Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that manifests itself in the degradation of the tissue structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. There are three types of osteochondrosis, depending on which part of the spine is affected: lumbar, thoracic and cervical.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine
Thoracic osteochondrosis does not appear immediately, and in the initial stages it can be almost invisible. Therefore, in order not to provoke the disease, you should not ignore its first symptoms and manifestations.
The main symptom is chest pain during movement, physical activity, and when holding a posture for a long time. It can manifest as a sharp, sudden and strong pain that makes it difficult to move and breathe (dorsago), or as a moderate, gradually increasing pain (dorsalgia).
Symptoms similar to back pain do not always indicate the presence of spinal problems, so a comprehensive examination is recommended for an accurate diagnosis.
Symptoms may also include tightness in the chest muscles, a feeling of contraction, a feeling of weakness in the limbs, and partial or complete loss of feeling in the limbs.
Symptoms may also manifest at the level of the autonomic system, particularly as follows:
- headache;
- sleep disorders;
- pain in the internal organs, which can be confused with the manifestations of other diseases (for example, stomach, heart and kidney pain);
- local peeling of the skin, thinning of the nails;
- cold feeling in the arms and legs, chills;
- impaired sweating in the place where the nerve fibers were pinched by the affected vertebrae.
If you notice any of the listed symptoms and need to consult a doctor who treats osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine or any other specialist, contact a professional health center. The doctors will choose the right time for the appointment and answer all your questions.
Since some symptoms are characteristic of both osteochondrosis and a number of other diseases (for example, stomach ulcer, gastritis, kidney and heart failure, high blood pressure, migraine), it is recommended to perform an ultrasound examination and an ECG to rule out these pathologies.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
There are many reasons for the development of the disease. More precisely, there are many factors that negatively affect health and can lead to osteochondrosis. Each patient may have a different set of such factors, so we recommend consulting a neurologist to identify and rule them out.
A list of the most common situations that have a negative impact on the spine:
- excessive physical activity;
- passive lifestyle;
- incorrect posture and posture while sleeping, sitting at the table, etc. ;
- hereditary diseases;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- injuries;
- and many other factors.
Consequences of the development of thoracic osteochondrosis
In addition to the similarity of symptoms with other diseases, thoracic osteochondrosis is also dangerous in that it can cause the development of many different diseases due to the compression of blood vessels and nerve endings by damaged vertebrae.
Thus, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can lead to diseases of the internal organs (heart, kidneys, stomach, lungs, intestines) and pathologies of the respiratory system.
Diagnosis and treatment of the thoracic spine
A complete examination, diagnosis and diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is possible only if an integrated approach is used. The doctor usually turns to diagnostic methods such as:
- verbal questioning of the patient to identify symptoms and negative factors affecting the body;
- examination and palpation of the spine;
- checking reflexes, skin and muscle sensitivity;
- radiography to determine the localization of the disease;
- computed tomography (CT) to determine if there are spinal cord lesions;
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can evaluate all the tissues and blood vessels around the spine.
If you are not sure which doctor you should contact with your symptoms, visit a specialist clinic, where they will tell you which specialist will help you solve the problem.
An integrated approach to treating spine problems in a medical center can also be used. The combination of different treatment methods and modern rehabilitation procedures makes it possible to eliminate the manifestations of the disease and reduce the risk of relapse due to the general health of the body.
Some methods that have proven effective in treating spinal problems are:
- physiotherapy;
- osteopathy;
- manual therapy;
- psychotherapy;
- drug therapy.
Please note that only a doctor can prescribe competent and effective treatment. If you are in doubt about which tests or procedures you need, please consult a professional for advice.