Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is rare; symptoms of damage to the cervical and lumbar regions are more common. Chest osteochondrosis poses a threat to human health. Due to the peculiar structure of the chest, given the symptoms of osteochondrosis in the chest, the diagnosis is problematic, so the patient learns about the disease at a late stage.
The chest is not mobile, like other parts of the spine. The sternum is not under constant stress. Factors explain the moment when the disease in the initial stages has no pronounced symptoms. The thorax has a complex structure, the immobility of the thoracic region is related to the structure of the spine. The combination of spine and ribs provides a reliable, durable injury-resistant structure.
Chest osteochondrosis develops with a slight movement of the spine, which occurs under the influence of stress. Osteochondrosis will not wait for you if the person has a curvature of posture, a spine. The development of osteochondrosis is not as noticeable as in other parts of the spine, reaching a severe stage, symptoms appear, similar to the manifestations of the disease in the neck, lower back.
Causes of pain
Painful sensations do not occur for no reason. Pain syndrome is a living symptom of the disease. When osteochondrosis develops, the chest hurts. Manifestations of pain occur when a person has a deformity of the intervertebral discs. This means their thinning, bulging, formation of intervertebral hernias. Pain cannot be avoided if there are changes in the joints. We are talking about the creation of osteophytes, the destruction of cartilaginous tissue.
Late visit to the doctor, refusal to go to the hospital, lack of treatment, improper application, threatens the person with radiculopathy. The medical term refers to the compression of nerve roots located in the spinal cord. Spinal cord compression should be attributed. The possibility of a spinal cord injury is not ruled out.
Pain syndrome
No matter how difficult it is to diagnose the disease, it will begin to manifest. In the early stages of osteochondrosis development, it is difficult to identify symptoms; in the difficult phase they do not hide their presence. The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are usually divided into two groups. The first is pain, the second are neurological manifestations.
The pain syndrome manifests itself in two forms: dorsago, dorsalgia. Often the pain is localized in the upper back, hidden between the ribs. It often occurs when, by body movements, twists, coughing, deep breathing, a person experiences severe pain in the girdle localized between the ribs.
Attacks of thoracic osteochondrosis are confused with heart disease. The fault is a large number of autonomic 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 simulators of gastric diseases appear - symptoms similar to those of ulcers, gastritis.
Neurological symptoms
Thoracic osteochondrosis has a group of neurological symptoms:
- Numbness, flattening of the lower extremities;
- Numbness in the chest;
- Numbness of the abdomen, pelvis;
- Reflex tension of the muscular corset in the back, chest;
- Violation of potency;
- Disorders of the genitals, pelvic organs.
Complications of thoracic osteochondrosis, one of which is considered to be a syndrome, are not excluded. It is important to identify the disease at an early stage of development. The symptomatology of the disease is extensive, uncharacteristic, there is a high risk of misidentification of the disease.
Signs
The disease has symptoms. Among the signs, numbness was noted in parts of the body.
The person begins to feel tickling (the appearance of goose bumps). With thoracic osteochondrosis, a sudden, local decrease in temperature in the lower extremities is possible. Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by irritation, burning and itching.
Osteochondrosis is characterized by increased brittle nails. Unhealthy skin condition, peeling, especially on the face, is possible. Signs are associated with vascular dysfunction. Another sign is a malfunction in the gastrointestinal tract, due to which a person suffering from osteochondrosis often feels indigestion, bloating.
Dorsago
The diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis begins with the identification of the main symptoms of the disease - vertebral syndromes: dorsago, dorsalgia.
Dorsago is an acute pain of a sudden nature that manifests in the sternum area. Often the syndrome affects people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, whose profession includes staying 8 hours a day at work, sitting in front of a computer. It should be attributed to drivers who rarely leave the place near the steering wheel of a car.
Dorsago is called a "thoracic lumbago" because he hits the area between the shoulder blades hard, unexpectedly, as if a knife were stuck. The onset of the syndrome is often accompanied by shortness of breath. Dorsago is mixed 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 the complex consequences of thoracic osteochondrosis.
Dorsalgia
Dorsalgia syndrome manifests more slowly, tormenting the patient for 3 weeks. The syndrome is easy to identify, it consists of muffled painful sensations present in the inflamed area. Manifestations bring discomfort to the person, which leads to going to the hospital for help. The following is possible with dorsalgia:
- Increased pain intensity with deep breathing, cough;
- Muscle strain;
- Decreased motor activity in the neck, lower back;
- Occurrence of muscle spasm;
- Increased pain intensity at night, with physical activity.
There are two types of dorsalgia - upper, lower. With the upper, the main area of the lesion is in the upper part of the sternum (in the area of the neck), the second option is characterized by pain in the lumbar region and the sacrum.
It is important not to confuse the manifestations of dorsalgia with the appearance of pneumonia; manifestations are similar, improper treatment will worsen the situation. Osteochondrosis manifests itself during breastfeeding through such symptoms, treatment should be built carefully, under the supervision of a physician. Taking medication is chosen on the basis of acceptable, it is unacceptable to risk your health, the health of the child.