Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that is manifested by the degradation of the tissue structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. There are three types of osteochondrosis, depending on the part of the spine that the disease affects: lumbar, thoracic and cervical.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine.
Thoracic osteochondrosis does not manifest itself immediately and in the initial stages it can be almost invisible. Therefore, in order not to trigger the disease, its first symptoms and manifestations should not be ignored.
The main symptom is chest pain during movement, physical activity and also when maintaining a body position for a long time. It can manifest as a sharp, sudden, severe pain that makes movement and breathing difficult (dorsalgia) or as moderate pain that gradually increases (dorsalgia).
Symptoms similar to back pain do not always indicate the presence of problems in the spine, so for an accurate diagnosis it is advisable to undergo a complete examination.
Symptoms may also include tightness in the chest muscles, a feeling of constriction, a feeling of weakness in the extremities, and partial or complete loss of sensation in the extremities.
Symptoms can also manifest at the level of the autonomic system, in particular as follows:
- headache;
- sleep disorders;
- pain in internal organs, which can be confused with manifestations of other diseases (for example, pain in the stomach, heart and kidneys);
- local peeling of the skin, thinning of the nails;
- shivering sensation in arms and legs, chills;
- impaired sweating in the place where the affected vertebrae pinch the nerve fibers.
If you have discovered any of the listed symptoms and need to consult a doctor who treats osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine or any other specialist, please contact a professional medical center. Doctors will select a convenient time for your appointment and answer any of your questions.
Since some symptoms are characteristic of both osteochondrosis and other diseases (such as stomach ulcers, gastritis, kidney and heart failure, hypertension, migraine), it is recommended to undergo an ultrasound and ECG to exclude these pathologies.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region.
There are quite a few reasons for the appearance of the disease. More precisely, there are a number of factors that negatively affect health and can provoke osteochondrosis. For each patient, the set of these factors may be different, so to identify and exclude them it is recommended to consult a neurologist.
List of the most common situations that have a negative impact on the spine:
- excessive physical activity;
- passive lifestyle;
- incorrect posture and incorrect body position during sleep, when sitting at a table, etc. ;
- hereditary diseases;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- injuries;
- and a number of other factors.
Consequences of the development of thoracic osteochondrosis.
Thoracic osteochondrosis, in addition to the similarity of symptoms with other diseases, is also dangerous because it can provoke the appearance of many different diseases due to the compression of blood vessels and nerve endings by damaged vertebrae.
Therefore, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can lead to diseases of the internal organs (heart, kidneys, stomach, lungs, intestines), as well as 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 when using an integrated approach. The doctor usually resorts to diagnostic methods such as:
- oral interrogation of the patient to identify symptoms and negative factors that affect the body;
- examination and palpation of the spine;
- check reflexes, skin and muscle sensitivity;
- x-ray to determine the location of the disease;
- computed tomography (CT) to determine if spinal cord injuries are present;
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can evaluate all the tissues and vessels around the spine.
If you are not sure which doctor you should go to for your symptoms, go to a specialized clinic to make an appointment, where they will tell you which specialist will help you solve the problem.
To treat spinal problems in a medical center, it is also possible to use an integrated approach. The combination of various 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:
- physiotherapy;
- osteopathy;
- manual therapy;
- psychotherapy;
- drug therapy.
Please note that only a doctor can prescribe competent and effective treatment. If you have questions about what tests or procedures you need, contact specialists for advice.