar to 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.