Osteochondrosis rarely develops in the thoracic spine - the intervertebral discs in it are smaller and thinner than in the cervical or lumbar spine.The chest region is less mobile, the main load falls on the ribs and sternum.
Unlike cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis differ only in the location of the pain.The nature and duration of the pain is similar.Prolapse of the thoracic region does not affect the spinal cord.You can read about this and more below.
Stages of pathology
Osteochondrosis usually progresses over time.Depending on the severity of the manifestation, the pathology is divided into 4 stages.
Preclinical
Minimal disturbances appear in the spine.A mild pain syndrome is observed, the back muscles are tense.Thoracalgia - chest pain - may occur, but this is a rare occurrence.
Discogenic radiculitis
There is a change in the structure of the intervertebral discs.Moderate pain may occur in the affected part of the spine.The patient is able to work.But your muscular endurance is reduced.
Vascular-radicular
At this stage, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed.Disc herniation develops and the process of deformation of the fibrous ring continues, leading to its rupture.The nucleus pulposus then falls into the space below the ligaments.Disc herniation is formed.The process affects the tissues located near the disc, the functioning of blood vessels, muscles, nerves and ligaments is disrupted.The disease becomes chronic.
Changing the shape of the bone structure
The vertebra hardens, its surface becomes ribbed and uneven.The muscles begin to contract spontaneously, which leads to a limitation of the movement of the entire spine or a certain vertebra.Nerves extending from the spinal cord are pinched.This leads to a deterioration of impulses from the brain to the tissues and organs of the body.
The mobility of the spine as a whole is preserved, but the individual vertebrae become fragile and can easily collapse.If the disease is not treated, it enters the fourth stage.
Regeneration of intervertebral disc tissue and replacement with scar tissue
The damaged intervertebral disc cannot perform its functions well, which leads to the convergence of the adjacent vertebral bodies.This leads to abnormalities in the intervertebral joints, called spondyloarthrosis.In this case, there may be a twisting or displacement of the vertebrae compared to the adjacent ones.
The body activates its compensation mechanisms.In order to relieve the load on the damaged disc, the vertebra flattens and widens.Thus, its area increases.The collapsed tissue of the fibrous ring can be replaced with bone.
Sometimes this reduces the pain, but as the vertebrae grow, they make the spinal openings even narrower - the nerve gets pinched.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are often caused by the following factors:
- age of the patient;
- damage to the spine;
- stage of disease development;
- The patient's condition is remission or exacerbation of the disease.
Symptoms may also include:
- radiculopathy - painful damage to the nerve endings of the spinal cord;
- abdominal syndrome;
- heart syndrome, heart muscle changes - characterized by severe pain and not sensitive to the effect of nitroglycerin;
- pulmonary syndrome: congestion and hypoxia occur in the lungs;
- paresthesia - feeling of "goosebumps" throughout the body;
- pain in the area of the compressed nerve;
- reduced sensitivity to temperature fluctuations and touch;
- disorders of the motor functions of the spine.
The patient's body temperature does not rise.This serves as a sign that allows distinguishing pathology.
Degrees of the disease
Lumbago
It is a sharp pain that shoots through the body.It occurs when lifting heavy objects and during other physical activity - the pain is similar to an electric shock.
From a morphological point of view, the unexpected rupture of the intervertebral disc occurs when the load is too high.Such a traumatic injury leads to irritation of the nerves - pain occurs.
The muscles are tense and it is clearly expressed.Lumbar lordosis is smoothed out.Thus, the load is redistributed and the intervertebral disc is compressed even more, which leads to swelling, which increases the pain.
When the pathology is concentrated in the neck area, cervicalgia appears - it manifests itself as pain when turning the head and palpating the neck muscles.During exacerbation, cervicocranalgia is often observed, which manifests itself in the fact that a person has a severe headache in the back of the head.You may experience tinnitus, dizziness, blurred vision, and toothache.
Dizziness
It appears as a result of the narrowing of the cavity of the spinal canal.The intervertebral disc bulges and compresses the blood vessels.The brain cannot get the necessary amount of blood.You may experience severe headaches, numbness in your arms, and sore shoulders.
Breathing becomes difficult, so that not enough oxygen reaches the brain.This leads to a stabbing pain in the heart area.
