Osteochondrosis rarely develops in the thoracic spine - the intervertebral discs in it are smaller and thinner in size than in the cervical or lumbar spine.The thoracic region is less mobile, the main load falls on the sides and sternum.
Unlike cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis differ only in the location of the pain.The nature of the pain and its duration are similar.With prolapse in the thoracic region, the spinal cord is not affected.Read about this and more below.
Stages of pathology
Osteochondrosis usually progresses over time.According to the severity of the manifestation, the pathology is divided into 4 stages.
Preclinical
Minimal disturbances occur in the spine.A slight pain syndrome may be observed, the back muscles become tense.It is possible to experience thoracalgia - pain in the chest, 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 his muscular endurance levels are declining.
Vascular-radical
At this stage, the annulus fibrosus is completely destroyed.A disc herniation is formed and the process of deformation of the annulus fibrosus continues, leading to its rupture.The nucleus pulposus then proceeds into the space below the ligaments.A herniated disc is formed.The process affects the tissues near the disc, the function of blood vessels, muscles, nerves and ligaments is disturbed.The disease becomes chronic.
Changing the shape of the bone structure
The vertebra hardens, its surface becomes ridged and uneven.The muscles begin to contract spontaneously, which leads to limited mobility of the entire spine or a specific vertebra.The nerves that extend from the spinal cord are compressed.This leads to a deterioration of the 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 goes into the fourth stage.
Regeneration of intervertebral disc tissue and replacement with scar tissue
A damaged intervertebral disc is unable to perform its functions well, which leads to the convergence of adjacent vertebral bodies.This leads to disorders in the intervertebral joints, called spondylarthrosis.In this case, twisting or displacement of the vertebrae relative to the neighboring ones may occur.
The body activates its compensatory mechanisms.To relieve the load on a damaged disc, the vertebra flattens and increases in width.Thus its area increases.And the tissue of the annulus fibrosus, which has collapsed, can be replaced with bone.
Sometimes this reduces the pain, however, as the vertebrae grow, they narrow the spinal openings even more - the nerve is pinched.
Symptoms of the disease
The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are often caused by the following factors:
- the age of the patient;
- spinal cord injury;
- 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;
- cardiac syndrome, changes in the heart muscle - is characterized by severe pain and is not sensitive to the effects of nitroglycerin.
- pulmonary syndrome: congestion and hypoxia occur in the lungs.
- paresthesia - a "goosebumps" feeling all over the body.
- pain in the area of the compressed nerve.
- reduced sensitivity to temperature fluctuations and touch.
- disorders of the motor function of the spine.
The patient's body temperature does not rise.This serves as a sign that allows one to differentiate the pathology.
Grades of the disease
Lubago
This is a sharp pain that pierces the body.Appears when lifting heavy objects and other physical activity - the pain is similar to an electric shock.
From a morphological point of view, the unexpected rupture of the intervertebral disc capsule occurs when the load is too high.Such a traumatic injury leads to nerve irritation - pain occurs.
The muscles are stretched and this is clearly expressed.Lumbar lordosis is normalized.In this way, 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, neck pain occurs - it manifests itself as pain when turning the head and palpating the neck muscles.During an exacerbation, cervical cranial pain 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, a feeling of spots in your eyes and your teeth may hurt.
Dizziness
They appear as a result of the narrowing of the cavity of the spinal canal.The intervertebral disc bulges and compresses the blood vessels.The brain fails to receive the required blood volume.You may experience a severe headache, numbness in the arms and pain in the shoulders.
Breathing becomes difficult, resulting in insufficient oxygen reaching the brain.This leads to stabbing pain in the heart area.
Intervertebral hernia
At this stage of development, the picture looks quite serious - the spinal canal and intervertebral cavities become very narrow.As a result, a hernia can form - a dangerous defect.Often at this stage of the disease it is necessary to resort to surgery.
Treatment of third-degree osteochondrosis depends on root compression.It is possible to use the same techniques as the second degree.However, when the pain does not subside within fifteen days and there are symptoms of prolapse (vertebral prolapse), surgery is required.
