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 peculiarities of the structure of the chest, given the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, diagnosis is problematic, as a result, 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 that the disease in the initial stages does not have 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, durable structure that resists injury.
Osteochondrosis of the chest 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 posture, spine. The development of osteochondrosis is not as noticeable as in other parts of the spine, reaching a difficult stage, the symptoms appear, similar to the manifestations of the disease in the neck, lower back.
Causes of pain
Painful sensations do not arise for no reason. Pain syndrome is a vivid symptom of the disease. When osteochondrosis develops, the chest hurts. Pain manifestations 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. At the first 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 syndrome, the second is neurological manifestations.
Pain syndrome manifests itself 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 a cough, deep breathing, a person experiences severe girdle pain localized between the ribs.
Attacks of thoracic osteochondrosis are confused with heart disease. The fault is a lot of nerve autonomic fibers located in the thoracic region. Thanks to them, the manifestations of osteochondrosis are similar to the symptoms of heart diseases: 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 may appear - symptoms similar to those of an ulcer, gastritis.
Neurological symptoms
Thoracic osteochondrosis has a group of neurological symptoms:
- Numbness, flattening of the lower extremities;
- Numbness of the chest;
- Numbness of the abdomen, pelvis;
- Reflex tension of the muscle 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 shingles. 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 incorrectly identifying the disease.
Signs
The disease has symptoms. Among the signs, the appearance of numbness in parts of the body is noted.
The person begins to experience tickling (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 sensations, and itching.
Osteochondrosis is characterized by increased fragility of the nails. The appearance of an unhealthy skin condition, peeling, especially on the face, is possible. Signs are associated with vascular dysfunction. Another sign is a failure in the gastrointestinal tract system, 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 - acute pain of a sudden nature, manifested in the sternum. Often the syndrome affects people leading a sedentary lifestyle, whose profession involves being in the workplace for 8 hours a day, sitting in front of a computer. It is worth mentioning the drivers who rarely leave the place near the steering wheel of the car.
Dorsago is called "chest lumbago", because it hard, unexpectedly strikes the area between the shoulder blades, as if a knife is being 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.
Dorsalgia
Dorsalgia syndrome manifests itself in a slower pace, tormenting the patient for 3 weeks. It is simple to identify the syndrome, it consists in dim pain sensations present in the inflamed area. Manifestations give a person discomfort, which prompts them to go to the hospital for help. With dorsalgia, the following are possible:
- An increase in the intensity of pain with a deep breath, cough;
- Muscle strain;
- Decreased motor activity in the neck, lower back;
- The appearance of muscle spasm;
- An increase in the intensity of pain 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 neck area), for the second option, pain in the lumbar region, sacrum is characteristic.
It is important not to confuse the manifestations of dorsalgia with the onset of pneumonia; manifestations are similar, improper treatment will aggravate the situation. Osteochondrosis during breastfeeding is manifested through such symptoms, treatment should be built carefully, under the supervision of a doctor. Taking medications is selected on the basis of acceptable ones, it is unacceptable to risk your health, the health of the child.