Thoracic osteochondrosis is represented by a dystrophic degenerative change in 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 spinal cord compression. This complication occurs due to the narrowing of the spinal canal in this part of the spine. Spinal cord compression is a very dangerous condition that can cause 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 disk load;
- malnutrition;
- be in an awkward position for an extended period of time (when working at a table, driving a car).
Pain characteristic of a pathological condition
The pathology has symptoms similar to other diseases. For that reason, it is often called "chameleon disease". The pain in osteochondrosis of this spine is almost the same as in the following diseases:
- renal colic;
- peptic ulcer;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- appendicitis;
- colitis;
- gastritis.
Therefore, a thorough diagnosis is necessary to differentiate thoracic osteochondrosis.
The main symptoms are the presence of pain, discomfort. They cover areas such as:
- back;
- heart;
- side;
- breasts;
- upper abdomen.
During inhalation, exhalation, as well as during movement, there is increased pain in thoracic osteochondrosis. The patient may feel numbness of 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 mistakenly consider this condition to be a symptom of a heart attack, angina pectoris. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis from an attack of angina pectoris is characterized by the inability to stop nitroglycerin, the absence of any pathological signs on the ECG that indicate disease of the cardiovascular system.
The pathology causes symptoms similar to diseases of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, patients often start self-medication with cardiac drugs, which do not bring any relief.
Symptoms of pathology on the intervertebral discs depend on the mechanism caused by the pathological process, the localization of the disease. Spinal root compression has a significant effect. Sometimes spinal cord compression with its characteristic feelings of pain acts as a complication of this pathology.
Symptoms of pathology developing in the neck, chest
The cervical part consists of 7 vertebrae, and the thoracic part of 12. With the development of osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region, the patient exhibits various 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 cervicothoracic region is manifested by pain in:
- back
- neck
- teeth;
- head;
- upper limbs;
- stomach
- shoulder girdle;
- chest;
- areas of the heart.
In addition to pain, osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region manifests itself in:
- numbness of the neck, abdomen, chest;
- tinnitus;
- reduction of working ability;
- "Goosebumps" before your eyes;
- sleep disorder;
- potency disorder (in men);
- dizziness;
- irritability;
- blood pressure spikes.
Symptoms that occur during compression of radicular structures
Cervical-thoracic osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome is manifested by severe pain that has a different character depending on the affected segment.
It often manifests itself in the form of radiculopathy, which mainly occurs in herniated discs. The patient feels the symptoms of radiculopathy after physical exertion. Their slow growth has been recorded for several weeks.
When there is a connection between thoracic osteochondrosis and hernia, disc protrusion, the patient will have severe pain in the following areas:
- shoulder joint;
- abdomen;
- shoulders;
- chest;
- blades.
The symptoms of the disease also depend on the direction of the hernia (lateral, middle). If there is a complication of a lateral hernia, there will be unilateral pain in the area of the hernia, local loss of sensation. Cough intensifies pain, as well as spinal movements.
If osteochondrosis is accompanied by a moderate hernia, the patient will be troubled by prolonged pain that can last for weeks. The main danger of this condition is spinal cord compression.
If thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by spinal cord compression, the patient will experience:
- pelvic organ disorder;
- local pain in the waist;
- weakness in the legs;
- pain in the intercostal space, abdomen, groin;
- numbness.
Radicular syndrome with localization of pathology in the thoracic region
In osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, patients suffer from radicular syndrome. It is manifested by painful feelings that increase with movement, appear sharply and are reflected on other organs.
Radicular syndrome in this area has different manifestations:
- numbness of the epithelium of the armpits, shoulders, hands, dryness in the throat (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- pain in the armpits, shoulder blades, sternum, dry throat, slight lowering of the shoulder blades, 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, abdomen (7-8 segments);
- low back pain, paresthesia from ribs to navel. Muscle tone also increases, colic appears in the stomach, intestines (9-10 segments);
- paresthesia from navel to groin. A feeling of heaviness in the intestines, stomach (11-12 segments) may occur.
Radicular syndrome with localization of pathology in the neck
The following symptoms appear in radicular syndrome of the cervical spine:
- paresthesia on the scalp, occiput (with defeat of the 1st segment);
- paresthesia on the scalp, occiput + decreased tone of the chin muscles, which is manifested in their relaxed (segment 2);
- lingual paresthesia, speech defects (segment 3);
- pain in the heart, liver (segment 4);
- weakness, pain in shoulder joint, arm (5th segment);
- the pain reaches the thumb of the hand. There is weakness when raising the arm. Its cause is a decrease in biceps tone (segment 6);
- weakness in the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, forearm, hand, second and third fingers (segment 7);
- the pain reaches the little finger (segment 8).
Characteristics of symptoms in women
The symptoms of the disease largely depend on the sensitivity of the patient, his individual characteristics. The 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.
Parts of the female spine are significantly thinner, smaller, which contributes to the rapid manifestation of symptoms of degenerative-dystrophic processes. Let’s look at how thoracic osteochondrosis manifests in women.
Vertebral symptoms of the disease are:
- pain when raising arms;
- chest pain;
- Feeling of tightness in the chest;
- pain localized between the shoulder blades;
- accompanied by deep breathing with severe pain;
- accompaniment of turns, inclines with a feeling of pain.
Each of these symptoms is associated with an inflammatory process within the spine. If the disease is accompanied by the development of intervertebral hernias, the above signs of the disease are accompanied by other signs of the disease that are characteristic of neurological and vascular disorders:
- itching, cold, tingling in the lower extremities;
- numbness of the skin, a feeling of "chills";
- brittle nails;
- heart pain;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
- epithelial peeling.
Signs in women are reminiscent of mammary gland disease. 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 characteristics, which consist in the strength of the elements of the spine. In men, the symptoms are only complemented by a disorder of potency.