Growths in the vertebrae
As a rule, at this stage of the disease, the manifestations of the hernia disappear, the symptoms of the disease are less severe, however, it is noticeable that the spine is unstable, the vertebrae can slip or twist together.
At this time, growth of the vertebral bodies may occur - this is called osteophyte.The growths lead to compression of the spinal nerves, blockage of the spinal canal occurs, called secondary spinal stenosis.As a result, compression of the spinal cord is possible, which leads to ischemia.
This degree of disease also includes the consequences of previous hernia removal operations.They can manifest as reduced innervation, paresis and inflammation.
Dorsago and dorsalgia
The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis directly depend on the area of damage to the spine.The most common spinal syndromes are scoliosis and scoliosis.
Dorsago manifests itself in the form of sudden, sharp pain that occurs in the chest area.This often happens if a person sits for a long time without changing their posture.Pain can occur when a person's position is physiologically uncomfortable.In addition, it is possible during long monotonous work.
Dorsago is also called "lumbar breast".When this happens, the muscles in the back and chest become so tight that it becomes difficult to breathe.
Sometimes the pain travels along the ribs to the sternum area and radiates to the shoulder blade area.Sometimes the patient may feel that it is a myocardial infarction.However, when performing an electrocardiogram, no deviations from the norm are detected.If you take nitroglycerin or other heart medicine, there will be no effect.
Avoid staying in one position for a long time.Sedentary work is one of the main causes of osteochondrosis.
Back pain is a mild pain that is present for a long time, sometimes up to weeks.The inflamed area of the spine gives a "mild" pain.This is uncomfortable, so the person usually comes to the doctor.
Dorsalgia can be expressed as follows:
- the pain becomes worse when a person takes a deep breath or coughs.
- muscles are overworked.
- Motor activity in the neck or lower back is reduced.
- muscle spasms occur.
- the pain intensifies at night and when a person exercises.
Back pain can be upper or lower.With the first, the main painful manifestations are concentrated in the upper chest area, in the neck.In the second case, the pain is located mainly in the sacrum and the lumbar region.
The symptoms of Dorsalgia are very similar to the first manifestations of pneumonia.This is important to remember in order to diagnose the disease in time.If the diagnosis is made incorrectly and treatment is prescribed, the patient's condition will only worsen.
When a woman breastfeeds a child, she may experience such manifestations of osteochondrosis.It is necessary to treat the disease in this situation only with the advice of a doctor, taking into account all the nuances.
It is important to weigh all the risks of using certain medicines so as not to harm the health of the baby and yours.
Atypical symptoms
In some cases, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are completely atypical.A person may not even be aware of the disease, as the symptoms are often similar to those of other pathologies.It is worth examining in more detail and analyzing the situation as a whole:
- pain may occur that mimics the heart pain that develops during angina and a heart attack.Coronary dilation drugs, for example, nitroglycerin, have no effect.and the EKG shows no abnormalities.
- Pain similar to that experienced by women with the development of breast diseases may occur.such pain can continue for a long time.The examination reveals no problems with the mammary glands.
- the iliac region and the abdomen may be painful, the symptoms are not similar to those that occur with gastritis and colitis.pain can be seen under the right side, similar to that characteristic of hepatitis or cholecystitis.Digestion is usually disturbed - this is also a characteristic symptom of osteochondrosis, which arises due to disturbances in the innervation of internal organs.it is necessary to understand what caused the disturbances in the process of food digestion, if the cause is really thoracic osteochondrosis.
- The process of urination and sexual function can be disturbed, because the innervation in the genitourinary system is distorted.
- when thoracic osteochondrosis worsens, long-term pain in the sternum can be observed for weeks, very similar to those present in diseases of the mammary gland.A visit to a mammologist allows you to determine the cause of the pain.
These symptoms are associated with manifestations of back pain, as well as intercostal neuralgia.The onset of atypical symptoms is usually observed at night.In the morning, as a rule, there is no more white.Pain increases throughout the day if appropriate conditions are created that cause pain.