Intervertebral hernia
At this stage of development, the picture looks quite serious - the spinal canal and intervertebral cavities have narrowed significantly.As a result, a hernia may develop - a dangerous error.Surgery is often required at this stage of the disease.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the third degree depends on root compression.It is possible to use the same techniques as in the second degree.However, if the pain does not go away within fifteen days and symptoms of prolapse (prolapse of the vertebra) appear, surgery is required.
Growth on vertebrae
As a general rule, at this stage of the disease, the manifestations of the hernia disappear, the symptoms of the disease are less pronounced, however, it is noticeable that the spine is unstable, the vertebrae can slip or twist relative to each other.
At this time, growth of the vertebral bodies can occur - this is called osteophytes.The growths lead to compression of the spinal nerves, blocking the spinal canal, which is called secondary spinal stenosis.As a result, compression of the spinal cord is possible, leading to ischemia.
This degree of the disease also includes the consequences of previous operations aimed at removing the hernia.They can manifest as damaged innervation, paresis and inflammation.
Dorsago and dorsalgia
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depend on the area of damage to the spine.The most common vertebral syndromes are dorsago and dorsalgia.
Dorsago occurs in the form of a sudden, sharp pain that occurs in the chest area.This often happens when a person sits for a long time without changing their posture.Pain can occur when a person's body position is physiologically uncomfortable.In addition, it is possible during long-term monotonous work.
Dorsago is also known as "chest lumbago".When this happens, the back and chest muscles become so tight that it becomes difficult to breathe.
Sometimes the pain spreads along the ribs to the area of the sternum and radiates to the area of the shoulder blade.Sometimes the patient may feel that it is a heart attack.However, no deviations from the norm can be detected during the electrocardiogram.If you are taking nitroglycerin or other heart medication, it will not work.
Avoid staying in one position for long periods of time.Sedentary work is one of the main causes of osteochondrosis.
Dorsalgia is a mild pain that lasts for a long time, sometimes even weeks.The inflamed area of the spine causes "mild" pain.This is unpleasant, so one usually consults a doctor.
Dorsalgia can be expressed as follows:
- the pain increases when a person takes a deep breath or coughs;
- muscles are overstretched;
- decreased motor activity in the neck or lower back;
- muscle spasms occur;
- the pain intensifies at night and when a person exercises.
Dorsalgia can be upper or lower.In the first case, the main painful manifestations are concentrated in the upper part of the chest, in the neck.In the second case, the pain occurs mainly in the sacrum and the lumbar region.
The symptoms of Dorsalgia are very similar to the first manifestations of pneumonia.It is important to remember this in order to diagnose the disease in time.If the diagnosis is made incorrectly and the treatment is prescribed, the patient's condition will only worsen.
When a woman breastfeeds a child, she may experience such manifestations of osteochondrosis.In this situation, the disease should only be referred to a doctor, taking into account all the nuances.
It is important to consider all the risks of using certain medicines so as not to harm your baby's health and your own.
Atypical symptoms
In some cases, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are completely atypical.A person may not even know about the disease, as the symptoms are often similar to those of other pathologies.It is worth considering in more detail and analyzing the situation as a whole:
- there may be pain that mimics heart pain during angina and heart attack;coronary vasodilator drugs such as nitroglycerin have no effect;and the EKG shows no abnormality;
- pain similar to that experienced by women with breast disease may occur;such pain may continue for a long time;the examination does not reveal any problems in the mammary glands;
- the hip region and abdomen may be painful, the symptoms are not similar to those of gastritis and colitis;pain is observed under the right rib, similar to hepatitis or cholecystitis;Digestion is usually disturbed - this is also a characteristic symptom of osteochondrosis, which occurs due to disturbances in the innervation of internal organs;it is necessary to find out what caused the disturbances in the food digestion process, that the cause is really thoracic osteochondrosis;
- The process of urination and sexual function may be disturbed, as the innervation of the urogenital system is distorted;
- when thoracic osteochondrosis worsens, long-term pain lasting for weeks is observed in the sternum, which is very similar to the pains that occur in diseases of the mammary gland;A visit to a mammologist allows you to identify the cause of the pain.
These symptoms are related to manifestations of back pain, as well as intercostal neuralgia.The appearance of atypical symptoms is usually observed in the evening.There is usually nothing whiter in the morning.The pain increases during the day when the right conditions are created that trigger pain.