Thoracic osteochondrosis is represented by a degenerative dystrophic 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 in it.
The development of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region is accompanied by compression of the spinal cord. This complication is due to the narrowness of the spinal canal in this area of the spine. Compression of the spinal cord 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 and cervical osteochondrosis lies in:
- dystrophic changes in tissues;
- violation of the metabolic process;
- scoliosis;
- irrational loads on disks;
- malnutrition;
- being in an uncomfortable position for a long period of time (when working at a desk, driving a car).
Pain characteristic of a pathological condition
The 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;
- peptic ulcer;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- appendicitis;
- colitis;
- gastritis.
Therefore, for the differentiation of thoracic osteochondrosis, a thorough diagnosis is necessary.
The main symptoms are the presence of pain, discomfort. They cover areas such as:
- back;
- heart;
- side;
- breasts;
- upper abdomen.
When inhaling, exhaling and during movement, there is an increase in pain in thoracic osteochondrosis. The patient may feel numbness of the left arm, the area between the shoulder blades.
There are also pains that radiate to the shoulder blade. These painful sensations are similar to intercostal neuralgia. Pain caused by thoracic osteochondrosis is worse at night.
For this reason, patients often mistake these conditions for a heart attack symptom, angina pectoris. Pain in thoracic osteochondrosis from an attack of angina pectoris is distinguished by the inability to stop nitroglycerin, the absence of any pathological signs on the ECG that indicate a disease of the cardiovascular system.
The pathology causes symptoms similar to diseases of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, patients often start self-medication with cardiac medications, which do not bring any relief.
Symptoms of pathology in intervertebral discs depend on the mechanism caused by the pathological process, the location of the disease. 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 is composed of 7 vertebrae and the thoracic region of 12. With the development of osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region, the patient manifests a variety of symptoms. This disease, due to its manifestations, can be confused with such pathologies:
- myocardial infarction;
- violation of cerebral circulation;
- damage to teeth;
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- angina.
Osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region is manifested by pain in:
- back
- neck
- teeth;
- head;
- upper limbs;
- stomach
- shoulder girdle;
- chest;
- heart areas.
In addition to pain, osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region manifests itself in:
- numbness of the neck, abdomen, chest;
- ringing in the ears;
- decreased work capacity;
- "Shivers" before the eyes;
- sleep disorders;
- potency disorder (in men);
- dizziness;
- irritability;
- jumps in blood pressure.
Symptoms that appear during compression of root structures
Cervicothoracic osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome is manifested by intense 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. Its slow growth is observed for several weeks.
When there is a connection between thoracic osteochondrosis and herniated disc protrusion, the patient will have pronounced pain in the following areas:
- shoulder joint;
- abdomen;
- shoulder;
- Ribcage;
- shoulder 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, unilateral pain in the area of the hernia, loss of local sensation will appear. Coughing increases the pain as well as the movement of the spine.
If osteochondrosis is accompanied by a median 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 chest area
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, patients suffer from radicular syndrome. It manifests itself in painful sensations that increase with movement, appear clearly and are reflected in other organs.
The radicular syndrome in this area has several manifestations:
- numbness of the epithelium of the armpits, shoulder blades, hands, dryness in the pharynx (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- pain in armpits, shoulder blades, sternum, dry throat, slight descent of scapula, pain in stomach, esophagus (2-6 segments);
- paresthesia, muscle tension in the area of the shoulder blades, ribs, epigastric region. There are also pains in the heart, stomach (7-8 segments);
- waist pain, paresthesia from ribs to navel. Muscle tone also increases, cramps appear 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).
Root syndrome with localized pathology in the neck
With radicular syndrome of the cervical spine, the following symptoms appear:
- paresthesia in the crown, back of the neck (with the defeat of the 1st segment);
- paresthesia in the crown, back of the head + decreased muscle tone of the chin, manifested in its flaccidity (segment 2);
- language paresthesia, speech defects (segment 3);
- pain in the heart, liver (segment 4);
- weakness, pain in 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 the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, forearm, upper arm, second and third fingers (segment 7);
- the pain reaches the little finger (segment 8).
Features of symptoms in women
The symptoms of the disease largely depend on the sensitivity of the patient, 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.
Parts of the female spine are much thinner, smaller, which contributes to the rapid manifestation of symptoms of degenerative-dystrophic processes. Let's see how thoracic osteochondrosis manifests in women.
The vertebral symptoms of the disease are:
- pain when lifting the arms;
- chest pain;
- Tight feeling in the chest;
- pain located between the shoulder blades;
- accompany a deep breath with intense pain;
- accompanying turns, stoops 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, then other signs of the disease characteristic of neurological and vascular disorders also join the above signs of the disease:
- itching, cold, burning in the lower extremities;
- skin numbness, feeling of "goose bumps";
- nail fragility;
- hurt;
- disorders in the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- desquamation of the epithelium.
The signs in women resemble 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 of the strength of the spinal elements. In men, symptoms are supplemented only by a potency disorder.