Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is rare; symptoms of damage to the cervical and lumbar areas are more common. Chest osteochondrosis poses a threat to human health. Due to the peculiarities of the chest structure, given the symptoms of chest osteochondrosis, the 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 has no 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 ensures a reliable and durable structure that resists damage.
Chest osteochondrosis 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 the posture, the spine. The development of osteochondrosis is not as noticeable as in other parts of the spine, reaching a difficult stage, symptoms appear, similar to the manifestations of the disease in the neck, lower back.
Causes of pain
Painful feelings do not arise 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 thinning, their emergence, the formation of intervertebral hernias. Pain cannot be avoided when changes occur in the joints. 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, threatens a person with radiculopathy. The medical term refers to the compression of nerve roots located in the spinal cord. Spinal cord compression should be attributed to. The possibility of spinal cord injury is not ruled out.
Pain syndrome
No matter how difficult it is to diagnose the disease, it will start to show up. In the early stages of osteochondrosis development, it is difficult to identify the symptoms; at a difficult stage, they do not hide their presence. The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are conventionally divided into two groups. The first is pain, 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 cough, deep breathing, a person experiences severe girdle pain localized between the ribs.
Thoracic osteochondrosis attacks are confused with heart disease. The fault is many autonomic nerve fibers located in the chest region. Thanks to them, the manifestations of osteochondrosis are similar to the symptoms of heart disease: pain on the left side of the sternum, the development of an inflammatory process in the gallbladder. It is possible to appear simulators of stomach diseases - symptoms similar to those of ulcers, gastritis.
Neurological symptoms
Thoracic osteochondrosis has a group of neurological symptoms:
- Numbness, flattening of the lower extremities;
- Chest numbness;
- Numbness of the abdomen, pelvis;
- Reflex tension of the muscle corset in the back, chest;
- Violation of power;
- Breaking of genitals, pelvic organs.
Complications of thoracic osteochondrosis are not excluded, one of which is considered herpes. It is important to identify the disease at an early stage of development. The symptomatology of the disease is extensive, not characteristic, there is a high risk of misidentification of the disease.
Signs
The disease has symptoms. Among the signs, the appearance of numbness is noticed in parts of the body.
The person begins to experience tickling (the appearance of goose bumps). With thoracic osteochondrosis, a sharp, local drop in temperature in the lower extremities is possible. Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by irritation, burning sensation and itching.
Osteochondrosis is characterized by increased brittleness of the nails. The appearance of an unhealthy skin condition, skin, 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, 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 appears in the sternum region. The syndrome often affects people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, whose profession involves staying at work for 8 hours a day, sitting in front of a computer. It should be attributed to drivers who rarely leave the seat near the steering wheel of the car.
Dorsago is called "chest lumbago" because it hits hard, suddenly hitting the area between the shoulder blades, as if a knife were being gripped. The onset of the syndrome is often accompanied by shortness of breath. Dorsago is confused with myocardial infarction. Treatment of the disease should start 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 at a slower pace, tormenting the patient for 3 weeks. Simple to identify the syndrome, it consists of faint sensations of pain present in the inflamed area. Manifestations give a person discomfort, which makes him go to the hospital for help. With dorsalgia, these are possible:
- An increase in pain intensity with a deep breath, cough;
- Muscle strain;
- Decreased motor activity in the neck, lower back;
- Occurrence of muscle spasm;
- An increase in pain intensity at night, with physical activity.
There are two types of dorsalgia - upper, lower. With the upper part, 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 and sacrum region is characteristic.
Importers it is important not to confuse the manifestations of dorsalgia with the onset of pneumonia; manifestations are similar, improper treatment will worsen the situation. Osteochondrosis during breastfeeding is manifested through such symptoms, treatment should be constructed carefully, under the supervision of a physician. Taking medication is chosen on the basis of acceptable ones, it is unacceptable to risk your health, the health of the child.