Osteochondrosis of the chest area is rare; symptoms of damage to the cervical and lumbar regions are more common. Chest osteochondrosis is a threat to human health. Due to the peculiarities of the structure of the chest, given the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis, the diagnosis is problematic, as a result of which the patient learns about the disease at a late stage.
The chest is not as mobile as the other parts of the spine. The sternum is not subjected to constant stress. Factors explain the moment when the disease in the initial stages has no pronounced symptoms. The chest has a complex structure, the immobility of the thoracic region is related to the structure of the spine. The combination of spine and ribs provides a reliable, durable, injury-resistant structure.
Chest osteochondrosis develops with a slight displacement of the vertebrae, which occurs under the influence of stress. Osteochondrosis will not make you wait if a person has a curvature of posture, the 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 occur for no reason. Pain syndrome is a clear symptom of the disease. When osteochondrosis develops, the chest hurts. Painful manifestations occur when a person has a deformity of the intervertebral discs. This means their thinning, bulging, 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.
The late visit to the doctor, the refusal to go to the hospital, the lack of treatment, its improper application, 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
As difficult as it is to diagnose the disease, it will begin to manifest. In the early stages of osteochondrosis, it is difficult to identify the symptoms; at a difficult stage they do not hide their presence. The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are conditionally divided into two groups. The first is pain, the second is neurological manifestations.
The 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, bends, coughing, deep breathing, a person experiences severe pain in the waist, localized between the ribs.
Attacks of thoracic osteochondrosis are confused with heart disease. The fault is many nerve autonomic fibers located in the chest area. Thanks to them, the manifestations of osteochondrosis are similar to the symptoms of heart disease: pain in the left side of the sternum, the development of an inflammatory process in the gallbladder. It is possible to appear simulators of gastric diseases - symptoms similar to those of ulcers, gastritis.
Neurological symptoms
Thoracic osteochondrosis has a group of neurological symptoms:
- Numbness, flattening of the lower limbs;
- Chest tingling;
- Tingling in the abdomen, pelvis;
- Reflex tension of the muscular corset in the back, chest;
- Violation of potency;
- Disorders of the genitals, pelvic organs.
Complications of thoracic osteochondrosis, one of which is considered to be shingles, are not excluded. It is important to identify the disease at an early stage of development. The symptoms of the disease are extensive, uncharacteristic, there is a high risk of incorrect identification of the disease.
Signs
The disease has symptoms. Among the signs is the appearance of tingling in parts of the body.
The person begins to feel tickling (the appearance of goosebumps). In thoracic osteochondrosis, a sharp local decrease in temperature in the lower extremities is possible. Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by irritation, burning and itching.
Osteochondrosis is characterized by increased fragility of the nails. Unhealthy skin condition, scaling, especially on the face, is possible. The signs are related to vascular dysfunction. Another sign is a failure in the system of the gastrointestinal tract, 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 - spinal syndromes: dorsago, dorsalgia.
Dorsago is a sharp pain of a sudden nature, which manifests itself in the sternum. The syndrome often affects people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, whose profession involves being at work for 8 hours a day, sitting in front of a computer. It should be attributed to drivers who rarely leave the place near the steering wheel of the car.
Dorsago is called "thoracic lumbago" because it hits the area between the shoulder blades hard, as if it were a stabbed knife. The onset of the syndrome is often accompanied by shortness of breath. Dorsago is confused with myocardial infarction. Treatment should begin earlier, inotherwise it will not be difficult to confuse the disease. Improper treatment will lead to complex consequences of thoracic osteochondrosis.
Dorsalgia
Dorsalgia syndrome manifests itself at a slower pace, tormenting the patient for 3 weeks. It is easy to identify the syndrome, it consists of muffled sensations of pain in the inflamed area. Manifestations give a person discomfort, which prompts him to go to the hospital for help. In dorsalgia the following are possible:
- Increase in the intensity of pain with deep breathing, cough;
- Muscle stretching;
- Decreased motor activity in the neck, waist;
- The appearance of muscle spasm;
- Increase the intensity of pain at night, with physical activity.
There are two types of dorsalgia - upper and lower. With the upper main area of the lesion is in the upper part of the sternum (in the neck), the second option is characterized by pain in the lumbar region and sacrum.
It is important not to confuse the manifestations of dorsalgia with the appearance of pneumonia; the manifestations are similar, improper treatment will worsen the situation. Osteochondrosis during lactation is manifested by such symptoms, treatment should be built carefully, under the supervision of a physician. Taking medication is chosen on the basis of acceptable, it is unacceptable to risk your health, the health of the child.